Modal verbs_characteristics

MODAL VERBS

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

Modals 'help' other verbs to express a meaning.Modal verbs have no meaning by themselves. Maribel can only play in women’s teams:

permission Maribel must stop playing in mixed teams:

strong obligation FIFA should allow the mixing of sexes in the

future: advice/opinion FIFA might allow the mixing of sexes:

possibility

CHARACTERISTICS

1. Modal verbs are always followed by a verb in its base formbase form.

EXAMPLES:

You may taketake the book to school.

She may taketake the book to school.

Compare: You taketake the books to school.

She takes takes the books to school.

CHARACTERISTICS

2. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person in the present simple.

EXAMPLES:

He speaksspeaks Chinese. He can  speakspeak Chinese. (NOT- He cans

speak…)

CHARACTERISTICS3. You use "not" to make modal verbs

negative.

EXAMPLES:You must not touchtouch that.They might not comecome to the party.

I cannot eateat any more cakes.

CHARACTERISTICS

4. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.

EXAMPLES:

He will can go with us.  WRONG

She must studied very hard. WRONG

CHARACTERISTICS

5. We make a questions by putting the modal verb before the subject:

EXAMPLES:

Can he speakspeak Chinese?

May she taketake the book to school?