Level A2 (approx. band 3-4) · Academic and General Training Modal verbs are small helper verbs like can, could, must and should. With them, you can say what is possible, what is allowed, what is necessary and what is a good idea. Learners often say "I can to swim", "She musts go" or "You should to rest". In this episode: • Three form rules • Ability: can and could • Permission and polite requests • Obligation: must and have to • Advice: should • Listening lab • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key points: • Modal plus base verb. No to, no -s, and no do in questions. • can for ability now, could for general ability in the past. • Use could you for polite requests, and could I or may I to ask for permission. • mustn't means not allowed. don't have to means not necessary. • should gives advice. must is much stronger. IELTS Complete Course: a self-study podcast from A1 to C2 for Academic and General Training. Listen, pause and answer, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair. Independent course, not affiliated with the IELTS test owners.