Modals

A Meaning Layer Before the Main Verb

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can work

ability, permission, request, or possibility

could work

past ability, polite request, or possibility

should work

advice, expectation, or mild obligation

may / might work

permission or possibility

must work

strong obligation or confident deduction

She works. → She can work. · the modal adds meaning; work returns to base.

Meaning/question → modal helper → base verb → check.

Slide 28

Tips

A Meaning Layer Before the Main Verb

  1. Primero nombra la capa de significado: capacidad, permiso, petición, consejo, posibilidad, obligación, deducción o prohibición. Después elige el modal y deja el verbo principal en forma base.
  2. La regla pertenece a los seis core modals de esta clase: can, could, should, may, might, must. No la extiendas automáticamente a have to u ought to.
  3. The listed core modal is invariant and is followed directly by a bare base verb.