How To Use “Do” with Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are also called helping verbs, because that’s what they do. They help add meaning to the main verb in your sentence by expressing possibility, ability, permission, or obligation. Generally, you should use only one modal auxiliary at a time. That means that when you have a modal auxiliary in your sentence, you can use “do” as a main verb, but not as another auxiliary.

Using “do” as a main verb looks like this:

You can do it.

In the sentence above, “can” is a modal auxiliary and “do” is the main verb. Using “do” as an auxiliary looks like this:

You do look like your mother.

This time, “do” is an auxiliary and “look” is the main verb.

But you should not use “do” as an auxiliary when there is another modal auxiliary present.

I do can speak English.

I can speak English.

Or

I do speak English.

The most common modal auxiliaries and their most common meanings are

• Shall (expresses intention or an expectation that something will happen in the future)
• Should (expresses obligation)
• Can (expresses ability or possibility)
• Could (expresses ability or possibility)
• May (expresses permission or possibility)
• Might (expresses uncertainty)
• Will (expresses expectation about what will happen in the future)
• Would (expresses a guess about what will happen in the future)

Remember, if you are using “do” with a modal auxiliary, make sure “do” is the main verb and make sure it comes after the modal auxiliary, not before it.

She may do the laundry.
He could do his homework.
Dad will do the research.
I might do my hair tomorrow.

Now you can do it too. Using modal verbs can do amazing things for your grasp of the English language.

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How To Use “Do” with Modal Verbs