Modal verbs
can moci, umět
must muset
may smět
shall mít (povinnost)
would (will) podmiňovací způsob
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Grammar
•Modal verbs are special verbs which behave differently from normal verbs. Here are some important
differences:
•1. Modal verbs do not take „-s“ in the third person.
•Example: He can speak Chinese.
•2. There is no „do“ used in negative or interrogative sentences.
•Example: He can‘t swim. Can they come?
•3. Modal verbs are followed by infinitive without
•„to“ (no –ing forms) – He can dance.
•4. They have in all persons the same form.
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CAN
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"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English.
I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they can
I etc. cannot (I can‘t) can I?
I etc. could - mohl (uměl) bych, mohl (uměl) jsem
OPIS – be able to
I was able to - mohl jsem, uměl jsem
I would be able to – mohl bych, uměl bych
I will be able to – budu moci, budu umět

MUST - MUSET
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I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they must
OPIS – have to
I have to – musím
I had to – musel jsem
I would have to – musel bych
I will have to – budu muset

NEED NOT – NEMUSET – DO NOT HAVE TO
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I etc. need not (needn´t) nemusím
OPIS – don´t have to
I don´t have to – nemusím
I didn´t have to – nemusel jsem
I wouldn´t have to – nemusel bych
I won´t have to – nebudu muset

MAY– SMĚT
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I etc. may (needn´t) smím
I might směl bych
OPIS – I am allowed to
I am allowed to – smím
I was allowed to – směl jsem
I would be allowed to – směl bych
I won´t be allowed to – nebudu smět

MAY, MUST not – NESMĚT
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I etc. must not (mustn´t) may not nesmím
I might not nesměl bych
OPIS – I am not allowed to
I am not allowed to – nesmím
I wasn´t allowed to – nesměl jsem
I wouldn´t be allowed to – nesměl bych
I won´t be allowed to – nebudu smět

SUMMARY
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I CAN – mohu, umím - I am able to
I MAY – smím - I am allowed to
I MAY NOT – nesmím - I am not allowed to
I MUST – musím - I have to
I MUST NOT – nesmím - I am not allowed to
I NEED NOT – nemusím - I don´t have to