Modals (or modal verbs) are auxiliary verbs that express necessity, possibility, permission, ability, or requests. They are used alongside the base form of the main verb to provide additional meaning regarding the likelihood or necessity of an action.
Common Modal Verbs
Here are some of the most commonly used modal verbs, along with their meanings:
| Modal Verb | Meaning in English | Meaning in Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| can | Ability or possibility | कर सकता है (क्षमता) |
| could | Past ability or polite request | कर सकता था (अतीत की क्षमता) |
| may | Permission or possibility | अनुमति (संभावना) |
| might | Suggests a lower possibility | हो सकता है (कम संभावना) |
| must | Necessity or strong obligation | ज़रूरत (जरूरी) |
| shall | Future action (formal or legal context) | होगा (औपचारिक) |
| should | Advice or recommendation | सलाह (सुझाव) |
| will | Future intention or prediction | होगा (भविष्य में) |
| would | Polite request or hypothetical situation | होगा (संभावित) |
Uses of Modals
- Ability
- can: Expresses capability.
- Example: She can swim very well. (वह बहुत अच्छी तरह तैर सकती है.)
- could: Past ability.
- Example: When I was young, I could run fast. (जब मैं छोटा था, मैं तेज़ दौड़ सकता था.)
- can: Expresses capability.
- Permission
- may: Formal permission.
- Example: May I leave early? (क्या मैं जल्दी जा सकता हूँ?)
- can: Informal permission.
- Example: You can borrow my book. (आप मेरी किताब ले सकते हैं.)
- may: Formal permission.
- Possibility
- may/might: Indicates possibility.
- Example: It may rain tomorrow. (कल बारिश हो सकती है.)
- Example: She might join us later. (वह बाद में हमारे साथ जुड़ सकती है.)
- may/might: Indicates possibility.
- Necessity and Obligation
- must: Strong obligation or necessity.
- Example: You must finish your homework. (आपको अपना होमवर्क पूरा करना चाहिए.)
- should: Advice or recommendation.
- Example: You should see a doctor. (आपको डॉक्टर से मिलना चाहिए.)
- must: Strong obligation or necessity.
- Requests and Offers
- can/could: Making requests.
- Example: Can you help me? (क्या आप मेरी मदद कर सकते हैं?)
- Example: Could you please pass the salt? (क्या आप नमक दे सकते हैं?)
- would: Polite requests or offers.
- Example: Would you like some tea? (क्या आपको चाय चाहिए?)
- can/could: Making requests.
- Future Intentions
- will: Indicates future actions or decisions.
- Example: I will call you tomorrow. (मैं तुम्हें कल फोन करूंगा.)
- shall: More formal future intentions, often used with “I” and “we.”
- Example: We shall overcome this challenge. (हम इस चुनौती का सामना करेंगे.)
- will: Indicates future actions or decisions.
