In this section, we are going to take a look at the modal verb in a little more detail as well as some examples of how it can be used, giving you a greater understanding of its function.

Learning these rules and how a modal verb can function within a sentence can greatly help you in forming grammatically correct sentences. There are, however, certain rules which surround their use, for example, the word ‘to’ must never be used after a modal verb. Modal Verbs! A modal verb might also be referred to as a ‘ helping verb’ and these are very common within the English language. Verbs that share only some of the characteristics of the principal modals are sometimes called “quasi-modals,” “semi-modals,” or “pseudo-modals.” Certain other verbs are sometimes, but not always, classed as modals these include ought, had better, and (in certain uses) dare and need. The principal English modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would. They can be distinguished from other verbs by their defectiveness (they do not have participle or infinitive forms) and by their neutralization (that they do not take the ending -(e)s in the third-person singular). The modal verbs in English are a small class of auxiliary verbs used to express possibility, obligation, advice, permission, ability. Auxiliary Verbs – Definition and Examples

(The asterisk * indicates that the sentence is not grammatical.They can be distinguished from other verbsby their defectiveness (they do not have participle or infinitive forms) and by their neutralization (that they do not take the ending -(e)s in the third-person singular). = see is not an auxiliary verb it is a full verb. and can take can take not in the negative form,.To distinguish a full verb from an auxiliary verb, you can carry out the following test:

This is a list of English auxiliary verbs:

Auxiliary verbs are also called helping verbs An auxiliary verb is used to add functional or grammatical content to the information expressed by another verb, considered to be the main verb. Basically, auxiliary verbs are function words, a type of closed class which is constituted of words that have a grammatical function as opposed to content words, which are an open class of lexical words.

English helping verbs list pdf