What are modal auxiliaries?
- they are special verbs to express rules, needs, abilities, or obligations
- can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would, and need are modal auxiliaries
Examples
We can play volleyball. → Wir können Volleyball spielen.
I must do my homework. → Ich muss meine Hausaufgaben machen.
Rules
- we don’t need the 1st-person-singular-s (He-She-It-rule)
- they are followed by a main verb in infinitive form → She can play volleyball.
- beside could & would they cannot be set into other tenses → modal substitutes
- questions are formed without do/does/did → Can she play volleyball?
What are modal substitutes?
- verbs that replace the modal auxiliaries in the past and in the future
- to be able to, to be allowed to, to have (had/will have) to are modal substitutes
- could and should can only be use in the past
Examples
We were allowed to go to the cinema. → Wir durften ins Kino gehen.
I will be able to get the mark 1 in maths. → Ich kann eine 1 in Mathe bekommen.
I will have to do my homework by 8.00 pm. → I muss meine Hausaufgaben bis um 8 machen.
Rules
- same rules as for the modal auxiliaries
