| 原形 | 过去式 | 词意 | 同义词组 |
| can | could | 能够 | be able to |
| may | might | 可能、也许 | |
| must | must(had to) | 必须 |
 |
| have to | had to | 必须，不得不 | must |
| had better | had better | 最好 | 可以是实义动词和情态动词，主要 |
| need | needed | 需要 | 用于否定、疑问词句中、在肯定 |
| dare | dared | 敢于 | 句中是实义动词 |
| shall | should | 应该 | ought to |
| will | would | 愿意 | |
| ought to | ought to | 应该 | should |
有关情态动词的用法，详见下面各小节。
