An introductory explanation to modals in English.

1. MODALS
EXAMPLES
Can
Could
May
Might
Will
Would
Should
Must
FORM
1. They do not change for 3rd
person.
He can come here NOT He canscome here
2. The modal acts like the verb ‘be’. In questions it goes before the
subjectand in negatives it uses ‘not’. Thereforethere is no useof do,
does or did in questions, negatives and shortanswers. (can is slightly
irregular in negative: cannot)
Can you speak English? NOT Doesyou can speak English?
He can’tplay football NOT He doesn’tcan play football
Can we go to the cinema? Yes, we can NOT Yes, we do can.
3. They do not have infinitives: no ‘to can’, ‘to must’, etc.
4. In the present and futurethey are always followed by the infinitive of
the verb without ‘to’
We can speak English NOT We can to speak English