Modals at A2: could, should, may, might, must, have to
- Express ability, advice, possibility, and obligation with A2-level modals.
- TR: Yetenek, tavsiye, olasılık ve zorunluluk için kip fiilleri kullanmak.
- Success check: give one advice, one rule and one ban aloud.
- TR: Bu derste must ile have to farkını öğreneceksin.
Start the 8-question quizAdapts to your answers · every miss links back to the rule
Rule in 60 secondsThe one pattern to memorise.
- Modals never take -s and are followed by bare infinitive: She can swim, He must go.
- Negative: modal + not (can't, shouldn't, mustn't). Question: Modal + S + V? (Could you…?)
- must = strong personal obligation; have to = external rule; mustn't = prohibition (yasak).
- TR: Modalden sonra fiil yalın gelir. mustn't = yasak, don't have to = gerek yok.
- Bare verb rule: can go and must go — never can to go.
- Ban vs no need: mustn't = yasak; don't have to = gerek yok.
FormsHow it looks in sentences.
| Modal | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| can / could | ability, request, permission | She could swim at five. / Could you help me? |
| should / shouldn't | advice | You should rest. / You shouldn't hurry. |
| may / might | possibility, permission | It may rain. / May I come in? |
| must / mustn't | strong obligation / prohibition | You must wear a seatbelt. / You mustn't smoke here. |
| have to / don't have to | rule / no necessity | I have to wear a uniform. / You don't have to run. |
- Past of ability: could (I couldn't sleep). Advice regret: should have + V3 (B1, just recognise it).
- might = slightly less certain than may; both + base verb.
- TR: could geçmiş yetenek; should tavsiye; may/might olasılık; must güçlü zorunluluk.
- Permission pair: May I come in? / Could you help me?
- Advice form: You should rest. / You shouldn't hurry.
- Obligation pair: must = my rule; have to = their rule.
3 classic trapsWhere Turkish speakers slip.
- to after modal: ❌ *You must to go.* → ✅ *You must go.* (TR: Modalden sonra to gelmez — have to hariç.)
- mustn't vs don't have to: ❌ *You don't have to smoke here.* (for a ban) → ✅ *You mustn't smoke here.* (TR: Yasak = mustn't; gereksizlik = don't have to.)
- -s on modal: ❌ *He cans swim.* → ✅ *He can swim.* (TR: Modallar kişi eki almaz.)
10 example sentencesRead aloud, twice.
- She could read at the age of four. — Dört yaşında okuyabiliyordu.
- Could you open the window, please? — Camı açar mısın lütfen?
- You should see a doctor. — Doktora görünmelisin.
- You shouldn't drink cold water. — Soğuk su içmemelisin.
- It might rain this evening. — Bu akşam yağmur yağabilir.
- May I use your phone? — Telefonunu kullanabilir miyim?
- You must stop at red lights. — Kırmızıda durmalısın.
- You mustn't park here. — Buraya park edemezsin — yasak.
- We have to be at school by 9. — Saat 9'a kadar okulda olmalıyız — kural.
- You don't have to bring food. — Yemek getirmene gerek yok.
Quick checkCover the answers, say yours first.
- Q1: Fill in: You ___ (should / shouldn't) eat so fast. (advice: don't)
- Q2: Choose for a ban: You ___ (mustn't / don't have to) touch that.
- Q3: Correct the error: *He must to study.*
- Q4: Which shows possibility: "It may snow" or "It must snow"?
- Q5: True or false: "She cans drive." is correct.
- Q6: Choose for no need: You ___ (mustn't / don't have to) pay now.
<summary>Answers</summary> - A1: shouldn't - A2: mustn't - A3: He must study. - A4: "It may snow" - A5: False — "She can drive." - A6: don't have to.