Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs

1. There are 8 principal modal verbs (9 with "Ought to")

   • But it could be even more with "Have to", "Need", "Able to"....
   • Will
     • Simple future tense
   • Would
     • Action with condition
   • Should
     • "Debería"
   • Must
     • "Debe"
   • Can
     • "Poder"
   • Could
     • "Podría"
       • Conditional form of "Can"
   • May
     • Permission
   • Might
     • Doubt about an action
   • Ought to
     • "Debería"
       • Objective truth

2. Unlike auxiliary verbs, these are not conjugated

   • Excepting "Have to"

3. Also these verbs aren't used for tenses

   • Excepting "Will"

4. Subject + Modal + Verb

   • Affirmative Sentences

5. Modal + Subject + Verb

   • Questions

6. Subject + Modal + Not + Verb

   • Negative Sentences
     • Negative Modal Verbs
       • Will not / Won't
       • Would not / Wouldn't
       • Should not / Shouldn't
       • Must not / Mustn't
       • Can not / Can't
       • Could not / Couldn't
       • May not / Mayn't
       • Ought not to / Oughtn't to
       • Might not / Mightn't

7. You can't combine Modal Verbs

   • You can't combine Modal Verbs and Auxiliary Verbs

8. Modal + Not + Subject + Verb

   • Negative Questions