Modal Verbs in English: Rules, Examples & Exercises — الأفعال الناقصة
Modal verbs show ability, permission, possibility, obligation, advice, and more.
الأفعال الناقصة تُظهر القدرة، الإذن، الاحتمال، الالتزام، النصيحة وغيرها.
Quick Rules • قواعد سريعة
- Form: modal + base verb (no “to”): can go, should study.
- الصيغة: فعل ناقص + فعل أصلي بدون to: مثل can go.
- No -s: Modals don’t take -s with he/she/it: She can ✅ not She cans ❌.
- بدون -s: لا نضيف -s مع he/she/it.
- Negatives: can’t, shouldn’t, mustn’t. For have to: don’t/doesn’t have to (lack of necessity).
- النفي: can’t, shouldn’t, mustn’t. مع have to نستخدم don’t/doesn’t have to (عدم الضرورة).
- Questions: Modal before subject: Should I call?
- السؤال: نضع الفعل الناقص قبل الفاعل: Should I…?
- Semi-modals: have to, need to, be able to, be allowed to, ought to (these use to).
- شبه ناقصة: have to, need to, be able to, be allowed to, ought to (تأخذ to).
Mustn’t ≠ Don’t have to
mustn’t = prohibited; don’t have to = not necessary.
mustn’t = ممنوع؛ don’t have to = غير ضروري.
Function Map • خريطة الاستخدام
Ability • القدرة
can now / general • could past • be able to all tenses / specific success.
- I can swim. • I could swim when I was 5. • I was able to finish on time.
- أستطيع السباحة. • كنت أستطيع السباحة عندما كان عمري ٥ سنوات. • تمكنت من إنهائه في الوقت.
Permission • الإذن
can casual • may formal • could polite.
- Can I leave early? • May I come in? • Could I borrow your pen?
- هل أستطيع المغادرة مبكرًا؟ • هل لي أن أدخل؟ • هل يمكنني استعارة قلمك؟
Possibility • الاحتمال
may / might / could = possible, not certain.
- It might rain later. • She could be at work.
- قد تمطر لاحقًا. • ربما تكون في العمل.
Obligation • الالتزام
must strong / internal • have to rule / external.
- You must wear a helmet. • We have to pay taxes.
- يجب أن ترتدي خوذة. • علينا أن ندفع الضرائب.
Advice • النصيحة
should / ought to • had better (stronger / risk).
- You should rest. • You’d better call her now.
- من الأفضل أن ترتاح. • من الأحسن أن تتصل بها الآن.
Requests / Offers • الطلبات والعروض
will willing • would polite • can / could / may requests.
- Will you help me? • Would you like some tea? • Could you open the window?
- هل ستساعدني؟ • هل تود بعض الشاي؟ • هل يمكنك فتح النافذة؟
Modal Tables • جداول سريعة
Core Modals
| Modal | Meaning | Example (EN) | العربية |
|---|---|---|---|
| can / can’t | ability / permission / possibility (general) | She can drive. | تستطيع القيادة. |
| could | past ability / polite request / weak possibility | It could rain. | قد تمطر. |
| may / might | permission (may) / possibility | You may leave now. • It might snow. | يمكنك المغادرة الآن. • قد تتساقط الثلوج. |
| must / mustn’t | strong obligation / prohibition | You mustn’t smoke here. | يُمنع التدخين هنا. |
| should | advice / expectation | You should see a doctor. | من الأفضل أن ترى طبيبًا. |
| will / won’t | future / offers / promises | I’ll call you. | سأتصل بك. |
| would | polite request / typical past habit | When I was a kid, I would read a lot. | عندما كنت صغيرًا، كنت أقرأ كثيرًا. |
Semi-modals
| Form | Use | Example (EN) | العربية |
|---|---|---|---|
| have to / had to | external obligation | I have to wake up early. | عليّ أن أستيقظ مبكرًا. |
| need to / don’t need to | necessity / lack of necessity | You don’t need to come. | لا تحتاج أن تأتي. |
| ought to | advice (like should) | You ought to apologize. | ينبغي أن تعتذر. |
| be able to | ability in any tense | We will be able to help. | سنكون قادرين على المساعدة. |
| be allowed to | permission in any tense | Are we allowed to park here? | هل يُسمح لنا بالوقوف هنا؟ |
Forms • الصيغ
Negatives & Questions • النفي والأسئلة
| Type | Structure | Example (EN) | العربية |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negative | modal + not + base | You shouldn’t drive so fast. | لا ينبغي أن تقود بهذه السرعة. |
| Question | modal + subject + base? | Could you help me? | هل يمكنك مساعدتي؟ |
| Have to (neg.) | don’t/doesn’t + have to + base | You don’t have to come. | ليس من الضروري أن تأتي. |
Modal Perfect & Continuous • الزمن التام والمستمر
| Form | Meaning | Example (EN) | العربية |
|---|---|---|---|
| modal + have + V3 | past speculation / regret / deduction | She must have left early. • You shouldn’t have said that. | لابد أنها غادرت مبكرًا. • لم يكن ينبغي أن تقول ذلك. |
| modal + be + V-ing | present/near-future possibility in progress | He might be sleeping now. | ربما يكون نائمًا الآن. |
| modal + be + V3 | passive | Phones must be turned off. | يجب إطفاء الهواتف. |
| modal + have been + V3 | past passive deduction/advice | The file might have been deleted. | ربما تم حذف الملف. |
Past of “must” for obligation → had to. Example: I had to leave early.
ماضي “must” للالتزام يصبح had to: مثلاً: اضطررت أن أغادر مبكرًا.
Common Mistakes • أخطاء شائعة
-
No “to” after modals ❌
She can to drive.✅ She can drive.
-
No -s with he/she/it ❌
He shoulds study.✅ He should study.
-
Mustn’t vs Don’t have to
You don’t have to smoke here. (means “not necessary”)✅ You mustn’t smoke here. (prohibited)
-
Specific past success
I could finish the test yesterday. (sounds general ability)✅ I was able to finish the test yesterday. / I managed to finish…
-
Spelling in modal perfect
could of / should of✅ could have / should have
Exercises • تمارين
1) She ___ speak three languages. (can / could / should)
2) You ___ park here. It’s for ambulances only. (mustn’t / don’t have to)
3) Take an umbrella. It ___ rain later. (must / might / should)
4) Past obligation: I ___ leave early yesterday. (must / had to / should)
5) Polite offer: ___ you like some tea? (Will / Would / Can)
6) Rewrite with should (advice): “It’s a good idea to drink water.”
Hint • تلميح
You should drink water.7) Rewrite with don’t have to (not necessary): “It isn’t necessary to pay now.”
Hint • تلميح
You don’t have to pay now.8) Modal perfect (past deduction): “I can’t find my keys. They ___ at home.” (must / might / should + have + V3)
Model
They must have been left at home. / They must have stayed at home.9) ترجم: لا ينبغي أن تتأخر.
Model
You shouldn’t be late.10) ترجم (طلب مؤدّب): هل يمكنك/هلّا فتحت النافذة؟
Model
Could you open the window, please?Sentence Builder • مُركِّب الجُمل
Pick a function, then fill the parts to generate a correct modal sentence.
اختر الاستخدام ثم املأ الأجزاء لإنشاء جملة صحيحة بالفعل الناقص.