Modal verbs are used to express meanings like permission, obligation, possibility with other verbs but have no meaning themselves. Modal verbs are always followed by the base form of other verbs. They do not take -s in the third person present simple and use "not" for negation. Many modal verbs cannot be used in past or future tenses and questions are formed by placing the modal verb before the subject.

1. MODAL VERBS
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

2. 
Modals 'help' other verbs to express a
meaning.Modal verbs have no meaning
by themselves.




Maribel can only play in women’s teams:
permission
Maribel must stop playing in mixed teams:
strong obligation
FIFA should allow the mixing of sexes in the
future: advice/opinion
FIFA might allow the mixing of sexes:
possibility

3. CHARACTERISTICS
1. Modal verbs are always followed by a verb in
its base form.
form
EXAMPLES:
You may take the book to school.
She may take the book to school.
Compare: You take the books to school.
She takes the books to school.

4. CHARACTERISTICS
2. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third
person in the present simple.
EXAMPLES:

He speaks Chinese.

He can speak Chinese.
(NOT- He cans speak…)

5. CHARACTERISTICS
3. You use "not" to make modal verbs
negative.

EXAMPLES:
You must not touch that.
They might not come to the party.
I cannot eat any more cakes.

6. CHARACTERISTICS
4. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the
past tenses or the future tenses.

EXAMPLES:
He will can go with us. WRONG
She must studied very hard. WRONG

7. CHARACTERISTICS
5. We make a questions by putting the
modal verb before the subject:

EXAMPLES:
Can he speak Chinese?
May she take the book to school?