Modal VerbsThis is a featured page

Modal verbs, are a type of auxiliary verb or helping verb. English has ten modal verbs:
can
could
may
might
shall
should
will
would
must
ought to
Modals express the mood of a verb. They express ability, possibility, necessity, or another condition. They are used with a main verb to form a sentence or a question. Modals are not conjugated, have no tense, and cannot be used without a main verb, except in question tags and short form answers to questions where the main verb can be inferred.
When used with modal verbs (except ought), main verbs always remain in the infinitive without to.
In a statement the word order is subject + modal + main verb.
subject modal main verb
They can come.
Mike should walk.
In questions, the word order changes to modal + subject + main verb.
yes-no questions
modal subject main verb
Can they come?
Should Mike drive?
wh- questions
wh- word modal subject main verb
When can they come?
How could he know?

The above is freely adapted from: http://www.elearnenglishlanguage.com/esl/grammar/modalverbs.html A thorough and clear explanation of modal verbs.

Exercises:
http://www.autoenglish.org/modalverbs.htm Some irritating graphics on the home page, but comprehesnive links to explanations, exercises and printouts.


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