2.5.2: Modal Verb Formation and Structure

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Don Bissonnette
South Seattle Community College

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Modal Verb Formation and Structure

Modal Verbs are helping verbs. Therefore, both the negative form and the question form are made by using the modal verbs.

Affirmative Modals

I would go with my father.

You can play video games.

We will do our homework later on.

They might Base Form of the Verb drink some tea.

He should study harder.

She must follow the rules.

It may decide to go.

You could see the moon better.

Negative Modals

I can’t run very fast.

You couldn’t jump high.

He won’t fly to Boston next week.

She wouldn’t Base Form of the Verb report to class on time.

It may not take your time.

We might not smile at his jokes.

They shouldn’t steal anything.

You mustn’t copy someone else’s homework.

Question Modals

May I go home early with my friend?

Will you come to school tomorrow?

Could she ride a bicycle?

Would he Base Form of the Verb help you?

Can it drive safely?

Might we do our work later?

Should they study harder?

Must you leave so soon?

Information Questions (WH Questions) with Modal Verbs

Whom may I go home early with? (Whom replaces the object my friend.)

Where will you come tomorrow?

What could she ride?

Who would help you? (Who replaces the subject he.)

How can it drive?

When might we do our work?

How should they study?

When must you leave?

Simple Present and Future Tenses with Will and Other Modal and Quasi-Modal Verbs

I                might not come to school next quarter.
He             ought to study           many more hours.
She            will study                  next year.
It              will eat                   tomorrow morning.
We            might watch             tomorrow night.
You           must study                in the library.
They      had better not cheat on the exam.

The simple future tense is used for actions in the future. Besides “will,” all of the other modal verbs and quasi-modal verbs may be used with a future meaning.

Future and Present Continuous Tenses with Will and Modals and Quasi-Modal Verbs

I              will              be   sleeping at 2:00 AM tonight.
He       might           be    watching a movie with his girlfriend now.
She       should          be studying       tonight.
It             ought to       be    clearing up later on this evening.
We           must            be    doing grammar now.
You       may             be    visiting your grandmother next month.
They have to         be    worrying about their sick child.

The present and future continuous with will and other modals stresses the on-going action of the modal in the present and future time.

The Future Continuous Tense and the Simple Future Tense

You will be doing some homework this evening.
You will do more homework in this class this quarter.

My family and I will be eating dinner at 7:30 this evening.
My family and I will eat dinner at 7:30 this evening.

The future continuous stresses the verb’s action being in progress at some time in the future. The simple future only says that something will happen in the future.

Note that in all of the examples above that the modal verbs are ALWAYS followed by the base form of the verb. With the continuous modals, that means that they are followed by the base form of the verb To Be: be. And because they are a continuous tense, it also means that the ING form of the verb must also be used.