ENGLISH MODAL VERBS:
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:
1- These verbs ARE INVARIABLE.
I CAN
I MUST
YOU CAN
YOU MUST
HE/SHE/IT CAN
HE/SHE/IT MUST
WE CAN
WE MUST
YOU CAN
YOU MUST
THEY CAN
THEY MUST
I MAY
YOU MAY
HE/SHE/IT MAY
WE MAY
YOU MAY
THEY MAY
No "-S" in the third
present. He can swim.
[Usare una citazione significativa del
They lack some verb
documento per attirare l'attenzione
by semimodals of a
del lettore o usare questo spazio per
He had to leave. (Not
enfatizzare un punto chiave. Per
doesn't have a simple past
He will be able to do it.
posizionare questa casella di testo in
doesn't have a future form)
un punto qualsiasi della pagina, è
used instead of the modal
sufficiente trascinarla.]
HAVE TO for MUST
BE ABLE TO for CAN
BE ALLOWED TO for CAN, MAY (permission)]
I COULD
YOU COULD
HE/SHE/IT COULD
WE COULD
YOU COULD
THEY COULD
person singular
(Not: *He cans swim)
forms, which are covered
similar meaning.
*He musted leave. Must
form)
(Not *He will can do it. Can
[Semi-modal verbs that are
are:
(obligation)
(ability)
3- They work as AUXILIARY VERBS in the NEGATIVE and QUESTIONS.
Can I open the window? INVERSION
No, you can't open the window, it's cold. MODAL VERB + NOT (N’T)
MUST + NOT = MUSTN’T
CAN+ NOT = CAN’T
COULD + NOT= COULDN’T
4- These verbs are always followed by INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO.
He can swim. (Not * He can to swim)
Not OUGHT TO. You ought to go to the doctor's.
5- PERFECT MODALS: past modal verb+HAVE+Past Participle refer to the past.
She hasn't arrived yet. She might have missed the bus.
You failed the exam. You should have studied more.
Summary chart: