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- Can, want and must: modal verbs
Can, want and must: modal verbs
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Modal verbs let you say what you can, want to and must do. They are followed by an infinitive.
The three modal verbs
Modal + infinitive
Je peux sortir ? = Can I go out?
Je veux aller en France. = I want to go to France.
On doit porter un uniforme. = We must wear a uniform.
Je voudrais (I would like) is a polite form of vouloir: Je voudrais un café.
Je veux aller en France. = I want to go to France.
On doit porter un uniforme. = We must wear a uniform.
Je voudrais (I would like) is a polite form of vouloir: Je voudrais un café.
Il faut and negatives
Il faut + infinitive = you have to / it is necessary to: Il faut manger sainement. It never changes.
Negative: ne ... pas goes around the modal verb: Je ne peux pas venir. = I can't come.
On ne doit pas utiliser son portable en classe. = We must not use our phones in class.
Negative: ne ... pas goes around the modal verb: Je ne peux pas venir. = I can't come.
On ne doit pas utiliser son portable en classe. = We must not use our phones in class.
Translate: I want to go to the cinema but I must do my homework.
- I want to go: je veux aller.
- to the cinema: au cinéma.
- but I must do my homework: mais je dois faire mes devoirs.
Answer: Je veux aller au cinéma mais je dois faire mes devoirs.
Pouvoir (peux, peut, peuvent), vouloir (veux, veut, veulent) and devoir (dois, doit, doivent) + infinitive. Il faut + infinitive = you have to. Negative: je ne peux pas + infinitive.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
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