modal verbs

1. Laura Cruz
Rodríguez
English B2-1
UNAB

2. What are modal verbs?
• Helping verbs used together with base form of
main verbs
• Express different types of meanings

4. How do we use modals?
S
Subject
V
Verb
M
Example:
Mary could play the piano

5. Form
He can ski
He cans ski or He can skis
 Would you like to come with me?
Do you would like to come with me?
They can’t be serious
They don’t can be serious
There is no “s” in singular
There is no “do / does” in the question
There is no “don’t / doesn’t” in the (-)

6. Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms
Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to
to can / caning to must /musting
 She must study
 We should have gone the other way
 He could play football in his youth (general
ability)

7. Subject Modal verb Main verb Complement
I
We
They
You
He
She
It
must
can
should
may
will
go to sleep.
drink some water.
eat some food.
do some exercise.
Use the basic form or INFINITIVE of
the main verbs after the modal verbs.