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Modal Verbs (Must / Can / Want)
A2·ElementaryMust, can and want, each followed by the subjunctive
Lesson Overview
15 exercises · Level 3
Grammar Explanation
Modal Verbs (must / can / want)
Now that you know the subjunctive, modals are easy: every modal is followed by a subjunctive verb. There's no "to" and no infinitive, just modal + subjunctive.
The Pattern
modal + subjunctive verb
| Phonetic | Translation |
|---|---|
| baayad beram | I must go |
| mitoonam beram | I can go |
| mikhaam beram | I want to go |
| shaayad beram | Maybe I'll go |
The Four Modals
| Phonetic | Translation | Conjugates? |
|---|---|---|
| baayad | must / should | No, fixed |
| mitoonam | can | Yes |
| mikhaam | want | Yes |
| shaayad | maybe | No, fixed |
Key Points
- baayad never changes. Only the second verb shows the person: "baayad beri" (you must go), "baayad berim" (we must go).
- mitoonam and mikhaam conjugate normally, and the subjunctive after them agrees with the same person: "mitooni beri" = you can go.
- shaayad is fixed like baayad: "shaayad bere" = maybe he'll go.
- Negative: nabaayad (must not), nemitoonam (can't), nemikhaam (don't want).
- The subjunctive is be- + present stem + ending, the form you learned in the last topic.
Examples
| Phonetic | Translation |
|---|---|
| baayad beri | You must go |
| mitoonam komak konam? | Can I help? |
| mikhaam bekhoram | I want to eat |
| nemitoonam biaam | I can't come |
| shaayad farda biaad | Maybe he'll come tomorrow |