22 structures · CEFR A1–C1
English modal verbs
Modal verbs — can, could, may, might, must, should, will, would — do not describe what happened. They describe how the speaker feels about it: how possible, how necessary, how polite. They are the single fastest way to sound less blunt in English, because Hindi carries politeness in verb endings that English simply does not have, so it has to come from the modal instead.
Common modals mistakes
Every one of these is a sentence Indian-English speakers genuinely produce — not a textbook example.
| Commonly said | Correct English |
|---|---|
Can you to help me? | Can you help me? After a modal the verb stays plain. can / could → |
I must to go now. | I must go now. "Must" never takes "to". must / have to → |
You should to rest. | You should rest. "Should" never takes "to". should / ought to → |
It may rains today. | It may rain today. After a modal the verb takes no -s. may / might → |
I would like to going. | I would like to go. After "would like to" the verb stays plain. will / would → |
Shall I to open the window? | Shall I open the window? After "shall" the verb stays plain. shall → |
I am used to work there. | I used to work there. "Used to + verb" is the past. "Am used to + -ing" is a habit you have now. used to → |
I would rather to stay. | I would rather stay. "Would rather" never takes "to". would rather → |
All 22 modals structures
Grouped by CEFR band so you can start where you actually are, rather than at the top.
A1 · Starting
1 structure at this level.
A2 · Everyday
6 structures at this level.
- must / have toA2Say what you have to do, and what the rules are
- should / ought toA2Give advice without sounding like an order
- shallA2Offer to do something, or suggest doing it together
- used toA2Talk about how life was before
- need to / needn'tA2Say what is necessary, and what is not
- be able toA2Talk about ability in tenses where "can" does not exist
B1 · Independent
6 structures at this level.
- may / mightB1Say something is possible without claiming it is certain
- will / wouldB1Soften what you say so it does not sound blunt
- would ratherB1Say which of two things you prefer, right now
- had betterB1Warn somebody without threatening them
- be allowed toB1Talk about permission that somebody else gives
- have got toB1Say you must do something, the way people speak
B2 · Confident
6 structures at this level.
- be supposed toB2Say what was expected, with a hint it did not happen
- should have — the regretB2Say what you wish you had done
- could have / would haveB2Talk about what was possible but never happened
- must have / can't haveB2Work out what happened from the evidence
- must be workingB2Guess what somebody is doing right now
- should be doneB2Say what has to be done without saying who does it
C1 · Fluent
3 structures at this level.
Dimmed tiles are structures whose example bank is still being written. The explanation and the mistake are there; the sentences are not, yet.
Reading it is not the same as saying it.
CoCap turns modals into practice you can actually do: a Hindi sentence, your English answer, and one correction at a time.
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