Modals: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda How To Use Them Well?

MODALS
Coulda, woulda, shoulda~ How to use them

well?
Study the two statements below
Statement A Statement B
All persons below 21 All persons below 21

years old must stay at years old might stay
home during Enhanced at home during
Community Enhanced Community
Quarantine. Quarantine.
MODAL VERBS
Modal verbs are auxillary

verbs which modify or change
the meaning of the main verbs.
Three Basic Rules of using Modals
1
2
3
Use the modal
Use the base form of If you need to use
verb as is.
the verb after a modals in the
modal. negative form, then
use only “not”
AFTER the modal
verb.
Use the modal verb as is.
Correct sentence:
“Joan can swim.”
Incorrect sentence:
“Joan cans swim.”
Use the base form of the verb after a modal.
Correct sentence:
“Clara might join them.”
Incorrect sentence:
“Clara might to join them.”
If you need to use modals in the negative form, then
use only “not” AFTER the modal verb.
Correct sentence:
“You should not drink too much.”
Incorrect sentence:
“You don’t should drink too much.”
“CAN”
The modal ‘can’ is used to express

ability or opportunity, to request or
offer permission and to show
possibility or impossibility.
“CAN”
I can dance very well. (Ability)
We can stay with my mother

when we are in the USA.
(Opportunity)
“CAN”
He cannot stay out after 11 pm.

(Permission)
Can you hand me the stapler?

(Request)
“CAN”
Any child can grow up to be a

President. (Possibility)
“Could”
is used to express possibility or past

ability and also to make any
suggestions and polite requests.
“Could”
Extreme rain could cause a delay in the

matches. (Possibility)
Sam could sing like a pro by the age of

one. (Past ability)
“Could”
You could wait or call again later.

(Suggestion)
Could I use your mobile to call my

mother? (Request)
“Could”
Had we started earlier, we could have

reached in time. (Conditional)
“May”
is usually used to express a possibility.

It can also be used to give or request
for a permission in formal cases.
May is used to refer to factual

possibility
“May”
Cyrus may be at home or perhaps at

work. (Possibility)
John, you may go out for a trip along

with your friends. (Giving permission)
May I come in? (Seeking permission)

“might”
is usually used for expressing a

possibility. It is also used in conditional
sentences.
used to refer to hypothetical, unlikely,

or counterfactual possibility.
“might”
Your luggage might be in the lobby.
(Possibility)
If you had called me, I might have

come. (Conditional)
You might visit the Taj Mahal during

your visit to Agra. (Suggestion)
“will”
is used with promises and

determinations that take place in the
future.
‘Will’ can also be used to make

predictions about the future.
“will”
I promise that I will never repeat this

mistake in future. (Promise)
I will make the arrangements for the

party tonight. (Voluntary action)
“will”
I think it will rain today. (Prediction)
We will overcome this pandemic soon.

(Determination)
“shall”
used to indicate a future action.
‘Shall’ is also used in promises or

voluntary actions.
It is also used to describe future events

that often express inevitability or
predestination.
“shall”
Shall I come along with you tomorrow?
(Suggestion)
I shall never forget the way you helped

me. (Promise)
He shall become our next President.

(Predestination)
“should”
used to make a recommendation or give

an advice.
It might also be used to express

obligation as well as an expectation.
“should”
When you visit the USA, you should go

and see the statue of liberty.
(Recommendation)
You should focus more on your studies

than games. (Advice)
“should”
I really should be at school by 9:00 am.

(Obligation)
By now, they should have reached

London. (Expectation)
“must”
used to express certainty. It can also be

used to express necessity or strong
recommendation.
“must”
This must be the right ingredient for her

dish! (Certainty)
Students must pass an entrance

examination to study at this school.
(Necessity)
“must”
You must take some extra food along

with you. (Strong recommendation)
Jennifer, you must not date someone you

met online. (Prohibition)
“ought to”
‘Ought to’ is used to advise or make

recommendations. ‘Ought to’ is also used
to express moral obligation. ‘Ought not’
(without ‘to’) is also used to advise
against doing something.
“ought to”
You ought to stop drinking.

(Recommendation)
We ought to respect our elders. (Moral

obligation)
Activity: Provide the suitable modal of permission, ability,
possibility, probability etc according to the context of the
sentences.
Ruchira is ill today. She _______

not come to school
sentences.
If you believe in yourself, you

______ definitely do it.
sentences.
_______ I talk to Ms Shailaja,

please?
sentences.
He _____ solve even complex

mathematics in a jiffy back when
we’re still kids.
sentences.
Nicky, you ____ wait for the

Director in the lobby. He ____ be
back here in 20-30 minutes.
Attend the consultation period
today, 2:00-3:00PM

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MODALS

Coulda, woulda, shoulda~ How to use them

All persons below 21 All persons below 21

Modal verbs are auxillary

The modal ‘can’ is used to express

I can dance very well. (Ability)

We can stay with my mother

He cannot stay out after 11 pm.

Can you hand me the stapler?

Any child can grow up to be a

is used to express possibility or past

Extreme rain could cause a delay in the

Sam could sing like a pro by the age of

You could wait or call again later.

Could I use your mobile to call my

Had we started earlier, we could have

is usually used to express a possibility.

May is used to refer to factual

Cyrus may be at home or perhaps at

John, you may go out for a trip along

May I come in? (Seeking permission)

is usually used for expressing a

used to refer to hypothetical, unlikely,

If you had called me, I might have

You might visit the Taj Mahal during

is used with promises and

‘Will’ can also be used to make

I promise that I will never repeat this

I will make the arrangements for the

I think it will rain today. (Prediction)

We will overcome this pandemic soon.

‘Shall’ is also used in promises or

It is also used to describe future events

I shall never forget the way you helped

He shall become our next President.

used to make a recommendation or give

It might also be used to express

When you visit the USA, you should go

You should focus more on your studies

I really should be at school by 9:00 am.

By now, they should have reached

used to express certainty. It can also be

This must be the right ingredient for her

Students must pass an entrance

You must take some extra food along

Jennifer, you must not date someone you

‘Ought to’ is used to advise or make

You ought to stop drinking.

We ought to respect our elders. (Moral

Ruchira is ill today. She _______

If you believe in yourself, you

_______ I talk to Ms Shailaja,

He _____ solve even complex

Nicky, you ____ wait for the

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