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Modality: typical errors

We use the infinitive without to after modal verbs:

  • You really must go to bed now.
  • Not: You really must to go to bed now.
  • I can ski very well now.
  • Not: I can to ski very well now.

Modal verbs have no to-infinitive form, -ing form, -ed past form or -ed form. Because they have only one form, we have to reword what we want to say by using other expressions:

  • We’d like to be able to help you in some way.
  • Not: We’d like to can help you in some way.
  • She had to pay a fine for driving over the speed limit.
  • Not: She musted pay a fine for driving over the speed limit.

We use not or n’t after the modal verb to make the negative form. We do not use don’t/doesn’t/didn’t:

  • You can’t park here.
  • Not: You don’t can park here.
See also
  • Modal verbs

We normally put adverbs after modal verbs:

  • You should always keep your PIN in a safe place.
  • Not: You always should keep your PIN in a safe place. (PIN = Personal Identification Number)
  • We must only stay until 9 pm.
  • Not: You only must stay until 9 pm.
See also
  • Adverbs