Modal verbs

Picture a small child saying: "Can’t, shan’t, won’t!" They are using modal verbs to show their feelings and attitude to something. Maybe they are refusing to go to bed or eat their peas.

Modal verbs affect the meaning of other verbs. For example, I could eat, I will eat or I should eat all mean different things.

Must, shall, will, should, would, can, could, may and might are all examples of modal verbs.

Modal verbs are easy to spot because there are so few of them, they don’t change their spelling and they can only be used one at a time. Examples of modal verbs include: shall, will, should, would, can, could, may, might, ought to and have to.

If we are told that we 'must' do something, like brush our teeth, the modal verb 'must' indicates there is no argument. Brushing our teeth has to be done.

But if we are told that we 'may' brush our teeth, the modal verb 'may' suggests a degree of choice. Modal verbs are useful for telling us about how necessary, or possible, something is.

Think about the difference between the following sentences:

Cinderella could go to the ball.

Cinderella might go the ball.

Cinderella will go to the ball.

Cinderella might feel happiest about the last one, as it sounds the most likely!

We can use modal verbs to show if we believe something is certain, possible or impossible:

I must be sick. - You are almost 100% certain you are sick

It might snow tomorrow. - It’s possible

That can't be Mo’s tracksuit. It's too big. - It’s impossible

We use should and shouldn't to make suggestions and give advice:

You shouldn’t go by car; you should walk.

We also use could to make positive suggestions:

We could meet at the park later. You could go home first.

When we write about texts (stories, poems, plays, non-fiction), modal verbs are very useful. They allow you, the writer, to put forward your thoughts and ideas about the text. For example:

• In Oliver Twist, Oliver is described as a ‘victim of poverty’ which might show Dickens wants us to feel sorry for him.

• Later in the novel, Nancy tries to help Oliver which could show that Dickens wants us to realise that she is not an evil person, unlike Bill Sikes.

Using modal verbs shows that you are suggesting ideas and are open to different ones.

Modal verbs add more meaning to sentences and help to express often important differences.

When analysing texts, notice how writers use them in different ways to suggest attitude (I will do it; I might do it), ability (I can’t do it) and possibility (I could do it).

Remember to use them in your own writing, particularly when you are showing how you are thinking carefully about the texts you read.

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