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2.5.1: Modal Verbs

  • Page ID
    122025
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    Modal Verbs

    Can                              These are the eight modal verbs in English. They are helping
    Could                           verbs; therefore, the negative and the question forms of sen-
    Will                              tences involve using them. They are always followed by the
    Would                          base form of the verb. After the modal verbs, there is always
    May                             another verb, the main verb. Never use to between a modal
    Might                           and the main verb. Also, never add anything to the main
    Should                         verb. Never add s, es, ing, or ed.   Never add anything....
    Must

    Examples

    I can teach English.
    In this sentence, the main verb is teach. The modal verb is can. Teach says what I do; can says that I have the ability to teach. Notice there is no change when I use he, she, or it.
    He can teach English. She can teach English. It can teach English.
    Notice there is no s or es added to teach.

    You must type your homework this weekend.
    In this sentence, the main verb is type and the modal verb is must.  Type says what you will do this weekend and must says that you have no choice but to do the work.  It is an obligation.   Notice that there is no to between must and type.

    Common Mistakes

    She should to make dinner for her family every night.

    He must drives his mother to the store tonight

    It might raining in New York now.

    I could played baseball every day when I was a boy..

    I would ate dinner with my mother and father every day.

    The girl will be play with her friends after school tomorrow.

     

           All of the above mistakes are wrong because they either add to between the modal verb and the main verb or because they add something to the end of the main verb.


    This page titled 2.5.1: Modal Verbs is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Don Bissonnette.

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