Modal Verb + Continuous Form

Some modals can be put in front of the continuous form to express some present action that is or isn't happening. To make the past tense for each, use "have been" instead of "be."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• English
• as
• second
• language

[outbackjakk]

Thank you very much for your videos. I have been studying a TEFL course and have found your lessons very helpful.

If you don't mind, I have a question...

When the present continuous form of a verb is preceded by a modal verb, such as in your examples, is it still considered to be in the 'present continuous' form or does the modal make it another form altogether?

For example, is "I will be working this weekend" still considered to be in the present continuous form?

Thank you.

[learnamericanenglish]

In the example you provide, the sentence is in the future continuous tense: will + be + _____ing

Whenever you see "be" followed by the main verb in the "ing" form, it's continuous: might be going, should be going, should have been going, was going, etc. Remember the verb "be" changes.

[learnamericanenglish]

Swytek,

Yes, this is correct, but there are many times when they can be used interchangeably. Which do you prefer? I usually use "might" anyway just because I like it better; however, "may" can be emphasized in order to strengthen the sense of possibility.

[loco039]

Well have done.

[candyman22333]

good

[DeMarkieSade]

@outbackjakk I wondered about that same question outbackjakk. The conclusion I came up with is thus: The modal verb does not change the form of the sentence such as "present continuous" or "past continuous" to some other form; the modals only make the sentences "conditionals." Such as "I would be working this weekend if the boss would let me." The sentence is still in the present continuous tense. It is now, however, a conditonal sentence. I think. LOL. maybe, Paul will answer us.

[DeMarkieSade]

It isnt so much that the Englsih language is very complicated when stripped down to its bare essentials; it is when modal verbs and different tenses for one verb, and such things as that, come into the picture that the language can become, not necessarily complicated, but confusing.

[jonvi4neonrays]

thank you this video is really helpful....

[eatcuche22]

thank you so much for your videos, I am a esl student and those videos are excelents.

[sergiors28]

please en español = ( por favor en español.please in spanish

[sergiors28]

coul be living in california,podria estar viviendo en california.....es corecto ???

[outbackjakk]

Thanks very much for the reply. Sorry, I think I picked a bad example for my question. I understand that the [will be + present participle] form is future continuous. What if instead of "will" there was a modal verb such as "might" or "should".

"I might be working this weekend". Is this form considered 'PRESENT continuous' even though it is talking about the future?

Thanks again.