← English Grammar

Modal verbs

Easy · TOEFL style

The rules
  • After a modal verb, use the base form of the verb: She can swim.
  • Modals never add -s and are not followed by to (except ought to): He must wear a helmet.
  • Use a modal plus have plus the past participle to talk about the past: You should have called me.
  • Must have shows you are sure about the past, and might, may or could have show it is possible: The road is wet, so it must have rained.
  • Had better and would rather are followed by the base form: You had better leave now, and I would rather walk.
  • Have to is used for obligations in any tense, since must has no past form: Yesterday we had to wait.
  • Mustn’t means something is not allowed, but don’t have to means it is not necessary: You don’t have to pay, but you mustn’t touch.

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