Common mistake Non-infinitive verb after modal verbs

Introduction

Modal verbs are an important part of English grammar. They help us express ability, necessity, permission, and obligation. However, one common mistake that many English learners make is using a non-infinitive verb after a modal verb. In this article, we will explore this mistake and provide examples to help you understand and avoid it.

Using modals with base form verbs

Modal verbs such as 'can', 'could', 'may', 'might', 'will', 'shall', 'would', 'should', 'must', and 'ought to' are always followed by the base form of a verb. The base form is the form of a verb that you would find in the dictionary, without any additional endings or changes.

Incorrect usage:

"I can to swim."
"She should to call him."

In both these examples, the infinitive form of the verb 'to swim' and 'to call' is used incorrectly after the modal verbs 'can' and 'should'. Instead, the correct usage would be:

Correct usage:

"I can swim."
"She should call him."

Notice that in the correct versions, the base form of the verbs 'swim' and 'call' are used without the 'to' before them.

Exceptions

There are a few modal verbs that can be followed by other verb forms, such as the infinitive with 'to' or the gerund form. For example:

"I would like to go to the movies." (Here, 'would like' is followed by the infinitive form 'to go').
"She might be studying for her exam." (Here, 'might' is followed by the gerund form 'studying').

It's important to learn and remember these specific cases, but it's generally safe to use the base form of the verb after a modal verb to avoid making a mistake.

Conclusion

Using the correct verb form after a modal verb is crucial for clear and accurate communication in English. By understanding and avoiding the common mistake of using a non-infinitive verb after a modal, you will be able to improve your grammar and express yourself more effectively. Remember, if you need extra help with your English grammar, you can always use an advanced tool like Linguix Grammar Checker to identify and correct these types of errors.

Non-infinitive verb after modal verbs mistake examples

Incorrect:
They will coming home.

Correct:
They will come|be coming home.
Correct:
They will come home.
Correct:
They commonly produce much stronger odors than they would sitting under water in a western toilet.
Incorrect:
Peter will going to the cinema.

Correct:
Peter will go|be going to the cinema.
Incorrect:
Peter will really going to the cinema.

Correct:
Peter will really go|be going to the cinema.
Incorrect:
Eric Boyt will becoming around tomorrow for a notional quote.

Correct:
Eric Boyt will become|be becoming around tomorrow for a notional quote.
Incorrect:
Andy Zipper will taking over responsibility for EnronOnline.

Correct:
Andy Zipper will take|be taking over responsibility for EnronOnline.
Incorrect:
Since EOL will getting even more information to protect and ...

Correct:
Since EOL will get|be getting even more information to protect and ...
Incorrect:
We must thinking alike.

Correct:
We must think|be thinking alike.
Incorrect:
It will never going to happen.

Correct:
It will never go|be going to happen.
Incorrect:
I hope you'll going sailing today.

Correct:
I hope you'll go|be going sailing today.
Incorrect:
In fact I will staying a month.

Correct:
In fact I will stay|be staying a month.
Incorrect:
In fact I will not always staying a month.

Correct:
In fact I will not always stay|be staying a month.
Incorrect:
El Paso will scheduling the gas on contract #3453.

Correct:
El Paso will schedule|be scheduling the gas on contract #3453.
Incorrect:
I'll still trying to get a time frame for this standard.

Correct:
I'll still try|be trying to get a time frame for this standard.
Incorrect:
I'm not the only one who'll doing that.

Correct:
I'm not the only one who'll do|be doing that.
Correct:
Should voting be mandatory?
Correct:
Can running it more times make things worse?
Correct:
Would rebooting make any difference?
Correct:
Wouldn't rebooting make any difference?
Correct:
Games won't distract her nor will dancing.
Correct:
How would suggesting people actually work?
Correct:
Will doing that help?
Correct:
She has talked to Will regarding this and he said it may be Monday before that can be corrected.
Correct:
Why couldn’t existing accounts be migrated?
Correct:
How dangerous would doing that be?
Correct:
Why could existing accounts be migrated?
Correct:
Although several of the expressions above often are used as Beer–Lambert law, the name should strictly speaking only be associated with the latter two.
Correct:
What will online classes be like?
Correct:
The garbage can gave off a bad smell.
Correct:
What will hiring managers be like?
Correct:
Would pulling the batteries for a few minutes work?
Correct:
You should live staring reality right in the eye.
Correct:
How much should changing brake pads and rotors cost?
Correct:
Can reporting for jira and confluence users be combined or do they need to be separate?
Correct:
Would breaking out 'big tech' work?
Correct:
How would targeting work?
Correct:
Should voting be mandatory?
Correct:
Not only can giving her homework help, it also keeps here busy.
Correct:
I checked as thoroughly with him as I could making sure it was not some sort of bottom feeder.
Correct:
Absalon died at Sorø Abbey on March 21, 1201, 73 years old, with his last will granting his personal holdings to the Abbey, apart from Fjenneslev which went to Esbern Snarre.
Correct:
Per may contacts at Cadwalader, they cannot assist us on J Aron or Goldman Sachs.
Correct:
\u0026gt; Would switching to the newer hub help?
Correct:
\u0026gt; Would rebooting make any difference?
Correct:
2) Would rebooting make any difference?
Correct:
... and what would encrypting public posts achieve?
Correct:
The keys you get from that will help you complete your legendary collection, as will spending event keys at the right times.
Correct:
Maybe he can drop some knowledge since he can fucking OHP this more than I can flat bench it.
Correct:
Someone high up should contract the Mayor and the City Attorney to give them whatever assurance they could concerning their concerns.
Correct:
What will losing the war mean to us?

Incorrect:
They will came home.

Correct:
They will come home.
Correct:
They will come home.
Incorrect:
I would definitely has that.

Correct:
I would definitely have that.
Incorrect:
A proposed northern bypass of Birmingham will designated as I-422.

Correct:
A proposed northern bypass of Birmingham will designate as I-422.
Incorrect:
He may conveys the message.

Correct:
He may convey the message.
Incorrect:
He will shows you the samples.

Correct:
He will show you the samples.
Incorrect:
This fits the current business pattern (Dennis Lee and Perry Frazier will validated this in model office).

Correct:
This fits the current business pattern (Dennis Lee and Perry Frazier will validate this in model office).
Incorrect:
Sponsored by CalEnergy, AB 45x will heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee next.

Correct:
Sponsored by CalEnergy, AB 45x will hear in the Assembly Appropriations Committee next.
Incorrect:
Tell Neil Dad will sent a fishing report when he has one.

Correct:
Tell Neil Dad will send a fishing report when he has one.
Incorrect:
... and that the counterparty will chose to transact through us.

Correct:
... and that the counterparty will choose to transact through us.
Incorrect:
... and we both agreed that the wire transfer will happed TOMORROW (Tuesday 11/27).

Correct:
... and we both agreed that the wire transfer will hap TOMORROW (Tuesday 11/27).
Incorrect:
The water treatment plant will completed by about the time that the 7th barge is place into service.

Correct:
The water treatment plant will complete by about the time that the 7th barge is place into service.
Incorrect:
Jim Kelch will replaced Keels for the 2011 season.

Correct:
Jim Kelch will replace Keels for the 2011 season.
Incorrect:
This project will financed by a structure where Enron forms a joint venture (JV) with an independent third party.

Correct:
This project will finance by a structure where Enron forms a joint venture (JV) with an independent third party.
Incorrect:
The program will circulated shortly.

Correct:
The program will circulate shortly.
Incorrect:
Algeria will held presidential elections on July 4, 2019.

Correct:
Algeria will hold presidential elections on July 4, 2019.
Incorrect:
The balance of the purchase price will escrowed by Panda upon approval of the Facility Agreement.

Correct:
The balance of the purchase price will escrow by Panda upon approval of the Facility Agreement.
Incorrect:
Sounds like the christening schedule will fits perfectly into that.

Correct:
Sounds like the christening schedule will fit perfectly into that.
Incorrect:
The deal with Oxy Vinyls (#276478) will covers the volume for all of October.

Correct:
The deal with Oxy Vinyls (#276478) will cover the volume for all of October.
Incorrect:
Pricing will based on Gas Daily.

Correct:
Pricing will base on Gas Daily.
Incorrect:
It is our understanding that this process will performed in Australia.

Correct:
It is our understanding that this process will perform in Australia.
Incorrect:
... that the private interest of men, even of bad men, will controlled and directed as to serve and produce the public good.

Correct:
... that the private interest of men, even of bad men, will control and directed as to serve and produce the public good.
Incorrect:
Stacey will continues to advocate this issue.

Correct:
Stacey will continue to advocate this issue.
Incorrect:
... and bring the cost into a Level "B" will required a defined scope with Agave.

Correct:
... and bring the cost into a Level "B" will require a defined scope with Agave.
Incorrect:
Short name change will made on 02/02/01.

Correct:
Short name change will make on 02/02/01.
Incorrect:
I assume the same thing will happed for November production.

Correct:
I assume the same thing will hap for November production.
Incorrect:
Once the maximum has been met, a subsidy of $5.00 will made per ride.

Correct:
Once the maximum has been met, a subsidy of $5.00 will make per ride.
Incorrect:
However, the bigger question is whether Enron will allows us to file with FERC.

Correct:
However, the bigger question is whether Enron will allow us to file with FERC.
Incorrect:
Of course, as we agreed at the hearing, service will made on the parties.

Correct:
Of course, as we agreed at the hearing, service will make on the parties.
Incorrect:
All recoveries in bankruptcy will passed to the insurance underwriters if we decide to make the claim.

Correct:
All recoveries in bankruptcy will pass to the insurance underwriters if we decide to make the claim.
Incorrect:
Just click then click on your favorite team's helmet and Campbell will donated a can of soup.

Correct:
Just click then click on your favorite team's helmet and Campbell will donate a can of soup.
Incorrect:
I would greatly appreciated your comments.

Correct:
I would greatly appreciate your comments.
Incorrect:
I can’t seen to ascend the Nobend Brothers to mythic.

Correct:
I can’t see to ascend the Nobend Brothers to mythic.
Incorrect:
Mozilla should has a grammar checker.

Correct:
Mozilla should have a grammar checker.
Incorrect:
Mozilla should not really has a grammar checker.

Correct:
Mozilla should not really have a grammar checker.
Incorrect:
Mozilla must has a grammar checker.

Correct:
Mozilla must have a grammar checker.
Incorrect:
The decisions we can based on the information available are likely to be wrong because the information is not accurate.

Correct:
The decisions we can base on the information available are likely to be wrong because the information is not accurate.
Incorrect:
I will CC'd you.

Correct:
I will CC you.
Correct:
Mozilla should have a grammar checker.
Correct:
The must has an unusual colour today. Please check the filters.
Correct:
This can holds about 4 gallons.
Correct:
This can contains water.
Correct:
This can contains an oil sample.
Correct:
Which can contains water?
Correct:
Whose can contains a sample of the contaminant?
Correct:
Confederate commanders would need it should troops pass that way in retreat.
Correct:
May sometimes spends the time by herself.
Correct:
When will versions of enterprise release be announced?
Correct:
Will associated dialogs be displayed automatically when appropriate?
Correct:
Would rebooting make any difference?
Correct:
Wouldn't rebooting make any difference?
Correct:
Nothing he did helped.
Correct:
Latest News: Government May Sometimes Spends More Money Than It Has.
Correct:
Games won't distract her nor will dancing.
Correct:
The ability to model and modify systems at will affords science an ethical method of...
Correct:
How can kids help?
Correct:
How would suggesting people actually work?
Correct:
Can rabbits swim?
Correct:
Could frozen adjusters cause this?
Correct:
Can hot tubs make you infertile?
Correct:
I will fed ex them to you this evening.
Correct:
Haven says it will withstand up to 50 kicks.
Correct:
Would logs help?
Correct:
Maybe he can drop some knowledge since he can fucking OHP this more than I can flat bench it.
Correct:
If you can’t does that bug you.
Correct:
Ok, I will thanks.
Correct:
As individuals differ, so will results.
Correct:
The questions about who the fat technicians really are must not let us become distracted from the...
Correct:
I'll forward copies to everyone who is interested as soon as I get a copy.
Correct:
We'll forward copies of above.
Correct:
The Bible is clear that humans do not achieve greatness without having their sinful will broken.
Correct:
I made sure that he had his sinful evil nasty will changed!
Correct:
One's own will overrides any command.
Correct:
Unfortunately, this will happened to be wrong, because the legal team was careless.
Correct:
This will happens to be wrong.
Correct:
We are making the most economical decisions we can based on the bids available.
Correct:
If it must needs be so, do what you will.
Correct:
Dickens's will stipulated that no memorial be erected in his honour.
Correct:
How high can birds fly?
Correct:
It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
Correct:
I wish you'd told me you were married.
Correct:
Optometrists can supply colored spectacle lenses or a single red-tint contact lens to wear on the non-dominant eye.
Correct:
Marubeni Corporation will supply advanced construction machinery to OAO Stroytransgaz, Russian construction company that will use the equipment to complete a gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey.

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