Modals vs. Non-Modals
-
She walks to school.
→ She can walk to school.
➡️ Ability -
I eat vegetables daily.
→ I should eat vegetables daily.
➡️ Advice -
They play football.
→ They might play football today.
➡️ Possibility -
He drinks milk.
→ He must drink milk every day.
➡️ Necessity -
We go to the park.
→ We may go to the park later.
➡️ Permission -
She cooks dinner.
→ She ought to cook dinner.
➡️ Moral obligation -
I do my homework.
→ I could do my homework now.
➡️ Polite suggestion -
You read novels.
→ You can read novels.
➡️ Ability -
He watches the news.
→ He should watch the news daily.
➡️ Advice -
We water the plants.
→ We must water the plants regularly.
➡️ Strong obligation They help each other.
→ They can help each other.
➡️ Ability-
I clean my room.
→ I ought to clean my room.
➡️ Moral duty -
She answers questions.
→ She may answer the questions now.
➡️ Permission -
We listen to music.
→ We could listen to music now.
➡️ Suggestion -
He writes poems.
→ He might write a poem today.
➡️ Possibility -
I call my friend.
→ I should call my friend now.
➡️ Advice -
You close the door.
→ You must close the door quietly.
➡️ Necessity -
They draw pictures.
→ They can draw very well.
➡️ Ability -
She washes clothes.
→ She needs to wash clothes today.
➡️ Necessity -
We dance at parties.
→ We may dance at the event.
➡️ Permission
-
I wake up early.
→ I should wake up early every day.
➡️ Advice -
He works at home.
→ He must work today.
➡️ Necessity -
She wears a uniform.
→ She has to wear a uniform.
➡️ Obligation -
They go to school.
→ They might go to school today.
➡️ Possibility -
We speak English.
→ We can speak English well.
➡️ Ability -
He sings songs.
→ He could sing for us now.
➡️ Polite suggestion -
You type fast.
→ You should type more slowly.
➡️ Advice -
I paint pictures.
→ I may paint one today.
➡️ Permission -
She makes tea.
→ She can make tea easily.
➡️ Ability -
We clean the house.
→ We must clean the house before guests come.
➡️ Necessity
He shops online.
→ He might shop online later.
➡️ Possibility-
I talk a lot.
→ I should talk less in class.
➡️ Advice -
You open the box.
→ You could open the box now.
➡️ Polite suggestion -
They eat snacks.
→ They can eat some snacks now.
➡️ Ability -
She calls her mom.
→ She has to call her mom daily.
➡️ Obligation -
I drive to work.
→ I may drive to work today.
➡️ Permission -
He checks his mail.
→ He must check his mail daily.
➡️ Necessity -
We brush our teeth.
→ We ought to brush our teeth twice a day.
➡️ Moral duty -
You sing beautifully.
→ You can sing beautifully.
➡️ Ability -
I play chess.
→ I could play chess with you.
➡️ Polite offer
He visits the library.
→ He might visit the library.
➡️ Possibility-
They laugh loudly.
→ They should laugh less during study time.
➡️ Advice -
She studies daily.
→ She must study for her test.
➡️ Necessity -
I take notes.
→ I can take notes quickly.
➡️ Ability -
We build models.
→ We may build a model today.
➡️ Permission -
You wear shoes.
→ You ought to wear shoes outside.
➡️ Moral duty -
He rides a bicycle.
→ He could ride his bicycle to school.
➡️ Suggestion -
I smile often.
→ I should smile more.
➡️ Advice -
She reads stories.
→ She can read stories fluently.
➡️ Ability -
We help our parents.
→ We must help our parents.
➡️ Strong obligation
He plays guitar.
→ He can play guitar well.
➡️ Ability-
I answer questions.
→ I might answer some questions later.
➡️ Possibility -
You cook food.
→ You should cook healthy food.
➡️ Advice -
They clean desks.
→ They must clean the desks after class.
➡️ Obligation -
She teaches students.
→ She has to teach them grammar.
➡️ Necessity -
I solve puzzles.
→ I could solve puzzles quickly.
➡️ Ability -
He learns fast.
→ He can learn fast.
➡️ Ability -
We meet every Sunday.
→ We may meet this Sunday too.
➡️ Possibility -
They carry bags.
→ They should carry lighter bags.
➡️ Advice -
She greets guests.
→ She ought to greet guests nicely.
➡️ Moral duty
I laugh at jokes.
→ I can laugh at jokes.
➡️ Ability-
He teaches English.
→ He must teach well.
➡️ Obligation -
You answer well.
→ You could answer that question.
➡️ Polite offer -
They bake cookies.
→ They may bake cookies today.
➡️ Possibility -
I feed my pet.
→ I should feed my pet now.
➡️ Advice -
She irons clothes.
→ She has to iron her clothes.
➡️ Obligation -
He locks the door.
→ He must lock the door.
➡️ Strong necessity -
We attend class.
→ We ought to attend class on time.
➡️ Moral duty -
You sharpen pencils.
→ You can sharpen pencils quickly.
➡️ Ability -
I greet my teacher.
→ I should greet my teacher politely.
➡️ Advice
They play music.
→ They may play music at the party.
➡️ Permission-
He delivers letters.
→ He must deliver the letters on time.
➡️ Obligation -
I mop the floor.
→ I can mop the floor easily.
➡️ Ability -
We talk on the phone.
→ We might talk later tonight.
➡️ Possibility -
You drive safely.
→ You should drive more safely.
➡️ Advice -
She wears a mask.
→ She must wear a mask in public.
➡️ Necessity -
He checks homework.
→ He has to check homework today.
➡️ Duty -
I water the garden.
→ I may water the garden now.
➡️ Permission -
You answer questions.
→ You can answer all questions well.
➡️ Ability -
They clean the board.
→ They should clean the board after class.
➡️ Advice