Modals

Two Rules That Never Move

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Rule 1 · invariant

I can · he can · they can · never “cans”

Rule 2 · bare verb

can go · should rest · must leave · no “to”

Negation

can’t · couldn’t · shouldn’t · mustn’t · may not · might not

Question

Can you help? · Could she call? · Should we leave?

Correct: She can go. · Incorrect: She cans go. · Incorrect: She can to go.

These rules apply to the six listed core modals: can, could, should, may, might, must.

Slide 29

Tips

Two Rules That Never Move

  1. Los seis core modals listados son invariantes y toman directamente un bare base verb: I can go, she can go, they can go.
  2. Después del modal no uses to ni -s: “She can go,” no “can to go” ni “can goes.”
  3. Pregunta: Can she leave? Negación: She cannot/can’t leave. El modal se mueve o recibe not; no añadas do.