Modal Verbs
can, could, should, must, would — used right
Future & Predictions (will / shall)
Future actions, promises, predictions, instant decisions. The Hindi 'गा / गी / गे' form.
willneutral
- Meaning
- Future action, promise, prediction, OR a decision made right now (spontaneous).
- Where it goes
- Between subject and main verb. Verb stays in BARE base form — no 'to', no -s, no -ed.
- Punctuation
- Contracts to 'I'll, you'll, he'll' in speech.
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| I will call you tomorrow. (promise) | मैं तुम्हें कल फ़ोन करूँगा। |
| It will rain today. (prediction) | आज बारिश होगी। |
| OK, I'll get it! (decision made now) | ठीक है, मैं ले आता हूँ! |
I will to call you.
I will call you.
After 'will', NEVER use 'to'. The verb stays bare — say 'I will call you', not 'I will to call you'.
shallformal or old-fashioned — sounds stiff in modern speech
- Meaning
- Mostly British/old-fashioned. Today only used in: (1) suggestions 'Shall we...?' (2) very formal/legal writing.
- Where it goes
- Same as will. Usually only with I/we.
- Punctuation
- Often a question form.
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| Shall we go for a walk? (suggestion) | क्या हम घूमने चलें? |
| I shall return. (formal/dramatic) | मैं लौटूँगा। |
I shall call you tomorrow. (everyday context)
I will call you tomorrow.
In modern English, just use 'will' for everyday future — 'shall' sounds outdated except in suggestions like 'Shall we...?'.
Politeness, hypothesis & past habit (would)
'Would' is very versatile — politeness, conditionals, past habits. Hindi has no clear equivalent, which is why Hindi speakers find it the hardest.
wouldneutral to formal — sounds polite and educated.
- Meaning
- Four main uses: (1) Polite requests/offers. (2) Hypothetical ('if I won...'). (3) Past habits ('When I was young, I would...'). (4) Reported speech of 'will'.
- Where it goes
- Between subject and base verb (no 'to').
- Punctuation
- Contracts to 'I'd, you'd, he'd'.
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| Would you like some tea? (polite offer) | क्या आप चाय लेंगे? |
| I'd like a coffee, please. (polite order) | मुझे एक कॉफ़ी चाहिए, कृपया। |
| If I won the lottery, I would buy a car. (hypothetical) | अगर मैं लॉटरी जीत जाऊँ, तो एक गाड़ी ख़रीदूँगा। |
| When I was young, I would play cricket every evening. (past habit) | जब मैं छोटा था, मैं रोज़ शाम क्रिकेट खेलता था। |
Will you like some tea?
Would you like some tea?
'Will you like' is wrong — use 'Would you like' for polite offers. 'Will' is for prediction; 'would' is for politeness.
Ability & Possibility (can / could)
For showing capability — what you 'can' do. 'Could' is the past form OR a more polite version.
canneutral to informal.
- Meaning
- Three uses: (1) Ability — 'I can swim'. (2) Informal permission — 'Can I leave?'. (3) Possibility — 'It can rain'.
- Where it goes
- Between subject and base verb.
- Punctuation
- Negative: cannot / can't.
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| I can speak three languages. (ability) | मैं तीन भाषाएँ बोल सकता हूँ। |
| Can I use your pen? (informal permission) | क्या मैं तुम्हारा पेन इस्तेमाल कर सकता हूँ? |
| It can get very cold in December. | दिसंबर में बहुत ठंड हो सकती है। |
I can to swim.
I can swim.
Same rule as 'will' and 'would' — NEVER use 'to' after a modal verb. Just the base verb.
couldneutral to formal — more polite than 'can'.
- Meaning
- Three uses: (1) PAST ability — 'I could swim at age 5'. (2) Polite request — 'Could you help?'. (3) Possibility (less certain than can) — 'It could rain'.
- Where it goes
- Between subject and base verb.
- Punctuation
- Negative: could not / couldn't.
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| I could swim when I was 5. (past ability) | जब मैं पाँच साल का था, तब मैं तैर सकता था। |
| Could you help me, please? (polite request) | क्या आप मेरी मदद कर सकते हैं, कृपया? |
| It could rain tonight. (uncertain possibility) | आज रात बारिश हो सकती है। |
I could swim. (meaning: right now I can swim)
I can swim. (current ability)
The default meaning of 'could' is past ability. For current ability, use 'can' — say 'I can swim'.
Possibility & Permission (may / might)
Both show possibility, but 'might' is less certain than 'may'. 'May' is also used for formal permission.
mayformal — more polite than 'can'.
- Meaning
- Two uses: (1) Formal permission — 'May I come in?'. (2) Possibility (50-70% chance) — 'It may rain'.
- Where it goes
- Between subject and base verb.
- Punctuation
- Negative: may not (cannot contract to 'mayn't' in modern English).
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| May I come in? (formal permission) | क्या मैं अंदर आ सकता हूँ? |
| It may rain tonight. (possibility) | आज रात बारिश हो सकती है। |
| You may leave now. (giving permission) | अब आप जा सकते हैं। |
It may has rained yesterday.
It may have rained yesterday.
Modal + perfect form = modal + 'have' + the 3rd form (gone, eaten, seen). 'has' is wrong after a modal.
mightneutral.
- Meaning
- Less certain possibility (30-50% chance). Sometimes used as polite suggestion.
- Where it goes
- Between subject and base verb.
- Punctuation
- Negative: might not.
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| I might go to the party. (not sure yet) | शायद मैं पार्टी में जाऊँ। |
| She might be at home. (guess) | हो सकता है वह घर पर हो। |
| You might want to try this. (gentle suggestion) | शायद आप इसे आज़माना चाहें। |
May vs might confusion
MAY = more confident (60-70%). MIGHT = less confident (30-50%).
'I MAY come' = a slightly higher chance of coming. 'I MIGHT come' = a lower chance, maybe not at all.
Advice & Obligation (should / must / have to)
'चाहिए' is a single word in Hindi, but English has three different strengths: should (advice) → must (strong) → have to (external rule).
shouldneutral.
- Meaning
- Advice, recommendation, expectation — the 'चाहिए' sense.
- Where it goes
- Between subject and base verb.
- Punctuation
- Negative: should not / shouldn't.
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| You should rest. You look tired. (advice) | तुम्हें आराम करना चाहिए। तुम थके हुए लग रहे हो। |
| He should be here by now. (expectation) | उसे अब तक यहाँ आ जाना चाहिए था। |
| You shouldn't smoke. (negative advice) | तुम्हें धूम्रपान नहीं करना चाहिए। |
mustformal or emphatic.
- Meaning
- Two uses: (1) Strong obligation (personal/moral) — 'I must finish this'. (2) Strong logical conclusion — 'He must be tired'.
- Where it goes
- Between subject and base verb.
- Punctuation
- Negative: must not / mustn't (= prohibition, not absence of need).
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| I must finish this report today. (personal urgency) | मुझे आज यह रिपोर्ट ख़त्म करनी ही होगी। |
| You must wear a seatbelt. (rule) | तुम्हें सीटबेल्ट पहननी ही होगी। |
| He must be tired — he worked all night. (logical conclusion) | वह ज़रूर थका हुआ होगा — उसने रात भर काम किया। |
I mustn't go to office tomorrow. (meaning: 'I don't have to go')
I don't have to go to office tomorrow.
'Mustn't' = PROHIBITED (it's not allowed). For 'no need' use 'don't have to' or 'don't need to'.
have to / has toneutral.
- Meaning
- External obligation — rule, schedule, somebody else requires you. Different from 'must' (which is internal).
- Where it goes
- Between subject and full verb (the verb takes 'to' here — this is the exception).
- Punctuation
- Negative: don't have to / doesn't have to (= no need).
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| I have to go to the office at 9. (external rule) | मुझे नौ बजे ऑफ़िस जाना पड़ता है। |
| She has to take care of her parents. | उसे अपने माता-पिता की देखभाल करनी पड़ती है। |
| You don't have to come if you're busy. (no obligation) | अगर तुम व्यस्त हो, तो आना ज़रूरी नहीं है। |
I must to go to office.
I must go to office. / I have to go to office.
NEVER use 'to' after 'must'. But 'have to' is a SINGLE PHRASE — here the 'to' is required.
Bonus: Conditionals ('if' sentences with modals)
Conditionals work hand in hand with modals. Three types — each for a different situation.
Zero conditional — Factsneutral
- Meaning
- Always-true facts. Use simple present in both halves.
- Where it goes
- If + present, ... present.
- Punctuation
- Comma after the 'if' part.
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| If you heat water to 100°C, it boils. | अगर पानी को 100° पर गरम करो, तो उबलता है। |
| If I drink coffee at night, I can't sleep. | अगर मैं रात में कॉफ़ी पीता हूँ, तो सो नहीं पाता। |
First conditional — Real futureneutral
- Meaning
- Realistic future situations. If + present, ... will + base verb.
- Where it goes
- If + present simple, ... + will/can/may + verb.
- Punctuation
- Comma after the 'if' part.
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic. | अगर कल बारिश हुई, तो हम पिकनिक रद्द कर देंगे। |
| If you study hard, you will pass. | अगर तुम मन लगाकर पढ़ोगे, तो पास हो जाओगे। |
If it will rain, we will cancel.
If it rains, we will cancel.
Use the PRESENT TENSE after 'if', even when the meaning is future. NEVER put 'will' inside the 'if' part.
Second conditional — Imaginary present/futureneutral
- Meaning
- Hypothetical, imaginary, unlikely. If + past, ... would + base verb.
- Where it goes
- If + past simple, ... + would/could/might + verb.
- Punctuation
- Comma after the 'if' part.
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| If I won the lottery, I would buy a house. | अगर मैं लॉटरी जीत जाऊँ, तो एक घर ख़रीदूँगा। |
| If I were you, I would apologise. (note: 'were', not 'was') | अगर मैं तुम्हारी जगह होता, तो माफ़ी माँग लेता। |
If I was rich, I will buy a car.
If I were rich, I would buy a car.
In hypotheticals, use 'were' (for all subjects), and use 'would' in the main part, not 'will'.
Third conditional — Imaginary pastneutral
- Meaning
- Past regret, what could have been. If + had + 3rd form, ... would have + 3rd form.
- Where it goes
- If + past perfect, ... + would / could / might have + 3rd form.
- Punctuation
- Comma after the 'if' part.
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| If we had left earlier, we would have caught the train. | अगर हम जल्दी निकले होते, तो हमें ट्रेन मिल जाती। |
| If you had told me, I could have helped. | अगर तुमने मुझे बताया होता, तो मैं मदद कर सकता था। |
If I would have studied, I would have passed.
If I had studied, I would have passed.
In a third conditional, NEVER use 'would' after 'if' — use 'had + the 3rd form'. Say 'If I had studied...'.
Practise
1. Choose the correct sentence:
- Will you like some tea?
- Would you like some tea?
- Do you like to have tea?
- You will like tea?
Show the answer
Would you like some tea?
2. I ___ swim when I was 5 years old.
- can
- could
- will
- would
Show the answer
could
3. If it ___ tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic.
- will rain
- would rain
- rains
- rained
Show the answer
rains
Related lessons
- The 12 TensesMaster all 12 English tenses with Hindi comparison
- ConnectorsLink ideas naturally — and, but, because, although
- Articles & Prepositionsa, an, the and the tricky little words
- Confusing Pairsaffect vs effect, since vs for, and more
Practise this with Vaani
Reading a rule is half of it. Vaani, BolFluent's AI tutor, lets you speak it out loud and corrects you on the spot — in a real conversation.
Try a free call with Vaani