What do modals mean?

Can, could, may, must, have to, mustn't, should… Eighteen sentences: what does each modal express?

Need help? Click FR (bottom right) to read the instructions in French.Les consignes sont en français. Cliquez sur EN (en bas à droite) pour revenir à l'anglais.

Help:Aide :

The lesson: what modals meanLa leçon : le sens des modaux

💪 Ability

I can ski. · I can't sing.

When I was ten, I could run fast.

She is able to fix a bike.

Savoir, être capable de. could = capacité au passé.

🙋 Permission

Can I sit here? · Could I sit here? · May I sit here?

Yes, you can.

Demander ou donner la permission : can (familier), could (plus poli), may (formel, très poli).

📋 Obligation

You must stop. · We have to pay.

Last year, I had to work on Saturdays.

Il faut, on est obligé. Au passé : had to.

🆓 No obligation

You don't have to pay. · You don't need to pay. · You needn't pay.

Ce n'est pas obligatoire, pas la peine.

⛔ Prohibition

You mustn't run. · You can't park here.

C'est interdit. ⚠️ mustn't ≠ don't have to. Et can't a deux sens : incapacité (I can't swim) ou interdiction (you can't park here).

💡 Advice

You should rest. · You ought to rest. · You'd better rest.

You shouldn't worry.

Tu devrais, tu ferais mieux de.

🔮 Will, won't, would, shall

I'll help you. (future) · I will always remember. (will)

He won't eat his vegetables! (refusal)

I would buy a boat if I were rich. (conditional)

Shall I carry your bag? (offer)

Futur, volonté, refus (won't = il refuse), conditionnel, proposition (Shall I…? = Veux-tu que je… ?).

🧩 The form

modal + base verbale : she can swim.

Pas de s (she cans), pas de to (can to swim), pas de do (do you can…? → Can you…?). Exceptions : have to, need to, ought to, be able to.

1Read and sortLisez et classez

Look at the modal, then ask yourself: what does the speaker want to say?Regardez le modal, puis demandez-vous : qu'est-ce que la personne veut dire ?

⚠️ can't can mean “not able to” (I can't swim) or “not allowed to” (You can't park here). Read the whole sentence!⚠️ can't peut vouloir dire « ne pas savoir / ne pas pouvoir » (I can't swim) ou « ne pas avoir le droit » (You can't park here). Lisez toute la phrase !

Drag each sentence into the right box (or tap the sentence, then the box).Glissez chaque phrase dans la bonne case (ou touchez la phrase, puis la case).

Ability 💪

like I can ski.comme I can ski.

    Permission 🙋

    like Can I sit here?comme Can I sit here?

      Obligation 📋

      like You must stop.comme You must stop.

        No obligation 🆓

        like You don't have to pay.comme You don't have to pay.

          Prohibition ⛔

          like You mustn't run.comme You mustn't run.

            Advice 💡

            like You should rest.comme You should rest.

              Next step: 2. Nuances and probability