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Grammar reference

Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs: Permission and Prohibition

Can, may, be allowed to, must not.

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Explanation

Can is normal for informal permission and may is more formal. Be allowed to covers tenses that can cannot. Must not and cannot both express prohibition, but cannot also means impossibility.

Examples

  • Can I borrow your pen?
  • Visitors may not enter the laboratory.
  • We were allowed to leave early.

Common mistakes

  • Can I to borrow your pen?

    Can I borrow your pen?

    No to after can.

  • You must not to smoke here.

    You must not smoke here.

    No to after must not.

  • I can not come yesterday.

    I was not allowed to come yesterday.

    Past permission needs be allowed to.

More Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs: Obligation and Advice

Must, have to, should, ought to.

Modal Verbs: Deduction and Possibility

Must be, might be, cannot be, should have.

Modal Verbs: Ability and Possibility

Can, could, be able to, manage to.

Polite Requests and Offers

Could, would, will, shall.