The Importance of Infinitive Form After Modal Verbs in English Grammar
English grammar sometimes presents a set of rules that, while seemingly strict, enhance the clarity and consistency of communication. One such rule involves modal verbs always being paired with the base form of a verb, commonly known as the infinitive form. This article explores why this grammatical structure is so important and how it contributes to the correctness, clarity, and consistency in English.
Grammatical Structure
Modal verbs, such as can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, ought to, and had better, are auxiliary verbs. Unlike main verbs, they do not change form for different subjects. Instead, they serve to express possibility, probability, obligation, permission, and so on. The base form of the main verb that follows a modal verb is essential for maintaining the correct grammatical structure. For example, in the sentence 'She should go to the store,' should is the modal, and go is in its base form.
Clarity of Meaning
Using the base form after a modal verb keeps the intended meaning clear and direct. Consider the sentence 'He can come with us.' Here, the modal can indicates ability, and the verb come is in its base form. This construction ensures that the reader or listener understands that the speaker is conveying the possibility of the subject's ability to come. If the infinitive to come were used, the sentence would not be grammatically correct and would sound incorrect.
Consistency in English Grammar
This rule helps maintain consistency in English grammar, making it easier for both native speakers and learners to understand how to use modals correctly across different contexts. Consistency is a key factor in ensuring that written and spoken English is clear and well-understood. For instance, saying 'He should have read the letter' is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is 'He should have read the letter,' where the auxiliary verb should have is followed by the past participle read.
Complex Sentence Structures
While the rule of always pairing a modal verb with the base form of a verb applies in most cases, there can be exceptions in some complex sentence structures. This is often seen when different clauses or ideas are present. For example, in the sentence 'Had I had more time, I would have been able to go shopping,' the verb had is used in the past perfect form, while be and go are in their base forms. This structure, while complex, adheres to the general rule of pairing modals with the base form of verbs.
Modal Verbs as Verbal Auxiliary Constructs
A common assumption in modern linguistics is that modal verbs are not really verbs but rather occupy the same place in the syntactic structure as tense morphemes. These tense morphemes, such as would, could, and should, are forms of the verb be used to indicate the past or future tense without changing the form of the main verb. This analysis accounts for why modals never co-occur with the present or past forms of verbs, since the presence of a modal in that place prevents the occurrence of present or past forms.
Modal Verbs Indicate Attitude
Modal verbs are closely related to the attitudes of the speaker or writer. For instance, may is used to indicate possibility or permission, such as in 'May I use your pen?' Here, may indicates a permission or possibility, and use is in its base form to express the action. Other modal verbs, such as should and ought to, express a sense of recommendation or obligation. For example, 'He should go to the doctor' suggests a recommendation, and 'He ought to finish his homework' expresses a sense of duty.
Conclusion
In summary, modal verbs are always paired with the base form (or infinitive) of a verb to maintain grammatical correctness, clarity, and consistency in English. This rule ensures that sentences are clear and easily understood, making the language more effective in communication. Whether you are a native speaker aiming to improve your language skills or a learner seeking to master the nuances of English grammar, understanding the importance of pairing modal verbs with the base form of verbs is crucial.