Modal Verbs
A2–B2Express ability, permission, advice, possibility and obligation with can, must, should and more.
Lessons in this category
Can, could and be able to — talking about what someone is capable of.
Can, could and may — asking for and giving permission.
Must, have to and mustn't — what's required, and what's not allowed.
Can you...? Shall I...? Let's... — the modals behind everyday polite exchanges.
Two ways to say something's necessary — and the subtle difference between them.
Recommending or warning someone about what to do.
Should, ought to, had better — three ways to give advice, from gentle to urgent.
Necessity and its absence — need to, needn't, and don't need to.
May, might and could — how likely something is.
Must, might and can't — reasoning your way to a logical conclusion.
Should have, might have, must have — modals looking back at the past.