Modal Verbs: 可能、可以、应该、愿意
可能 (kěnéng, might), 可以 (kěyǐ, may or can), 应该 (yīnggāi, should) and 愿意 (yuànyì, be willing) are HSK 2 modal verbs. Like 想 and 会 before them, each goes in front of the main verb.
| Modal | Meaning | Key use |
|---|---|---|
| 可能 (kě néng) | might / possibly | uncertainty |
| 可以 (kě yǐ) | can / may | permission or ability |
| 应该 (yīng gāi) | should / ought to | advice, obligation |
| 愿意 (yuàn yì) | willing to | voluntary choice |
Negation: 不可能 · 不可以 · 不应该 · 不愿意
Pattern: Subject + Modal + Verb + Object
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你可以喝水。 | Nǐ kě yǐ hē shuǐ. | You may drink water. | 可以 = permission; modal before the verb 喝. |
| 你应该多休息。 | Nǐ yīng gāi duō xiū xi. | You should rest more. | 应该 = advice/obligation; placed before 休息. |
| 他不愿意去，因为天气很阴。 | Tā bù yuàn yì qù, yīn wèi tiān qì hěn yīn. | He is not willing to go because the weather is overcast. | 不愿意 = negated willing; full sentence with reason clause. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
可能 (kě néng)
Says something is probably true or may happen.
Structure: 可能 + (会) + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 明天可能下雨。 | Míng tiān kě néng xià yǔ. | It may rain tomorrow. |
| 他可能不知道这件事。 | Tā kě néng bù zhī dao zhè jiàn shì. | He may not know about this. |
| 这个周末我可能要加班。 | Zhè gè zhōu mò wǒ kě néng yào jiā bān. | I may have to work overtime this weekend. |
Not: 我可能进来吗？ Asking permission uses 可以: 我可以进来吗?
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, verbs (能愿动词).
可以 (kě yǐ)
Gives or asks permission, or says something is allowed.
Structure: 可以 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这里可以坐吗？ | Zhè lǐ kě yǐ zuò ma? | May I sit here? |
| 你可以用我的手机。 | Nǐ kě yǐ yòng wǒ de shǒu jī. | You can use my phone. |
| 明天你可以不来。 | Míng tiān nǐ kě yǐ bù lái. | You do not have to come tomorrow. |
Not: 可以我坐这里吗？ 可以 sits after the subject: 我可以坐这里吗?
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, verbs (能愿动词).
应该 (yīng gāi)
Says what ought to be done or is likely to be true.
Structure: 应该 + verb; 不应该 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你应该早点儿睡。 | Nǐ yīng gāi zǎo diǎn shuì. | You should go to bed earlier. |
| 这个时候他应该到家了。 | Zhè gè shí hou tā yīng gāi dào jiā le. | He should be home by now. |
| 孩子们应该听老师的话。 | Hái zi men yīng gāi tīng lǎo shī de huà. | Children should listen to their teacher. |
Not: 你应该不要吃太多。 For 'should not' say 不应该: 你不应该吃太多.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, verbs (能愿动词).
愿意 (yuàn yì)
Says someone is willing to do something.
Structure: 愿意 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我愿意帮你。 | Wǒ yuàn yì bāng nǐ. | I am willing to help you. |
| 她不愿意告诉我。 | Tā bú yuàn yì gào su wǒ. | She does not want to tell me. |
| 你愿意和我们一起去吗？ | Nǐ yuàn yì hé wǒ men yì qǐ qù ma? | Would you like to go with us? |
Not: 我愿意很帮你。 A degree word goes before 愿意: 我很愿意帮你.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, verbs (能愿动词).
Compared side by side: 可以 vs 能.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list Modal Verbs among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
The same pattern at other levels
- Modal Verbs — HSK 1
- Modal Verbs — HSK 1
- Modal Verbs — HSK 3
Questions about Modal Verbs
What does 能愿动词 (Modal Verbs) mean in Chinese?
可能 (kěnéng, might), 可以 (kěyǐ, may or can), 应该 (yīnggāi, should) and 愿意 (yuànyì, be willing) are HSK 2 modal verbs. Like 想 and 会 before them, each goes in front of the main verb. It is an HSK 2 grammar point.
How do you use 能愿动词 (Modal Verbs) in a sentence?
你可以喝水。 — Nǐ kě yǐ hē shuǐ. — You may drink water. 可以 = permission; modal before the verb 喝.
What do you need to know before 能愿动词 (Modal Verbs)?
Modal Verbs (HSK 1), Modal Verbs (HSK 1). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What does 能愿动词 (Modal Verbs) lead to?
Modal Stance Adverbs (HSK 3). Each of them names 能愿动词 (Modal Verbs) among its own prerequisites.
What is the difference between 可以 and 能?
可以 mostly grants permission, as in 这里可以拍照吗？ 能 is more about ability or whether circumstances allow, as in 我今天能来。
How is 可能 different from 应该?
可能 says something may happen, and 应该 says it ought to or will very likely. 他可能来 means he may come, and 他应该来 means he should come.
Modal Verbs is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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