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Modul Guru Pembelajar Bahasa Inggris Kelompok Kompetensi Profesional B
Modal verbs cannot be used with another modal verb:
Windsurfing can be difficult.
Not: Windsurfing can might be difficult. or Windsurfing might can be difficult.
Modal verbs always go before other verbs in a verb phrase: [in a restaurant after a meal]
I think the bill could be expensive.
Not: I think the bill could expensive.
You can go swimming, go for a long walk or visit the exhibition.
Not: You can swimming, go for a long walk or visit the exhibition. Modal verbs can only be used alone when the main verb is clearly
understood:
A: She could take the bus.
B: Yeah, that’s true. She could. She could take the bus.
A: He may be wrong, you know. B: Yes, he
may. Yes, he may be wrong.
2. NEGATIVE − FORMS
Warning: Negatives are formed by adding ‘not’ after the modal verbs. We don’t use
don’tdoesn’tdidn’t with modal verbs:
We can’t hear very well at the back.
Not: We don’t can hear very well …
3. QUESTION ? FORMS
Warning: The subject and the modal verb change position to form questions. We don’t
use dodoesdid:
Could you help me?
Not: Do you could help me?
Will it be a problem?
Modul Guru Pembelajar Bahasa Inggris Kelompok Kompetensi Profesional B
11 Not: Does it will be a problem?
Why can’t you come too?
Not: Why don’t you can come too? We use modal verbs in question tags:
You can’t live like that, can you? It could be any of those things, couldn’t it?
1 CAN CAN: FORMS
AFFIRMATIVE + FORM Can comes first in the verb phrase after the subject and before another
verb:
We [verb phrase] can take the train to Birmingham.
Can is never used with another modal verb:
He can hear the music from his room sometimes.
Not: He can might hear the music … or He might can might hear the music …
NEGATIVE − FORM The negative form of can is can’t. We don’t use don’tdoesn’tdidn’t with can:
I can’t believe you said that
Not: I don’t can believe you said that We can use the full form cannot one word in formal contexts or when we
want to emphasise something:
I cannot understand why she behaves like that. QUESTION ? FORM
Warning: The subject and can change position to form questions. We don’t use
dodoesdid:
Can this really be true?
