Modal Verbs Made Simple

A Parent’s Guide to “Might, Should, Must” and More

Modal Verbs

By Year 5, UK pupils meet modal verbs—small but mighty words that change how certain a statement sounds. If your child’s homework asks them to identify or use modal verbs, this guide gives you clear definitions, a handy master list, and quick activities to help them nail the concept.

1. What Is a Modal Verb?

A modal verb is a special type of auxiliary (helping) verb that:

1. Works with the main verb (e.g. can swim, should finish).

2. Never changes its form (he can, they can—not cans).

3. Expresses possibility, ability, permission, obligation, or advice.

Example:“You must wear a helmet.”

must shows obligation—the action isn’t optional.

2. The Complete Year 5–Friendly Modal Verb List

Function	Common Modal Verbs	Example Sentence
Possibility	may, might, could	“We might go camping this weekend.”
Certainty	will, shall	“I will finish my project tonight.”
Ability	can, could	“She can speak French.”
Permission	may, can	“You may have a biscuit.”
Obligation / Necessity	must, have to, need to, ought to	“Cyclists must wear lights after dark.”
Advice / Suggestion	should, ought to, had better	“You should save your work often.”
Conditional (with if)	would, could, might	“If it rained, we would stay inside.”

Teacher tip: Children don’t need to memorise every nuance—focus on can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would to cover most test questions.

3. Quick Ways to Spot a Modal Verb

1. Look before the main verb. Modals always come first: modal + infinitive (“can cook,” “should study”).

2. No –s ending. If your helper verb adds –s (e.g. works), it’s not a modal.

3. Swap test. Substitute might or should—if the sentence still makes sense grammatically, the original word was probably a modal.

   
   

4. Kid-Friendly Explanation

“Modal verbs are like volume knobs for verbs—they turn actions up to ‘must do’, down to ‘might do’, or somewhere in between.”

5. Fun Practice Ideas at Home

a) Modal Charades

Write actions (eat sprouts, jump in puddles) on slips. Players draw a modal card (“must,” “might,” “should”) and act out the sentence for others to guess.

b) Certainty Thermometer

Draw a thermometer on paper. Mark the top 100% (must / will), middle 50% (might), bottom 0% (can’t). Give scenarios and let your child place each modal where it fits.

c) EnglishFun Modal Verbs Practice Questions

Go to our Modal Verbs topic and do some practice questions to become experts in Modal Verbs.

6. Common Pitfalls—and Simple Fixes

Mistake	Fix
Using two modals together (will can go)	Stick to one modal before the verb.
Adding “to” after a modal (must to go)	Use bare infinitive: must go.
Confusing may (permission) and can (ability)	Practise scenarios: “May I?” vs “I can.”

7. Why Modal Verbs Matter in Year 5

• KS2 Writing Targets – National curriculum expects pupils to “indicate degrees of possibility using modal verbs.”

• Reading Comprehension – Understanding modals helps children infer how likely or mandatory events are in a text.

• Real-World Politeness – Choosing could or might softens requests; must or should shows urgency or obligation.

  
  

Final Takeaway

Modal verbs are tiny helpers that pack a punch, shifting a sentence from certain to possible, from polite to firm. Share the list, play a few games, and watch your child confidently sprinkle might, should, and must into their writing—turning basic sentences into nuanced statements.

Happy modal-ling!