Chinese grammar · Beginner (A1)
Modal verbs: 会, 能, 可以, 要, 想, 应该
Want, can, may, should and must: the verbs that go before another verb, the three words for “can”, and their negatives.
Modal verbs go before the main verb
A modal verb says whether you want to, can, may or should do something. It goes straight before the main verb and never changes: (wǒ xiǎng qù, I want to go), (tā huì yóuyǒng, she can swim). To make it negative, put before the modal: (wǒ bù xiǎng qù, I don't want to go).
To answer a question with a modal, just repeat the modal: (Nǐ huì yóuyǒng ma?) is answered (huì, yes) or (bú huì, no).
- 我想去。Wǒ xiǎng qù.I want to go.
- 你会说中文吗？Nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén ma?Do you speak Chinese?
- 会一点儿。Huì yìdiǎnr.A little.
Wanting: 要 and 想
(yào) is a firm “want”, and it's what you use to order. With a noun it means “want” or “would like”: (wǒ yào yì bēi kāfēi, I'd like a coffee). Before a verb it can also mean “going to”: (wǒ yào qù Shànghǎi, I'm going to Shanghai).
(xiǎng) is softer: “would like to” or “feel like”. (wǒ xiǎng hē chá, I'd like some tea). It's the usual word for wishes and plans.
Watch the negative: means “don't!”, so “I don't want to” is (wǒ bù xiǎng): (wǒ bù xiǎng qù, I don't want to go).
- 我要一杯拿铁。Wǒ yào yì bēi nátiě.I'd like a latte.
- 我想买一个手机。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yí ge shǒujī.I'd like to buy a phone.
- 我今天不想去。Wǒ jīntiān bù xiǎng qù.I don't want to go today.
Can: 会, 能 and 可以
English “can” has three Chinese words. (huì) is for a skill you have learned: (wǒ huì yóuyǒng, I can swim), (tā huì shuō Zhōngwén, she speaks Chinese). (néng) is for being able to, because of your situation or your body: (wǒ jīntiān bù néng qù, I can't go today). (kěyǐ) is for permission, “may” or “it's OK to”: (Zhèr kěyǐ pāizhào ma? Can I take photos here?).
and overlap when you ask for something, and both are fine: (Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèr ma?) To say no, people often use (bù xíng, that won't work) rather than (bù kěyǐ), which sounds strict. also makes predictions: (míngtiān huì xià yǔ, it will rain tomorrow).
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (huì) | can: a learned skill | (Wǒ huì yóuyǒng.) I can swim. |
| (néng) | can: able to, possible | (Wǒ jīntiān bù néng qù.) I can't go today. |
| (kěyǐ) | may: allowed, OK to | (Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèr ma?) May I sit here? |
| (huì) | will: likely to happen | (Míngtiān huì xià yǔ.) It will rain tomorrow. |
- 她会说中文。Tā huì shuō Zhōngwén.She speaks Chinese.
- 你明天能来吗？Nǐ míngtiān néng lái ma?Can you come tomorrow?
- 这儿可以拍照吗？Zhèr kěyǐ pāizhào ma?Can I take photos here?
- 不好意思，这儿不能拍照。Bù hǎoyìsi, zhèr bù néng pāizhào.Sorry, you can't take photos here.
Should and must: 应该, 要, 得
(yīnggāi) means “should”: (nǐ yīnggāi duō hē shuǐ, you should drink more water). can also mean “need to, have to”: (míngtiān wǒ yào shàngbān, I have to work tomorrow). 得 (děi) is a spoken “must, have to”: (wǒ děi zǒu le, I have to go now). The same character is said de in its other uses.
The negatives are different. “Don't have to” is (bú yòng): (nǐ bú yòng lái, you don't have to come). (bù yīnggāi) means “shouldn't”. (bìxū) is a stronger, more formal “must”.
| Word | Meaning | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| (yīnggāi) | should | (bù yīnggāi, shouldn't) |
| (yào) | need to, have to | (bú yòng, don't need to) |
| 得 (děi) | must, have to (spoken) | (bú yòng, don't have to) |
| (bìxū) | must (formal) | (bú yòng), (búbì, no need to) |
- 你应该多喝水。Nǐ yīnggāi duō hē shuǐ.You should drink more water.
- 我得走了。Wǒ děi zǒu le.I have to go now.
- 你不用来。Nǐ bú yòng lái.You don't have to come.
Polite requests and suggestions
Modal verbs make requests softer. 能不能…？ (néng bu néng …?) and 可以…吗？ (kěyǐ … ma?) are everyday ways to ask for something. At work, 是不是可以…？ (shì bu shì kěyǐ …?, would it perhaps be possible to …?) is even more careful: it offers an idea without pushing it.
- 能不能便宜一点儿？Néng bu néng piányi yìdiǎnr?Could you make it a bit cheaper?
- 可以帮我拍张照吗？Kěyǐ bāng wǒ pāi zhāng zhào ma?Could you take a photo of me?
- 我们是不是可以下个星期再讨论？Wǒmen shì bu shì kěyǐ xià ge xīngqī zài tǎolùn?Could we perhaps discuss it next week?