Synonyms and antonyms of Modal verbs in American Thesaurus

can (modal verb)

to have the necessary ability, knowledge, money, or equipment to do something

can (modal verb)

used for saying that you see, hear, feel, taste, smell, understand, or remember something

can (modal verb)

used for saying whether the situation makes it possible for you to do something at a particular time

can (modal verb)

used for saying that it is possible to do something

can (modal verb)

to be allowed to do something, or to have the right or power to do it

can (modal verb)

spoken used in requests, or when offering or suggesting something

can (modal verb)

used for emphasizing that something should not happen or continue

can (modal verb)

spoken used with verbs such as “say,” “imagine,” or “believe” when you are telling someone about a situation and you want to emphasize how strongly you feel about it

can (modal verb)

used for saying that something sometimes happens or is sometimes possible or true

can (modal verb)

spoken used for saying what someone will have to do, when you are annoyed with them or do not approve of them

can (modal verb)

used when only one opinion, meaning, or decision is possible

cannot (modal verb)

the negative form of can. The less formal way of saying and writing this is can’t

could (modal verb)

spoken used in polite requests, or when offering or suggesting something

could (modal verb)

used for saying that something is possible or that it may happen

could (modal verb)

spoken used for emphasizing how angry, happy, bored, etc. you are

could have (done something) ()

used for saying that perhaps something was true, although you do not really know

could have (done something) ()

used for saying that something was possible in the past, even though it did not happen

I wish someone/something would do something ()

used for saying that you want something to happen or you want a situation to change

may (modal verb)

used for saying that there is a possibility that something is true or that something will happen

may (modal verb)

formal used for saying that it is possible to do something in a particular way

may (modal verb)

spoken used for politely asking someone to let you do something

may (modal verb)

formal used for saying that something is allowed

may (modal verb)

formal used for saying that someone does something in order to achieve a particular purpose

may (modal verb)

formal used for expressing a hope or a wish

might (modal verb)

spoken used for very politely asking permission to do something

might (modal verb)

formal if someone said in the past that you might do something, they gave you permission to do it

might (modal verb)

spoken used for saying that someone did something in order to achieve a particular purpose

might (modal verb)

used for talking about the way in which someone remembers or thinks of a situation

might...but ()

used for saying that although something is perhaps true, this does not change the main fact that you are stating

might have done something ()

used when something was possible but did not in fact happen

might not/might never have done something ()

used when you imagine what the situation would perhaps have been if something had not happened, although it did in fact happen

must (modal verb)

used for saying that you think something is probably true because nothing else seems possible

must (modal verb)

used for saying that it is necessary or important to do something

must (modal verb)

used for ordering someone to do or not do something

must (modal verb)

used for saying that it is your duty to do something

must (modal verb)

mainly British used for emphasizing that you intend to do something. In American English it is more common to use have to or have got to

ought (modal verb)

used for saying what is the right or sensible thing to do, or the right way to behave

ought (modal verb)

used when you have strong reasons for believing or expecting something

ought to have (done something) ()

used when you realize that someone did not do the right thing in the past

shall (modal verb)

British used for saying what you intend to do in the future or what situation you expect to be in

shall (modal verb)

legal used in instructions and legal documents for saying that something must be done

shall (modal verb)

formal used for emphasizing that you are determined that something will definitely happen

should (modal verb)

used for saying or asking about the right or sensible thing to do or the right way to behave

should (modal verb)

used for saying what is correct, especially when the situation is different from this

should (modal verb)

used when you have strong reasons for believing or expecting something

should (modal verb)

used after “if” or instead of “if” for describing a situation that may possibly happen

should (modal verb)

used for saying what someone thinks is important

should (modal verb)

used for saying what someone decides, suggests, or orders

should (modal verb)

used for describing a fact or event that someone has a particular feeling or opinion about

should (modal verb)

formal used for saying what the purpose of an action is

should (modal verb)

British used for making polite requests or statements about what you prefer

should (modal verb)

British used for saying what you would do or how you would feel in a situation that you imagine

should (modal verb)

British used about a situation in the past when you said or knew what you would do or what would happen

should have (done something) ()

used for saying what was the right thing to do when you realize that someone did not do it

something would not work/start/open etc. ()

used for saying that you could not make something do what it was meant to although you tried

used to (modal verb)

used for saying what was true or what happened regularly in the past, especially when you want to emphasize that this is not true or does not happen now

will (modal verb)

used for saying what you expect to happen in the future

will (modal verb)

used for saying what is planned or arranged for a future occasion

will (modal verb)

used for showing that you are fairly certain that something is true

will (modal verb)

used for saying that you are willing to do something or that you intend to do it

will (modal verb)

used for asking someone to do something, especially when you are annoyed

will (modal verb)

used for making a polite offer or invitation

will (modal verb)

used for saying whether something is possible

will (modal verb)

formal used for ordering that something must be done

will (modal verb)

used for saying what always happens in certain situations

will (modal verb)

used for saying that someone has a habit of doing something, especially when you do not approve of what they are doing

would (modal verb)

used for showing what someone expected, intended, promised, etc. when they were thinking or talking about the future

would (modal verb)

used for talking about something that was going to happen after a particular point in the past

would (modal verb)

used for talking about the possible results of a situation that is unlikely to happen or that did not happen

would (modal verb)

used for saying or asking what someone thinks about a possible situation

would (modal verb)

used for saying what someone used to do in the past

would (modal verb)

used for politely asking someone to do something or to let you do something

would (modal verb)

spoken used when making a polite offer or invitation

would (modal verb)

used when you think someone is willing to do something

would (modal verb)

used for saying that someone refused to do something on a particular occasion

would (modal verb)

used for saying that someone was always willing to do something at a time in the past

would (modal verb)

used for politely saying what someone wants to do or wishes they could do

would that ()

used for saying that you wish that something were true, especially when you know that it is impossible

you ought to see/hear/meet etc. ()

used for emphasizing how good, impressive, or unusual something or someone is