A2 · Elementary Chapter 13

Modal Verbs: Advice, Possibility and Habits

3 Total Rules
12 examples
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of giving advice, predicting possibilities, and sharing past stories with ease.

  • Suggest actions using should and shouldn't.
  • Express future possibilities with might and may.
  • Describe past habits using used to.
Unlock the power of modal verbs.

What You'll Learn

Expand your modal verbs toolkit. Learn should for advice, might/may for possibility, and used to for talking about past habits and states.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: give helpful advice to a friend about a problem.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: describe past life changes to a colleague.

Key Examples (6)

1

You should see a doctor if you feel sick.

Should and Shouldn't: Giving Advice
2

She shouldn't work so late every night.

Should and Shouldn't: Giving Advice
3

I might go to the gym later — I'm not sure yet.

Might and May: Talking About Possibility
4

She may be late — there's a lot of traffic.

Might and May: Talking About Possibility
5

I used to have long hair, but I cut it last year.

Used To: Past Habits and States That Changed
6

She used to smoke, but she quit two years ago.

Used To: Past Habits and States That Changed

Tips & Tricks (3)

💡

Keep it simple

Don't overthink the grammar. Just use 'should' + base verb.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Should and Shouldn't: Giving Advice
💡

Might = not sure

Use might when you are not 100% sure. I WILL go = certain. I MIGHT go = possible, maybe 50/50.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Might and May: Talking About Possibility
💡

The 'd' rule

Remember: No 'd' if you see 'did' or 'didn't'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Used To: Past Habits and States That Changed

Key Vocabulary (5)

suggestion an idea or plan for someone to do uncertain not sure about something habit something you do regularly advice guidance on what to do possibility the chance that something might happen

Real-World Preview

plane

Planning a Weekend Trip

Review Summary

  • Subject + should + verb
  • Subject + might + verb
  • Subject + used to + verb

Common Mistakes

Modals never take an 's' in the third person. Keep the verb base form.

Wrong: He shoulds go home.
Correct: He should go home.

The past habit form is 'used to' with a 'd'.

Wrong: I use to play soccer.
Correct: I used to play soccer.

Do not use 'to' after modal verbs like might or should.

Wrong: It might to rain.
Correct: It might rain.

Next Steps

You are doing an amazing job. Keep practicing these structures in your daily conversations!

Write a 5-sentence story using 'used to' to describe your childhood.

Continue to: Key Verbs: Go, Get, Do, Make and Phrasal Verbs

Quick Practice (9)

Choose the best answer.

___ I call him?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Should
Should is the modal for questions.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Should and Shouldn't: Giving Advice

Find the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

You should to go home.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: You should go home.
No 'to' after should.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Should and Shouldn't: Giving Advice

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Did you use to live here?
Use 'Did' + 'use to'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Used To: Past Habits and States That Changed

Fill in the blank.

I ___ play soccer when I was young.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: used to
The correct form is 'used to'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Used To: Past Habits and States That Changed

Fill in the blank.

You ___ eat more fruit.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: should
Should is the correct modal.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Should and Shouldn't: Giving Advice

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

She may to arrive soon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She may arrive soon.
Remove 'to'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Might and May: Talking About Possibility

Fill in the blank.

I ___ go to the store later.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: might
Might is the correct modal form.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Might and May: Talking About Possibility

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

I didn't used to like fish.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I didn't use to like fish.
Drop the 'd' after 'didn't'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Used To: Past Habits and States That Changed

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He might go.
No 's' or 'to'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Might and May: Talking About Possibility

Score: /9

Common Questions (6)

No, use 'should have' + past participle for past regrets.
It is neutral. It works in both casual and professional settings.
Yes, in most casual contexts, they mean the same thing.
Modal verbs are special and don't conjugate for the third person.
No, only for habits or states that have stopped.
Because 'didn't' already marks the past tense.
Previous Chapter
The Future: Arrangements and Predictions
Next Chapter
Key Verbs: Go, Get, Do, Make and Phrasal Verbs
Back to Roadmap