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Modal Verbs – Meaning, Use, and Hindi Thinking Traps

Modal verbs छोटे शब्द हैं, लेकिन power बहुत ज़्यादा है।
ये main verb के साथ आते हैं और action के बारे में attitude दिखाते हैं।

Common modal verbs:

can
could
may
might
must
should
shall
will
would

Structure हमेशा simple रहता है:

Subject + modal + base verb

She can swim.
You must study.
I should go.

Rule याद रखें: modal के बाद हमेशा base verb आता है।
Wrong: He can goes ❌
Correct: He can go ✔


1. Can / Could

Can = ability या permission

I can drive. (ability)
Can I come in? (permission)

Could = past ability या polite request

I could swim when I was five.
Could you help me?

Hindi speakers confusion:
“Can you help me?” और “Could you help me?” दोनों सही हैं।
लेकिन “could” ज़्यादा polite लगता है।


2. May / Might

Possibility दिखाते हैं।

It may rain. (possible)
It might rain. (थोड़ा कम strong possibility)

Formal permission:
May I come in?

Daily conversation में “can” ज़्यादा common है।


3. Must

Strong obligation या strong conclusion।

You must wear a helmet. (ज़रूरी है)
He must be tired. (logical conclusion)

Important difference:
Must not = prohibition
You must not smoke here. (बिलकुल मना है)


4. Should

Advice या mild obligation।

You should exercise.
She should talk to him.

“Should” Hindi के “चाहिए” के करीब है।


5. Will / Would

Will = future decision या promise

I will call you.
I will help you.

Would = polite request, imaginary situation, past habit

Would you like tea?
If I had money, I would travel.

Hindi mistake:
“If I will get money…” ❌
Correct: If I get money, I will travel. ✔

Condition sentence में “if” clause में future “will” नहीं आता।


Modal + Perfect Structure

Advanced but important:

Subject + modal + have + V3

He must have left.
(Sure conclusion about past)

She might have missed the train.
(Possibility about past)

यह structure speculation दिखाता है।


Big Thinking Shift

Hindi में हम अलग शब्द use करते हैं:
सकता है, चाहिए, होगा, ज़रूर, शायद।

English में ये छोटे modal verbs वही काम करते हैं।

लेकिन nuance अलग होता है।

Example:

He can be at home.
(Ability)

He may be at home.
(Possibility)

He must be at home.
(Strong assumption)

Same sentence structure, meaning change — सिर्फ modal बदलने से।

यहीं से language mature होती है।


Common Errors

  1. Modal के बाद “to” लगा देना
    He can to swim ❌
  2. Modal के बाद verb में “s” लगाना
    She can plays ❌
  3. Double modal
    He will can go ❌

Deep Insight

Tense time बताता है।
Modal attitude बताता है।

जब आप modal verbs समझ लेते हैं, तो आपकी English mechanical नहीं रहती — expressive हो जाती है।

Language सिर्फ action report करना नहीं है।
Language probability, doubt, advice, order, imagination — सब कुछ express करती है।

अगला logical topic होगा: Active and Passive Voice — क्योंकि voice से focus बदलता है। Action वही रहता है, लेकिन attention shift हो जाता है। वहीं से writing powerful बनती है।

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