We have already once seen modal verbs, in the chapter french survival guide.
Verbs like must,
shall, may,
can, want,
dare, do not describe an action (like normal verbs), but they describe a relation between the subject and the main verb. The main verb is connected in the infinitive form.
Examples
auxilliaire de mode
modal verb + infinitive
Je veux
manger.*
I want to eat.
Je dois
manger.
I must eat.
Je devrais
manger.
I shall eat.
Je peux
manger.*
I can eat.
Je peux
manger. *
I may eat.
* there are two possible meanings for these modals
(vouloir = to want to; would like to; pouvoir = can, may)
