Modal Verbs

Author: Gavreel Asperillia-Zhu, Ed.D.

Modal Verbs, also known as auxiliary verbs or modals, are verbs that modify the main verb. There is a limited number of modal verbs, so once you know them, you know them all. The purpose of modal verbs is to reflect necessity, desirability, certainty, willingness, obligation, or likelihood of the action.

Here is an almost complete list of modal verbs:

  • Can

  • Could

  • Cannot

  • May

  • Might

  • Shall

  • Would

  • Will

What makes Modal Verbs in ASL easier, is in English there is multiple spellings or variations of the words, but in ASL there are only a few signs. See below for the signs and thier English translations.

CAN, COULD

Modal Verbs, like Negatives, modify the sentence. Just like negatives, they will go behind the verb, towards the end of the sentence.

If there is a negative in the sentence, the modal verb will go before the negative. However, most of the time, the Modal Verb will change to its negative form.

Last Updated: February 19, 2025

  • Must

  • Need

  • Out to

  • Should

CANNOT, CAN’T

Examples

ASL GLOSS

English Translation

HOME^WORK CL O-flat:(turn in) MUST.

You must turn in your homework.

TOMORROW SCHOOL IX:(partner) GO WILL?

Will you go to school tomorow?

BOOK READ ON-TIME IX:(self) CANNOT.

I cannot read the book on time.

MAY, MIGHT, MAYBE

SHALL, WILL, WOULD

MUST, NEED, HAVE TO, OUGHT TO

Sentence Structure: Where do Modal Verbs go?

SHOULD

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