Spoken English Course – Level 2 (Elementary)
Module 4: Modal Verbs – Can, Could, Should, Must
1. What Are Modal Verbs?
Modal verbs are special helping verbs used to express:
- Ability
- Permission
- Request
- Advice
- Necessity or obligation
Common modals: can, could, should, must
2. Use of “Can”
Can is used for:
- Ability
- Permission (informal)
- Request (informal)
| Sentence Type |
Structure |
Example |
| Affirmative |
Subject + can + verb |
I can speak English. |
| Negative |
Subject + cannot + verb |
She cannot drive. |
| Question |
Can + subject + verb? |
Can you help me? |
Speaking Drill:
Speak 5 sentences using “can”.
3. Use of “Could”
Could is used for:
- Past ability
- Polite request
- Suggestion
| Sentence Type |
Structure |
Example |
| Affirmative |
Subject + could + verb |
I could run fast in school days. |
| Negative |
Subject + could not + verb |
He could not understand. |
| Question |
Could + subject + verb? |
Could you please help me? |
Polite Speaking Practice:
Ask 3 polite questions using “could”.
4. Use of “Should”
Should is used for:
- Advice
- Suggestion
- Moral duty
| Situation |
Sentence |
| Health |
You should eat healthy food. |
| Study |
You should practice English daily. |
| Time |
We should reach on time. |
Speaking Drill:
Give 5 pieces of advice using “should”.
5. Use of “Must”
Must is used for:
- Strong obligation
- Rules
- Necessity
| Situation |
Sentence |
| Rule |
You must wear uniform. |
| Exam |
You must study seriously. |
| Office |
Employees must follow rules. |
Note: “Must” is strong. Do not overuse it in polite conversation.
6. Can vs Could vs Should vs Must
| Modal |
Use |
Example |
| Can |
Ability |
I can speak English. |
| Could |
Polite request |
Could you help me? |
| Should |
Advice |
You should sleep early. |
| Must |
Strong rule |
You must follow instructions. |
7. Common Mistakes
- ❌ I can to speak English → ✅ I can speak English
- ❌ You should to go → ✅ You should go
- ❌ He musts come → ✅ He must come
8. Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks:
1. You ___ practice English daily. (should)
2. ___ you please help me? (could)
3. Students ___ follow rules. (must)
4. I ___ speak Hindi and English. (can)
Speaking Task:
Speak 8 sentences using modal verbs.
9. Daily Speaking Practice
- Use “can” to talk about skills.
- Use “could” for polite requests.
- Use “should” to give advice.
- Use “must” only when necessary.
