English The Easy Way : English Grammar : Various Verb Tenses

Usage of the Modal Verb Tense

Rules for using verb tenses:

1. Sentences using verbs do not use "auxiliary verbs".
2. "Not" after the verb is used to make a verb negative, including when using the simple verb tenses.
3. To make questions using verbs, the verb comes before the subject.
4. Modal verbs do not change there form.
5. "To" is not used after a verbs do have, except with "ought to".
6. The main verb is always in its base form when used with a verb
7. modal verbs stay in the base form - bare infinitive - the bare infinitive is the infinitive without "to" before the verb.
   • The following modal verbs are used to with the present verb tense:
     • can, will, shall, ought to, must, need, may
   • The following modal verbs are used in the past tense:
     • would, should, could, might
   • modal verbs are used to answer questions in the short form
     • yes, I do.
     • yes, we can.
     • No, I don't.

English The Easy Way : English Grammar : Various Verb Tenses