Learning Chinese

Grammar

Modal Verbs: Want, Can, Should

Modal verbs sit before the main verb and express desire, ability, or obligation. They are not conjugated.

Subject + modal + main verb + (object)

要 (yào) — want / need / will

Strong desire or intention.

  • 我 要 吃 饭。 "I want to eat / I will eat."
  • 他 要 去 学校。 "He needs to go to school."

想 (xiǎng) — would like (softer)

  • 我 想 喝 茶。 "I'd like to drink tea."
  • 我 想 看 电影。 "I want to see a movie."

会 (huì) — can (learned skill)

  • 我 会 说 中文。 "I can speak Chinese."
  • 他 不 会 游泳。 "He can't swim."

能 (néng) — can (physical or circumstantial)

  • 我 今天 能 来。 "I'm able to come today."
  • 这里 不 能 抽烟。 "You can't smoke here."

可以 (kěyǐ) — may / be allowed

  • 我 可以 进 来 吗? "May I come in?"

应该 (yīnggāi) — should

  • 你 应该 多 喝 水。 "You should drink more water."

Negation

All modals are negated with 不, never 没: 不 想, 不 会, 不 能, 不 可以, 不 应该.

Quiz

Pick the best answer for each question. You get feedback right away.

  1. Which modal means "can" in the sense of a learned skill?

  2. The softer version of 要 ("would like to") is:

  3. How do you negate 你 可以 进来?