ESL

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are special verbs in English.
They are followed by a verb in the 'bare infinitive' (base form).

can - for example: He can see the sky. (not 'sees')
could - He could see the sky.
may - He may eat a cookie.
might - He might eat a cookie.
will - He will eat a cookie.
would - He would eat a cookie if he was hungry.
must - He must eat a cookie because he is starving.
shall - He shall eat a cookie if he finds one.
should - He should eat a cookie because he is too thin.
ought to - He ought to eat a cookie because he is too thin.