Modal Verbs: 65 Examples For Better English

Today, we are going to check out 65 examples of modal verbs in sentences to see just how they are used in natural English. Let’s go over the first examples, and then look further into what they are and how to use them in English.

Modal Verbs

Here are some of the more common modal verbs, along with example sentences:

1. Can: Donna can swim very well.
2. Could: Lee could play piano when he was younger.
3. Must: Mike must wear a helmet for safety.
4. May: You may leave early today.
5. Should: You should study for the English grammar test.

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Modal Verb Examples

Modal verbs are essential in English because they help express things like ability, possibility, necessity, or permission. They change the meaning of the main verb in a sentence, giving more detail about what is possible or required. Here are some examples of modal verbs used in different contexts:

6. You can swim very fast.
7. Jake might join us for dinner tonight.
8. Becky should call her friend before going out.
9. We must finish this report by tomorrow.
10. I could help you with your homework if you need me to.
11. You may leave early today.
12. They might go to the park if it stops raining.
13. I can’t believe we are finally here!
14. He must be the one who left the door open.
15. We shouldn’t take the bus if it’s so crowded.

Related: Dynamic Verbs: 52 Examples For Better Communication

Modal Verbs List

Here is a list of common modal verbs and their basic meanings, along with example sentences to help you understand how to use them:

Modal Verb	Meaning	Example Sentence
Can	Ability, permission	She can play the piano very well.
Could	Past ability, polite requests	He could speak French when he was younger.
May	Permission, possibility	You may use my phone if you need it.
Might	Possibility, suggestion	I might go to the gym after work.
Must	Necessity, strong advice	You must wear a helmet when riding a bike.
Should	Advice, expectation	You should eat more vegetables.
Shall	Formal suggestion, future	Shall we go for a walk in the park?
Will	Future, willingness	I will help you with your project.
Would	Polite requests, hypothetical	Would you like some tea?
Ought to	Advice, expectation	You ought to apologize for being late.

Related: Writing Prompts: 80 + Examples For Better English!

Modal Verb Sentences

Now that we’ve gone through the examples and list, let’s see more modal verb sentences in action. These sentences will help you understand how modal verbs are used in different situations. Here are some examples:

16. Eve can dance very well.
17. We should eat lunch soon.
18. They might have forgotten about the meeting.
19. He must study harder to pass the exam.
20. I could go to the store later if you want me to.
21. We may need to leave earlier than planned.
22. I can’t believe she won the competition.
23. He would help you if you asked him nicely.
24. You shouldn’t skip class without a valid reason.
25. They might arrive later than expected.

Modal Verbs Advanced Exercises

As you advance in English, you will encounter more complex uses of modal verbs, such as in conditional sentences or with perfect tenses. Let’s look at some examples to help you get used to these advanced uses:

26. If you had studied more, you would have passed the exam.
27. She should have called me before going out.
28. We could have gone to the concert if we had known about it earlier.
29. I might have seen her at the store, but I’m not sure.
30. If they had known, they might have helped us.
31. He must have been tired after the long trip.
32. You could have asked for a ride if you didn’t want to walk.
33. They shouldn’t have eaten so much junk food.
34. We would have traveled more if we had the time.
35. If I had known, I would have invited you to join us.

Modal Verbs in Past Tense

When using modal verbs in the past tense, we often combine them with perfect verb forms like “have” to talk about actions that were possible or necessary in the past. Here are some examples:

36. He could have called me earlier, but he didn’t.
37. You should have gone to bed earlier last night.
38. We might have missed the train if we hadn’t left early.
39. I must have forgotten to lock the door.
40. They shouldn’t have ignored the warning signs.
41. She could have gotten a promotion if she had worked harder.
42. You may have heard that they are moving to a new city.
43. He might have enjoyed the movie if it was less scary.
44. I would have helped you if I had known you needed it.
45. We must have left our tickets at home.

Modal Verbs Games

Learning modal verbs doesn’t have to be boring! You can practice them through fun games and interactive activities. Here are some ideas to help reinforce your learning:

1. Role-play: Act out scenarios where you need to ask for permission or advice using modal verbs (e.g., “May I borrow your book?” or “You should go to the doctor”).
2. Modal Verb Charades: Write different modal verbs on pieces of paper. Players must act out the verb for others to guess.
3. Flashcard Memory Game: Create flashcards with modal verbs on one side and sentences on the other. Match the correct modal verb with its sentence.
4. Fill-in-the-Blank Quiz: Create a quiz where learners fill in the blanks with the correct modal verb (e.g., “You ___ leave early today” – may).
5. Modal Verb Pictionary: Draw pictures representing sentences using modal verbs, and have others guess the meaning.
6. Group Debate: Use modal verbs to express different opinions in a group setting (e.g., “We must reduce pollution,” or “People could use less plastic”).
7. Find the Mistakes: Write sentences with incorrect modal verbs, and have learners correct them.
8. Matching Game: Match modal verbs with their corresponding meanings (e.g., “could” = “past ability”).
9. Story Completion: Start a story using a modal verb and ask learners to finish it (e.g., “I should have studied harder… what happened next?”).
10. Quiz Wheel: Spin a wheel with different modal verbs and practice forming sentences with them.

Modal Verbs Can and Could

The modal verbs can and could are often used to express ability, possibility, and permission. While they are similar, there are important differences between them. Let’s compare:

56. I can swim very well.
57. She could play the piano when she was younger.
58. We can go to the park if the weather is nice.
59. I could have helped you if I had known about your problem.
60. You can leave after the meeting is over.
61. I could have studied more for the test.
62. He can read in three languages.
63. Could you please pass me the salt?
64. You could try calling customer service if you need help.
65. Can I help you with that?

When comparing can and could, both modals express ability, possibility, and permission, but could often refers to the past or suggests a hypothetical situation. For example, “I can swim very well” shows present ability, while “She could play the piano when she was younger” refers to a past skill. Additionally, could can imply politeness in requests, like “Could you please pass me the salt?” Can is more direct, as seen in “Can I help you with that?” Understanding these differences helps convey the right nuance in various contexts.

Modal Verb Quiz

Finally, test your knowledge of modal verbs with this quiz! Fill in the blanks with a suitable modal verb.

1. You ___ eat a lot of vegetables to stay healthy.
2. I ___ speak Spanish fluently when I was younger.
3. We ___ go to the park if it stops raining.
4. He ___ be at home; I just saw him leave.
5. You ___ leave now if you’re ready.
6. They ___ have taken the wrong train.
7. I ___ help you with your homework later.
8. She ___ have been tired after the long trip.
9. ___ we go to the movies tonight?
10. You ___ finish your work by tomorrow.

Answers: 1. should 2. could 3. might 4. can’t 5. may 6. must 7. can 8. must 9. Shall 10. must

Modal verb paragraph

Here is a paragraph that has some modal verbs in it. How many can you spot?

The sun was setting, and Mark could feel the cool breeze. He should have brought a jacket, but it was too late now. He might find one at the shop nearby. If he hurried, he could make it before they closed. He could already see the lights turning on in the windows. Mark knew he should have planned better, but sometimes, things didn’t go as expected. He could always walk back home if the shop was closed, though it might take longer. He must make a decision soon—he couldn’t stand out here in the cold much longer.

Modal Verbs in Everyday English

Understanding modal verbs is crucial for mastering how to communicate effectively in English. By using them correctly, you can express possibility, necessity, ability, and permission in a way that sounds natural and fluent. Modal verbs are present in everyday conversations, whether you’re making a suggestion, asking for permission, or talking about future plans. Incorporating them into your speech and writing will help you become more confident and precise with the language. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll feel comfortable using modal verbs in all kinds of situations.