Modal Verbs for beginners

Modal Verbs

​for beginners.

1. Ability

2. Possibility

3. Permission

4. Obligation

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​MODAL VERBS ARE USED TO EXPRESS

​TO GIVE DIFFERENT MEANINGS TO WHAT WE WANT TO SAY.

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WE COMBINE THEM WITH OTHER VERBS...

​I + WILL + GO = YES, I'M GOING

​I + MAY + GO = MAYBE, I'M GOING

​​ABILITY

Can
Can't (Cannot)

​​POSSIBILITY

​​PERMISSION

​​OBLIGATION

Will
May
Might

Can
Could
May

Have to
Must
Ought to
Should

​A MODAL VERB CAN HAVE DIFFERENT USES...

They don't use an "S" for the third person singular.
They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb without "to"

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​AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES

THIS IS HOW WE USE A MODAL

​SHE + CAN + SWIM

​INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES

They go "first" when making questions.

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​CAN + SHE + SWIM + ?

We use the negative form of the modal, most of the time we just add "NOT" to the modal verb.

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​NEGATIVE SENTENCES

THIS IS HOW WE USE A MODAL

​SHE + CAN + NOT + SWIM

I + MAY + NOT + GO

But be careful, some of the modals have a different negative form.

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​SHE + won't + SWIM

​SHE + ought not to + SWIM

​Let's study them by their uses...

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NOW that YOU KNOW A LITTLE MORE ABOUT MODAL VERBS...