Modal Verbs (Can, Could, May, Might, Must)
Modal Verbs (সহায়ক ক্রিয়া — can, could, may, might, must)
Introductionভূমিকা
Modal verbs — can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would — are helping verbs that add meaning to another verb. They let you talk about ability, permission, possibility, obligation and advice, and they are everywhere in natural English.
Modal verb — can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would — হলো সহায়ক ক্রিয়া, যা অন্য একটি verb-এর সাথে বসে তার অর্থ বাড়ায়। এগুলো দিয়ে সামর্থ্য, অনুমতি, সম্ভাবনা, বাধ্যবাধকতা ও পরামর্শ বোঝানো যায়, এবং স্বাভাবিক ইংরেজিতে এদের ব্যবহার অহরহ।
Definitionসংজ্ঞা
A modal verb is always followed by the base form of the main verb (no 'to' and no -s): 'She can swim', 'He must go', 'They might come'.
Modal verb-এর পরে সবসময় মূল verb-এর base form বসে ('to' নয়, -s নয়): 'She can swim', 'He must go', 'They might come'।
Bangla Explanationবাংলা ব্যাখ্যা
Modal verb (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) মূল verb-এর সাথে বসে তার অর্থে সামর্থ্য, অনুমতি, সম্ভাবনা বা বাধ্যবাধকতা যোগ করে। প্রধান নিয়ম: modal-এর পরে verb-এর মূল রূপ বসে (can go, must eat) — কখনো 'to' বসে না, আর third person-এ -s যোগ হয় না (He can, She must, It may)। প্রশ্ন করতে modal ও subject-এর জায়গা বদল হয়: 'Can you help?' না-বোধক করতে modal-এর পরে not বসে: cannot/can't, must not/mustn't, should not/shouldn't। অর্থভেদে: can/could — পারা (সামর্থ্য), may/might/could — হতে পারে (সম্ভাবনা), must/have to — অবশ্যই (বাধ্যবাধকতা), should — উচিত (পরামর্শ)।
Examplesউদাহরণ
- I can speak three languages.আমি তিনটি ভাষায় কথা বলতে পারি।
- You must wear a helmet on a motorbike.মোটরসাইকেলে তোমাকে অবশ্যই হেলমেট পরতে হবে।
- It might rain this afternoon.আজ বিকেলে বৃষ্টি হতে পারে।
- May I come in?আমি কি ভেতরে আসতে পারি?
- She could read when she was four.চার বছর বয়সে সে পড়তে পারত।
- You should see a doctor.তোমার একজন ডাক্তার দেখানো উচিত।
Common Mistakesসাধারণ ভুল
She can to drive.
She can drive.
A modal is followed by the base verb with no 'to' (drive, not to drive).
He cans swim.
He can swim.
Modal verbs never take -s in the third person — 'he can', not 'he cans'.
Do you can help me?
Can you help me?
Modals form questions by inversion, not with 'do' — put the modal before the subject.
You must to go now.
You must go now.
There is no 'to' after 'must' — the base verb follows directly.
Tipsটিপস
- A modal is always followed by the base verb — never 'to' and never -s. — Modal-এর পরে সবসময় verb-এর মূল রূপ বসে — কখনো 'to' নয়, কখনো -s নয়।
- Use 'must' for strong personal obligation and 'have to' for outside rules. — নিজের দৃঢ় বাধ্যবাধকতা বোঝাতে 'must', আর বাইরের নিয়ম বোঝাতে 'have to' ব্যবহার করুন।
- 'Might' shows less certainty than 'may', and both are less certain than 'will'. — 'Might' 'may'-এর চেয়ে কম নিশ্চয়তা বোঝায়, আর দুটোই 'will'-এর চেয়ে কম নিশ্চিত।
Quizকুইজ
Tap an answer to check yourself — a free preview of the full graded quiz in the app.
1. Choose the correct sentence.
2. Which sentence asks for permission politely?
3. Complete: 'You ___ smoke here; it is a hospital.'
4. Which modal is used to give advice?
Practiceঅনুশীলন
Try each one, then reveal the answer.
1. Fill in with a modal of ability: 'When I was young, I ___ run very fast.'
Hint: past ability → could
2. Make it a question: 'You can help me.' → ___ you help me?
Hint: invert the modal and the subject
3. Choose must or mustn't: 'Passengers ___ cross the yellow line.'
Hint: the action is forbidden
Related Lessonsসম্পর্কিত পাঠ
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- Question TagsQuestion tags in Bangla and English: the positive-negative rule, choosing the right auxiliary and pronoun, with clear examples, mistakes and a free quiz.
- Present Simple TenseThe present simple tense in Bangla and English: how to use it for habits and facts, the -s/-es rule, questions and negatives, examples, mistakes and a free quiz.
AI Practiceএআই অনুশীলন
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Practise with the AI teacher →Frequently Asked Questionsসাধারণ জিজ্ঞাসা
What are the main modal verbs in English?
They are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would. They add meanings such as ability, permission, possibility, obligation and advice to the main verb.
Do modal verbs change in the third person?
No. We say 'he can', 'she must' and 'it may' — modal verbs never take -s, -ing or -ed, and they are always followed by the base form of the main verb.
What is the difference between 'must' and 'have to'?
'Must' usually shows the speaker's own strong feeling or rule, while 'have to' shows an obligation that comes from outside, such as a law, a timetable or a boss.