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Mastering English Modal Verbs and Noun Suffixes

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English Modal Verbs and Usage Rules

Permission and Obligation

  • Permitted: Can, Could
  • Not permitted: Cannot, Could not / Are not allowed to
  • Obligatory: Had to, Have to / Must
  • Not obligatory: Do not have to, Did not have to / Needn't
  • Advised / Recommended: Should / Shouldn't

Common Noun Suffixes

The Suffix -HOOD

Used for stages, conditions, or life situations (e.g., motherhood) and groups of people (e.g., neighborhood).

The Suffix -SHIP

Used for relationships between people (e.g., friendship), status or position (e.g., leadership), membership, childhood, and general relationships.

Expressing Habits

Past Habits

Used to / Did not use to: Refers to actions that happened regularly in the past but no longer happen.

Present Habits

Usually, normally, generally: These adverbs are placed in front of main verbs or behind the verb to be.

Detailed Use of Modal Verbs

CAN

  • Abilities: I can speak English.
  • Possibility: I cannot go to the movies tonight.
  • Polite Requests: Can I have some more coffee, please?
  • Permission: Can I go to the toilet?

BE ABLE TO

This is the infinitive form of can. It is used in the future (I will be able to come) and the present perfect (I have been able to come).

COULD

  • Abilities in the past: When I was younger, I could run faster.
  • Permission: (More polite than can) Could you open the window, please?
  • Impossibility / Possibility in the past: The night was too bright, and I could not open my eyes.
  • Speculation: This could be Peter's book; he was reading it before.
  • Suggestions: We could have a drink in that pub.

WAS / WERE ABLE TO

Used for specific situations. For example: "I played tennis with Tom, who always wins. But yesterday, I was able to win."

BE ALLOWED TO

Used for permission. For example: "I am not allowed to come home after 2:00 on Sunday," or "She is allowed to come home whenever she wants."

Prohibition vs. Lack of Necessity

  • Must not (Prohibition): You must not smoke here.
  • Do not have to (Lack of necessity): You can come here before 8:30, but you do not have to.

SHOULD / SHOULDN'T

  • Advice or Opinion: You should go on holiday; you look so tired.
  • When something is not as expected: The price of this packet is wrong. It should be £56, but it is only £20.
  • Expectation: She's been studying hard, so she should pass the exam.

OUGHT TO / OUGHTN'T TO

  • Advice: (Equivalent to should) You ought to do more physical exercise.
  • Deductions: Henry ought to have left home soon; it is 6:45 and he is usually there by 6:00.

MAY / MIGHT

These express possibility or probabilities.

  • Usage: I'm not sure, but I may/might go to the party tomorrow.
  • Might: Expresses a minor degree of probability.
  • May: Used to ask for permission in an excessively polite and formal way (e.g., "May I come in?").

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