Modal = can, could, should, must + asal verb. can = sakna / ijazat; could = pehle sakna / narm sawal; should = chahiye; must = zaroori. Hunar wala can = topic 16. may / might / have to = topic 45. Order (Sit down) = topic 28.
1. Kya hai
Modal = chhota word jo asal verb se pehle lagta hai: sakna, chahiye, zaroori. Sab ke baad asal verb (jaise sit, help, wear). He/she pe -s nahi.
| Modal | Matlab | Example |
|---|---|---|
| can | hunar (16) + ijazat / maangna | Can I sit here? |
| could | pehle sakna; narm / soft can | I could swim when I was five. Could you help me? |
| should | salah — achha hai / karna chahiye | You should drink water. |
| must | niyam / strong zaroori | You must wear a helmet. |
2. Matlab
| Kab | Yes | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ijazat (permission) | Can I sit here? Yes, you can. | Narm: Could I sit here? Jawab aksar Yes, you can. |
| Maangna | Can you open the window? Could you help me, please? | Could zyada narm. Order nahi — woh topic 28. |
| Pehle sakna | When I was ten, I could ride a bike. I couldn't come yesterday. | Abhi hunar = can (16). I can yesterday galat. |
| Salah | You should sleep early. You shouldn't eat junk food every day. | Dost / doctor ki salah. Party bulane pe must hukm lagta hai. |
| Niyam | Students must wear a uniform. You mustn't use a phone in the exam hall. | mustn't = mat karo (mana). have to = topic 45. |
may / might / have to = topic 45.
3. Tariqa
Charon ka same tariqa: modal + asal verb. Sawal me modal pehle.
| Positive | Negative | Question | |
|---|---|---|---|
| can | I can sit. | I can't sit. / cannot | Can I sit? |
| could | I could swim. | I couldn't swim. | Could you help? |
| should | You should rest. | You shouldn't eat junk food. | Should I call home? |
| must | You must wear a helmet. | You mustn't use a phone. | Must I come? (kam chalta hai) |
Chhota jawab: Yes, you can. / No, you can't. Yes, you should. / No, you shouldn't. Yes, I can — Yes, I'm nahi.
Nahi: to, -s, do / does, don't should, must to.
4. Examples
Bold = modal.
- Can I sit here? Yes, you can.
- Can you open the window?
- Could I use your pen?
- Could you help me, please?
- When I was five, I could swim.
- I couldn't come yesterday.
- You should drink water.
- You shouldn't sleep late.
- Should I call Amma?
- You must wear a helmet.
- Students must come on time.
- You mustn't use a phone in class.
- I can cook rice. (hunar — 16)
- Could you speak slowly, please?
- You should come to the party. (bulana — must nahi)
5. Common mistakes
6. Practice
A. 10 MCQ
B. 5 fill-in
C. 3 sentences
Model answers neeche.
- ijazat / narm maang: Can I …? / Could you …?
- salah: You should …
- niyam: You must … / You mustn't …
7. Answer key
MCQ
- a) Can — ijazat. Do/Am + I sit nahi.
- b) Could you help me, please? — narm maang. Must you = niyam sawal. You help me = hukm (28).
- c) should — salah. must to / can to galat.
- a) must — school niyam. can = ijazat. could = pehle sakna / narm.
- b) could — pehle sakna + when I was. can = abhi. must = niyam.
- c) mustn't — mana. don't should / must to not galat.
- a) study — modal + asal verb. to study / studying nahi.
- b) Yes, you can. — chhota jawab. Yes, I am = be (05). can to nahi.
- a) couldn't — yesterday = pehle. can't = abhi. shouldn't = salah.
- c) You should come to my party. — bulana. must = hukm. must to galat.
Fill-in
- sit — asal verb after can. sitting / to sit nahi.
- drink — should + asal verb.
- could — pehle sakna.
- must — niyam.
- You should study English. — should ke baad to nahi.
Model sentences
- Can I sit here?
- You should drink water.
- You must wear a helmet.
Check: modal + asal verb; Can I / Could you; should = chahiye; must / mustn't = zaroori; could = pehle sakna; no to / no -s / no don't should; may/have to = 45; Sit down = 28.
