Modal verbs

A modal verb expresses the modality of another verb. An example would be: You must go now! In this case “must” indicates the modality. Without modal verbs You cannot express Yourself. Here is a list to get You started.

会 huì – can, fundamentally be able to do something

能 néng – can, able to something under the given constraints

可以 kěyǐ – may

应该 yīnggāi – should

必须 bìxū – must, very formal, because some law requires it or because of an obligation.

得 děi – have to，this is way more informal than 必须

Especially 会 and 能 can cause some headache. Here is how to keep them apart: You 会 walk naked on the street, however You 不能, because some would put You into the mad peoples house. The evil system says: 不可以!

Let’s go for some examples:

你会说汉语吗。
nǐ huì shuō hànyǔ ma – Can You speak Chinese?

星期天不能借书。
xīngqītiān bùnéng jiè shū – At sunday You can’t borrow a book.

我可不可以在这儿抽烟。
wǒ kě bù kěyǐ zài zhèr chōuyān – May I smoke a cigarette here?

你不应该这么做。
nǐ bù yīnggāi zhème zuò – You shouldn’t do this.

我们得商量商量。
wǒmen děi shāngliang shāngliang – We have to talk a bit.

Let’s hope Your girlfriend doesn’t have to say the last one to You, or she might add 你可以走了。

If You can’t read the Chinese, use a firefox plugin like Chinese Pera Kun to translate the Chinese characters.

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• 40 most common radicals