All Modal Verbs in English Grammar

Complete Notes in Hindi and English

Modal verbs are helping verbs that express ability, possibility, permission, obligation, advice, or necessity.

Modal Verbs List: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, ought to, need, dare, used to

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1. CAN

Meaning: सकता है / सकती है Use: Ability, permission, possibility

• I can swim.
• Can I come in?
• It can be dangerous.

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2. COULD

Meaning: सकता था / सकती थी Use: Past ability, polite request, possibility

• I could run fast when I was young.
• Could you help me?
• It could rain tonight.

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3. MAY

Meaning: सकता है / अनुमति Use: Permission, possibility, wish

• May I come in?
• It may rain today.
• May you live long.

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4. MIGHT

Meaning: शायद Use: Weak possibility

• He might come later.
• It might snow tomorrow.

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5. SHALL

Meaning: करूंगा / करेंगे Use: Suggestion, offer, future (formal)

• Shall we begin?
• I shall return soon.

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6. SHOULD

Meaning: चाहिए Use: Advice, duty, expectation

• You should study hard.
• We should help others.

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7. WILL

Meaning: करेगा / करेंगे Use: Future, willingness, promise

• I will help you.
• She will arrive tomorrow.

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8. WOULD

Meaning: करता / करते Use: Polite request, habit in past, imaginary situations

• Would you like some tea?
• He would visit us every Sunday.

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9. MUST

Meaning: अवश्य / ज़रूर / चाहिए Use: Strong obligation, necessity, certainty

• You must obey the rules.
• He must be at home.

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10. OUGHT TO

Meaning: चाहिए Use: Moral duty, advice

• We ought to respect our elders.
• You ought to apologize.

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11. NEED

Meaning: आवश्यकता होना Use: Necessity

• You need not worry.
• Need I say more?

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12. DARE

Meaning: साहस करना Use: Courage, challenge

• How dare you speak to me like that?
• Dare he go there alone?

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13. USED TO

Meaning: किया करता था Use: Past habit or state

• I used to play cricket.
• She used to live here.

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Common Structure

Subject + Modal + Verb (First Form)

• He can swim.
• They will come.
• You should work hard.

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Negative Structure

Subject + Modal + not + Verb

• He cannot swim.
• You should not smoke.
• We must not be late.

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Interrogative Structure

Modal + Subject + Verb...?

• Can you swim?
• Will she come?
• Should I call him?

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Quick Summary Table

Modal	Main Use	Hindi Meaning
Can	Ability	सकता है
Could	Past ability / Request	सकता था
May	Permission / Possibility	सकता है
Might	Weak possibility	शायद
Shall	Suggestion / Formal future	करेंगे
Should	Advice	चाहिए
Will	Future	करेगा
Would	Polite request / Habit	करता
Must	Necessity	अवश्य
Ought to	Moral duty	चाहिए
Need	Necessity	आवश्यकता
Dare	Courage	साहस करना
Used to	Past habit	किया करता था

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Golden Rule

Subject + Modal + V1

A modal verb is always followed by the first form of the verb.

Examples:

• She can sing.
• We should study.
• They will win.