What are Modal Verbs?Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences:
1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.
Examples:
· He can speak Chinese.
· She should be here by 9:00.
2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.
Examples:
· He should not be late.
· They might not come to the party.
3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.
Examples:
· He will can go with us. Not Correct
· She musted study very hard. Not Correct
What are the Modal Forms?
Modal verbs can be used in a variety of different forms. Study the examples below.| Modal Simple I could swim at the beach. Modal Continuous I could be swimming at the beach right now. Modal Perfect I could have swum at the beach yesterday. Modal Perfect Continuous I could have been swimming at the beach instead of working in the office. | Passive Modal Simple The room should be cleaned once a day. Passive Modal Continuous The room should be being cleaned now. Passive Modal Perfect The room should have been cleaned yesterday. Passive Modal Perfect Continuous The room should have been being cleaned but nobody was there. (Rare form) |
