2. 8.1 Overview of Modals
The modal verbs are can, could, should,
would, may, might and must.
3. 8.1 Overview of Modals
Examples Explanation
A renter must sign a lease.
A tenant can ask for changes
before signing the lease.
The base form of the verb follows
a modal.
A modal never has an –s ending.
You should not pay your rent late.
I cannot understand my lease.
To form the negative, we put not
after the modal. The negative can
is written as one word: cannot.
The contraction of cannot is can’t.
If you don’t trust the landlord, you
should probably look for another
apartment.
We can put an adverb between
the modal and the main verb.
4. 8.1 Overview of Modals
Observe these patterns with a modal:
AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENT We can have a cat in the
apartment.
NEGATIVE STATEMENT We can’t have a dog.
YES/NO QUESTION Can we have a bird?
SHORT ANSWER Yes, you can.
WH- QUESTION Why can we have a cat?
NEGATIVE WH- QUESTION Why can’t we have a dog?
SUBJECT QUESTION Who can have a dog?
