Must, might, should? Read the gauge.
Every modal sits somewhere on a scale: how sure you are, how necessary something is, how polite you sound. See where yours is, then test yourself with a short quiz.
She's been working all day. She must be tired.
Almost certain, from the evidence. must be →
Which modal? Answer two questions.
Think of what you want to say.
All the modal gauges
Three gauges: how sure, how necessary, how polite.
The pairs people mix up
You understand it. Now find it in your own writing.
Paste an email or an essay. Clarigram marks the mistakes you actually make, shows the rule behind each one as a picture, and builds your practice from them.
Questions people ask
What are modal verbs?
Small verbs that change the meaning of the main verb: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would. They show how sure, how necessary or how possible something is. Have to, need to and be able to work in a similar way.
What's special about modal verbs?
They never change form (no -s, no -ed), and they're followed by the base verb without to: She can swim, not She cans swim or She can to swim.
How do I talk about the past with modals?
Some have past forms (could, had to), and the others use have + past participle: must have gone, should have called, might have forgotten.