Lesson 24: Modal verbs

Modal verbs express ability, wish, requirement, possibility and permission; their negation and affirmative-negative questions.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 24

你想不想学太极拳？

Nǐ xiǎng bu xiǎng xué tàijíquán?

Do you want to learn Tai Chi?

Explanation

Modal verbs express ability, requirement, wish, possibility and so on, such as 会, 要, 想, 能, 可以… A modal verb goes before the verb. To negate it, use 不. The affirmative-negative question with a modal verb puts the affirmative and negative forms of the modal verb together, not those of the main verb. A modal verb cannot be repeated, and 了 is not added after it.

会 (know how to, will, can)

expresses having the ability to do something; its negative is 不会 + verb. 想 (want to): expresses a wish, a plan or a requirement.

要 (want, need, must)

expresses a requirement to do something. To negate it, use 不想 or 不愿意, not 不要; 不要 or 别 expresses a prohibition or advice against doing something.

能/可以 (can)

express having the ability or the conditions to do something; the negative is 不能; they also express permission given by circumstances or reason.

Note: 会, 想 and 要 are also verbs. When 会 is a verb, it means having mastered a certain skill; when 想 is a verb, it means to think over, to think, or to miss; when 要 is a verb, it means to hope to get something.

Structure

1
Ssubject不optionalđộng từ năng nguyệnVverbOobjectoptional
A modal verb goes before the verb; the negative uses 不; the affirmative-negative question puts the affirmative + negative of the modal verb together, not of the main verb.
- 你会不会打太极拳？
  Nǐ huì bu huì dǎ tàijíquán?
  Can you do Tai Chi?
- 你想不想学太极拳？
  Nǐ xiǎng bu xiǎng xué tàijíquán?
  Do you want to learn Tai Chi?
- A：你会不会打太极拳？ B：我不会打太极拳。
  A: Nǐ huì bu huì dǎ tàijíquán? B: Wǒ bú huì dǎ tàijíquán.
  A: Can you do Tai Chi? B: I can't do Tai Chi.
2
会 / 想 / 要Vverb
会: have the ability to do something; 想: a wish, plan or requirement; 要: a requirement to do something (the negative is 不想 / 不愿意). 不要 / 别 is a prohibition.
- 她会说汉语。
  Tā huì shuō Hànyǔ.
  She can speak Chinese.
- 很多外国学生想来中国留学。
  Hěn duō wàiguó xuésheng xiǎng lái Zhōngguó liúxué.
  Many foreign students want to go to China to study.
- A：今天下午你想不想去商店？ B：我要学太极拳，不想去商店。
  A: Jīntiān xiàwǔ nǐ xiǎng bu xiǎng qù shāngdiàn? B: Wǒ yào xué tàijíquán, bù xiǎng qù shāngdiàn.
  A: Do you want to go to the shop this afternoon? B: I have to learn Tai Chi, so I don't want to go to the shop.
- 请大家不要说话。
  Qǐng dàjiā búyào shuōhuà.
  Please, everyone, don't talk.
- 请大家别说话。
  Qǐng dàjiā bié shuōhuà.
  Please, everyone, don't talk.
3
能 / 可以Vverb
Having the ability or the conditions to do something; 可以 also expresses permission; the negative is 不能.
- 她不能说汉语。
  Tā bù néng shuō Hànyǔ.
  She can't speak Chinese.
- 玛丽感冒了，不能来上课。
  Mǎlì gǎnmào le, bù néng lái shàngkè.
  Mary has a cold and can't come to class.
- 你可以用英语说。
  Nǐ kěyǐ yòng Yīngyǔ shuō.
  You can speak in English.
- A：这儿可以抽烟吗？ B：对不起，这儿不能抽烟。
  A: Zhèr kěyǐ chōuyān ma? B: Duìbuqǐ, zhèr bù néng chōuyān.
  A: Can I smoke here? B: Sorry, smoking is not allowed here.
- A：下午你能不能跟我一起去？ B：对不起，我有事，不能跟你一起去。
  A: Xiàwǔ nǐ néng bu néng gēn wǒ yìqǐ qù? B: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ yǒu shì, bù néng gēn nǐ yìqǐ qù.
  A: Can you go with me this afternoon? B: Sorry, I have something to do and can't go with you.
4
会 / 想 / 要danh từ (khi là động từ)
会: having mastered a skill; 想: to think over, to think, to miss; 要: to hope to get.
- 她会英语，不会法语。
  Tā huì Yīngyǔ, bú huì Fǎyǔ.
  She knows English but not French.
- 她会电脑。
  Tā huì diànnǎo.
  She knows how to use a computer.
- 你们想想这个问题怎么回答。
  Nǐmen xiǎngxiang zhège wèntí zěnme huídá.
  Everyone, please think about how to answer this question.
- 我有点儿想家。
  Wǒ yǒudiǎnr xiǎng jiā.
  I miss home a little.
- A：你要什么？ B：我要一斤苹果。
  A: Nǐ yào shénme? B: Wǒ yào yì jīn píngguǒ.
  A: What would you like? B: I'd like a jin of apples.
- A：你要点儿什么？ B：我要一杯咖啡。
  A: Nǐ yào diǎnr shénme? B: Wǒ yào yì bēi kāfēi.
  A: What are you having? B: I'd like a cup of coffee.

Usage notes

The negative of 要 (requirement) is 不想 or 不愿意, not 不要; 不要 / 别 expresses a prohibition.
When circumstances don't allow it (being ill, having drunk alcohol, etc.), use 不能, not 不会.

Common mistakes

~~你会打不打太极拳？~~
~~你想学不学太极拳？~~
you must put the affirmative + negative of the modal verb: 会不会, 想不想
~~我要学太极拳，不要去商店。~~
correct: 不想去商店
~~对不起，我有事，不会跟你一起去。~~
~~玛丽感冒了，不会来上课。~~
correct: 不能

Practice

27 questions in 3 sets. One at a time, checked instantly, with explanations.

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