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Modals are verbs that are used to indicate modality i.e. the mood or the attitude of the speaker which may be likelihood, ability, obligation, request, wish, duty and suggestion etc. The commonly used modals are can, could, may, might, would, shall, should, need, must and ought etc.

MODALS	USAGE	EXAMPLES
Can	To express ability	I can speak Russian fluently.
Can	To request permission	Can I open the door?
Could	To request politely	Could you please do it for me?
May	To express possibility	It may rain.
May	To request permission	May I come in?
May	Wish or Prayer	May you live long!
May	Purpose	He works hard so that he may pass.
Might	Less possibility	She might be sleeping now.
Must	To express obligation	You must leave now.
Must	To express strong belief	He must beover 80 years old.
Must	Logical certainity	Living alone in such a big city must be difficult.
Should	To give advice	You should stop smoking
Should	To express probability	We should obey the laws.
Should	To express probability	She should be in temple.
Would	To request or Offer	Would you like to have a cup of tea?
Would	Habitual action or Past routine	She would study at noon.
Would	Wish	I would be glad to help you.
Ought *	To express moral obligation	We ought to love our parents
Will	Wish, Request, Demand	Will you please pick up the phone?
Will	Prediction, Assumption	I think it will rain on Monday.
Will	Promise	I will quit smoking.
Will	To express habits	Her mom is strange; she will sit for hours without talking.
Need not	To express an action which is not necessary	He need not go there again.

* (it is stronger than should and must)

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