Complete English Grammar Rules_ Examples, Exceptions, Exercises, and Everything You Need to Master Proper Grammar ( PDFDrive )-167

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Omitting	main	verbs
A	modal	verb	must	always	be	used	with	a	main	verb—they	cannot	stand
completely	on	their	own.
However,	it	is	possible	to	use	a	modal	verb	on	its	own	by	omitting	the	main	verb,
so	long	as	it	is	implied	by	the	context	in	or	around	the	sentence	in	which	the
modal	is	used.	This	can	occur	when	a	sentence	is	in	response	to	another	one,	or
when	the	clause	with	the	modal	verb	occurs	later	in	a	sentence	in	which	the	main
verb	was	already	stated.	For	example:
•	Speaker	A:	“I’m	thinking	about	taking	up	scuba	diving.”
•	Speaker	B:	“I	think	you	should!”	(The	verb	taking	up	is	omitted	in	the	second
sentence	because	it	is	implied	by	the	first.)
•	“I’d	like	to	switch	my	major	to	mathematics,	but	I’m	not	sure	I	can.”	(The	verb
switch	is	omitted	in	the	final	clause	because	it	appears	earlier	in	the	same
sentence.)
Using	adverbs
Generally	speaking,	we	use	adverbs	after	a	modal	verb	and	either	before	or	after
the	main	verb	in	a	clause.	Sometimes	putting	an	adverb	before	a	modal	is	not
incorrect,	but	it	will	sound	better	if	placed	after	it.	For	example:
✖ 	“You	only	must	read	this	chapter.”	(incorrect)
✔ 	“You	must	only	read	this	chapter.”	(correct)
✔ 	“You	easily	could	win	the	race.”	(correct	but	not	preferable)
✔ 	“You	could	easily	win	the	race.”	(correct)
✔ 	“You	could	win	the	race	easily.”	(correct)
However,	this	is	not	a	strict	rule,	and	certain	adverbs	are	able	to	go	before	the
modal	verb	without	an	issue.	For	example:
✔ 	“You	really	should	see	the	new	movie.”	(correct)
✔ 	“You	should	really	see	the	new	movie.”	(correct)
✔ 	“I	definitely	will	try	to	make	it	to	the	party.”	(correct)
✔ 	“I	will	definitely	try	to	make	it	to	the	party.”	(correct)
When	a	modal	verb	is	made	negative,	though,	it	is	sometimes	the	case	that	an
adverb	must	go	before	the	modal	verb.	For	example:
✖ 	“I	can’t	definitely	go	out	tonight.”	(incorrect)