Can, want and should
会, 可以, 想, 要 and 应该 for "can", "want to" and "should". At Higher, 能, 得, 必须 and 一定 for "be able to" and "must".
Learn
Can, want and should, explained point by point
Everything the GCSE specification expects you to be able to do, and how to actually do it - the same lesson a signed-in student studies from.
Put a modal verb before the main verb
A modal verb, such as 会 (can), 可以 (may) or 应该 (should), goes after the subject and before the main verb: 我会说汉语。 It never changes, never takes 了, and is made negative with 不: 我不会游泳。
Say what you want with 想 and 要
想 is the softer one, would like to or feel like: 我想喝水。 要 is firmer, want to or am going to: 我要买一本书。 Before a noun, 要 means want: 我要这个。 For not wanting to, say 不想: 我不想去。
Say you can, having learned how, with 会
会 is for skills you have learned: 我会游泳。 她会说汉语。 It can also mean will, for something likely: 明天会下雨。 (It will rain tomorrow.)
Ask for and give permission with 可以
可以 means may, or can because it is allowed: 我可以用你的笔吗？ Say yes with 可以 and no with 不可以. It also makes a suggestion: 我们可以坐公共汽车去。
Give advice with 应该
应该 means should: 你应该多喝水。 It suits an opinion in speaking or writing, about health or about the world around you: 我们应该多走路，少开车。 (We should walk more and drive less.)
Say you are able to with 能Higher only
能 means able to, when it depends on the situation rather than a skill: 今天我有很多作业，不能去看电影。 (I've got lots of homework today, so I can't go to the cinema.) 你明天能来吗？
Say you must with 必须, 得 and 一定要Higher only
必须 is must, for rules: 我们必须穿校服。 In speech, 得, said děi, means have to: 我得回家了。 一定要 means must, definitely: 你一定要来！ Their negative is 不用 or 不必: 你不用来。
Choose between 会, 能 and 可以Higher only
All three can be translated can. 会: you know how (我会游泳). 能: you are able to right now (我今天太累了，不能游泳). 可以: you are allowed to (这儿可以游泳吗？).
Can, want and should key terms
The words the specification and the mark schemes use, each defined the way an examiner wants it.
- Modal verb
- A verb such as 想, 会 or 可以 that goes before the main verb to say want, can or should.
- 想
- Would like to, feel like, or want to: 我想去.
- 要
- Want to, or be going to: 我要买. Before a noun, want: 我要这个.
- 会
- Can, having learned how: 我会说汉语. Also will, for something likely.
- 可以
- May, or can because it is allowed: 我可以回家吗 asks may I go home.
- 应该
- Should, for advice and opinions about what is right: 你应该休息.
- 能Higher only
- Can, being able to in the situation: 我今天不能来.
- 必须Higher only
- Must, for a rule you have to follow: 我们必须穿校服.
- 得 (děi)Higher only
- Have to, in speech, before a verb: 我得回家了.
- 不用 and 不必Higher only
- Don't have to: the negative of 必须.
Common mistakes in Can, want and should
The slips that cost marks year after year, and what to do instead.
Using 可以 for a skill, as in 我可以说汉语 for I can speak Chinese.
A learned skill takes 会: 我会说汉语. Keep 可以 for permission, as in 我可以回家吗, may I go home.
Putting 了 after a modal verb, as in 我想了去.
A modal verb never takes 了: 我想去. Any 了 goes after the main verb or at the end.
Saying 我不要去 for I don't want to go.
不要 sounds like a flat refusal or a command. For not wanting to, say 我不想去.
Making 必须 negative with 不, as in 你不必须来.Higher only
The negative of 必须 is 不用 or 不必: 你不用来.
Reading 得 in 我得回家了 as de.Higher only
Before a verb, 得 is děi, have to. After a verb it is de, as in 说得很好.
Practice
Try a Can, want and should question
A GCSE-style original question from this topic. Have a go before you open the working - deciding on an answer first is what makes the working stick.
Your friend says 我很想去，可是我妈妈说不可以。 What does she mean?
- She doesn't want to go, and her mum agrees.
- She went, but her mum didn't want her to.
- She'd like to go, and her mum says she should.
- She'd really like to go, but her mum says she can't.
Show the answer and the working
Answer: She'd really like to go, but her mum says she can't.
很想去 means would really like to go, and 妈妈说不可以 means her mum says she isn't allowed.
- 很想去: would really like to go.
- 可是: but.
- 妈妈说不可以: Mum says she can't.