3 common errors involving modal verbs
The vast majority of my students in 10 years of teaching English have been Spanish speaking, mainly from Spain. Here are 3 common errors with regard to modal verbs. Modal verbs are verbs that most of the time are used to adapt the meaning of the verb that follows. The explanations below can also apply to students whose first language is not Spanish.
1. Modal verbs shouldnโt have a preposition after them:
Many students incorrectly say โhe can to come at 8โ or โthey must to go running this eveningโ. However, all modal verbs except for โought toโ are followed by the base form of a verb (or infinitive) with no preposition after the modal. Some examples:
I should go to visit them.
I think it will rain tomorrow.
Things could have been better.
Someone may have seen them.
They might be home tomorrow.
They may be late.
They would have known if they had gone to the seminar.
He can come by anytime.
You must get that project finished.
I shall hand-in the paper on time.
2. Modals donโt have different tense forms like regular and irregular verbs:
Remember that modal verbs canโt be switched from tense to tense like normal verbs. For example, we cannot say โwe musted do the homeworkโ or โI will must to study Norwegianโ. In other words, they do not have a participle or a past form.
3. Modals cannot appear together:
Also, modal verbs cannot appear together in the same sentence. Many people say โI will can go out tonightโ. This is very incorrect. Since โwillโ and โcanโ are both modal verbs we need to use โto be able toโ after โwillโ. So the correct sentence would be โI will be able to go out tonightโ. This would translate in Spanish as โYo podrรฉ salir esta nocheโ and in French as โJe peux sortir ce soirโ.
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