<h3>What are Modal Verbs?</h3>
<p>Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences:</p>
<p>1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.</p>
<div class="ex">
<p>Examples:</p>
<ul>
<li>He can  speak Chinese.</li>
<li>She should  be here by 9:00.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.</p>
<div class="ex">
<p>Examples:</p>
<ul>
<li>He should not be late.</li>
<li>They might not come to the party.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.</p>
<div class="ex">
<p>Examples:</p>
<ul>
<li>He will can go with us. <em class="incorrect">Not Correct</em></li>
<li>She musted study very hard. <em class="incorrect">Not Correct</em></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Common Modal Verbs</h3>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="50%">Can <br />Could <br />May <br />Might <br />Must</td>
<td width="50%">Ought to <br />Shall <br />Should <br />Will <br />Would</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>For the purposes of this tutorial, we have included some expressions which are not modal verbs including <strong>had better</strong>, <strong>have to, </strong>and <strong>have got to</strong>. These expressions are closely related to modals in meaning and are often interchanged with them.</p>
<table class="deco1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="deco1">can</td>
<td class="deco1">képesség, lehetőség, valószínűség, engedély</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="deco1">could</td>
<td class="deco1">képesség, lehetőség, feltétel, valószínűség, engedély</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="deco1">may</td>
<td class="deco1">engedély, valószínűség</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="deco1">might</td>
<td class="deco1">engedély, valószínűség</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="deco1">
<p>must</p>
</td>
<td class="deco1">
<p>kotelesseg, valoszinuseg</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="deco1">
<p>ought to</p>
</td>
<td class="deco1">
<p>kellene</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="deco1">shall</td>
<td class="deco1">felajánlás-kérdés, parancs, igéret</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="deco1">should</td>
<td class="deco1">tanács, valószínűség, szükségszerűség</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="deco1">will</td>
<td class="deco1">valószínűség, szándék, igéret</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="deco1">would</td>
<td class="deco1">feltétel, valószínűség</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="deco1">have to</td>
<td class="deco1">kötelesség, valószínűség</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>  </p>
<h2>CAN</h2>
<p><span>"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to </span><span><em><strong>express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility</strong></em></span><span>.</span></p>
<p><span>Examples:</span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span>I </span><span><strong>can</strong></span><span> ride a horse. </span><span><em>ability</em></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span>We </span><span><strong>can</strong></span><span> stay with my brother when we are in Paris. </span><span><em>opportunity</em></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span>She </span><span><strong>cannot</strong></span><span> stay out after 10 PM. </span><span><em>permission</em></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span><strong>Can</strong></span><span> you hand me the stapler? </span><span><em>request</em></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span>Any child </span><span><strong>can</strong></span><span> grow up to be president. </span><span><em>Possibility</em></span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><span><strong>Using "Can" in Present, Past, and Future</strong></span></p>
<p><span>Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "can" behaves in different contexts.</span> </p>
<p> </p>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="7"><colgroup><col width="133"> <col width="158"> <col width="130"> <col width="113"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td width="133" height="35">
<p><span><span><span>Modal Use</span></span></span></p>
</td>
<td width="158">
<p><span><span>Positive Forms<br />1. = Present   </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>2. = Past   </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>3. = Future</span></span></p>
</td>
<td width="130">
<p><span><span>Negative Forms<br />1. = Present   </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>2. = Past   </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>3. = Future</span></span></p>
</td>
<td width="113">
<p><span><span>Also use:</span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="133">
<p><span><span><span>can</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span><em><span><span><span><span><strong>general ability</strong></span></span></span></span></em></p>
</td>
<td valign="TOP" width="158">
<p><span><span><span>1. I can speak Chinese.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>2. SHIFT TO "COULD"</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />I could speak Chinese when I was a kid.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />I will be able to speak Chinese by the time I finish my course.</span></span></span></p>
<p>  </p>
</td>
<td valign="TOP" width="130">
<p><span><span><span>1. I can't speak Swahili.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>2. SHIFT TO "COULD"</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />I couldn't speak Swahili.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />I won't be able to speak Swahili</span></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="113">
<p><span><span><span>be able to</span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="133" height="">
<p><span><span>can <br /></span></span><span><span><em><strong>ability during a specific event</strong></em></span></span></p>
</td>
<td valign="TOP" width="158">
<p><span><span><span>1. With a burst of adrenaline, people can pick up cars.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />With a sudden burst of adrenaline, he was able to lift the car off the child's leg.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />With a sudden burst of adrenaline, he will be able to lift the car.</span></span></span></p>
</td>
<td valign="TOP" width="130">
<p><span><span><span>1. Even with a burst of adrenaline, people can't pick up something that heavy.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"<br />Even the weight lifter, wasn't able to lift the car off the child's leg.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />Even three men working together won't be able to lift the car.</span></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="113">
<p><span><span><span><em><strong>be able to</strong></em></span></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="133">
<p><span><span><span>can</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span><em><span><span><span><strong>opportunity</strong></span></span></span></em></p>
</td>
<td valign="TOP" width="158">
<p><span><span><span>1. I have some free time. I can help her now.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />I had some free time yesterday. I was able to help her at that time.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>3. I'll have some free time tomorrow. I can help her then.</span></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td valign="TOP" width="130">
<p><span><span><span>1. I don't have any time. I can't help her  now.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />I didn't have time yesterday. I wasn't able to help her at that time.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>3. I won't have any time later. I can't help her then.</span></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="113">
<p><span><span><span><strong>be able to</strong></span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="133">
<p><span><span><span>can</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span><em><span><span><span><strong>permission</strong></span></span></span></em></p>
</td>
<td valign="TOP" width="158">
<p><span><span><span>1. I can drive Susan's car when she is out of town.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO "</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />I was allowed to drive Susan's car while she was out of town last week.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>3. I can drive Susan's car while she is out of town next week.</span></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td valign="TOP" width="130">
<p><span><span><span>1. I can't drive Susan's car when she is out of town.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO "</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />I wasn't allowed to drive Susan's car while she was out of town last week.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>3. I can't drive Susan's car while she is out of town next week.</span></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="113">
<p><span><span><span><strong>may</strong></span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="133">
<p><span><span><span>can</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span><em><span><span><span><strong>request</strong></span></span></span></em></p>
</td>
<td valign="TOP" width="158">
<p><span><span><span>Can I have a glass of water?</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Can you give me a lift to school?</span></span></span></p>
<p><em><span><span><span>Requests usually refer to the near future.</span></span></span></em></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td valign="TOP" width="130">
<p><span><span><span>Can't I have a glass of water?</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Can't you give me a lift to school?</span></span></span></p>
<p><em><span><span><span>Requests usually refer to the near future.</span></span></span></em></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="113">
<p><span><span><span>could, may</span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="TOP" width="133">
<p><span><span><span>can</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span><em><span><span><span><strong>possibility, impossibility</strong></span></span></span></em></p>
</td>
<td valign="TOP" width="158">
<p><span><span><span>Anyone can become rich and famous if they know the right people.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Learning a language can be a real challenge.</span></span></span></p>
<p><em><span><span><span>This use is usually a generalization or a supposition.</span></span></span></em></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td valign="TOP" width="130">
<p><span><span><span>It can't cost more than a dollar or two.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>You can't be 45! I thought you were about 18 years old.</span></span></span></p>
<p><em><span><span><span>This use is usually a generalization or a supposition.</span></span></span></em></p>
<p> </p>
</td>
<td width="113">
<p><span><span><span><span>could</span></span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>