← 💬 English as a Second Language
Modal verbs and conditionals
Using can, could, must, should, may and might, and making sentences with if.
📌 Key points
- Modal verbs include can, could, must, should, may, might, will and would.
- After a modal verb, use the base verb without to: She can swim (not She can to swim or She cans swim).
- can = ability or permission (I can ride a bike). could = past ability or a polite request (Could you help me?).
- must = it is necessary or a rule (You must wear a helmet). mustn't = it is not allowed.
- don't have to = it is not necessary, but you can if you want (You don't have to come).
- should = advice (You should drink more water).
- may and might = possibility (It might rain later). May is also polite permission (May I go out?).
- Zero conditional for facts: If you heat ice, it melts. (If + present, present)
- First conditional for a real future possibility: If it rains tomorrow, we will stay at home. (If + present, will + verb)
📖 Key words
- Modal verb
- A helping verb such as can, must, should or might.
- Ability
- Being able to do something: I can swim.
- Permission
- Being allowed to do something: May I go?
- Advice
- What you think someone should do: You should rest.
- Obligation
- Something you must do: You must stop at a red light.
- Possibility
- Something that is possible but not certain: It might snow.
- Conditional
- A sentence with 'if' that shows a result.
✏️ Worked example
Complete: 'If you ___ (study) hard, you ___ (pass) the test.'
- This is a real possibility in the future, so use the first conditional.
- The if-part uses the present simple: If you study hard,
- The other part uses will + base verb: you will pass the test.
- Answer: If you study hard, you will pass the test.
Never put 'will' in the if-part of a first conditional: say 'If it rains', not 'If it will rain'.
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