Indicating obligation and willingness

Students' problems

page 2 of 11

Using modals with other verbs

Many students seem to be unaware that all modal verbs must be followed by a bare infinitive. Some students attempt to put in the to:

Some students use an incorrect form of the verb following a modal:

You should never changed your shape again! (TeleNex Students)

I will looking forward to your suggestion. (TeleNex Students)

Next year the Hong Kong Government will has a surplus of $8 billion because of unexpectedly good trading and revenue collection. (TeleNex Students)

A less common problem is where students treat will as a main verb and omit the verb which should follow:

I will [^] by plane from Hong Kong to Tokyo. (TeleNex Students)

For further information about the use of modal verbs to indicate obligation, see
Indicating obligation and willingness: Using modal verbs to indicate obligation.

For further information about the use of modal verbs to indicate willingness, see
Indicating obligation and willingness: Using modal verbs to indicate willingness.

Introduction
Using modals with other verbs
The contracted form of will
Distinguishing between would and will
The modal could
The semi-modal need
The semi-modal dare
Adjectives used to indicate obligation
Distinguishing between nouns and other parts of speech
Distinguishing between suggest and advise
Distinguishing between willing and want