LanguageTool Community
Imprint · Privacy Policy
<< return to list of rules

Rule "to after modal verbs"

This is one of many errors that LanguageTool can detect.

Description: to after modal verbs
Message: Modal verbs like '\1' are typically followed directly by the bare infinitive. Did you mean <suggestion>\1 \3</suggestion>?
Category: Grammar (ID: GRAMMAR)
Link: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/english-grammar-reference/modal-verbs
Incorrect sentences
that this rule can detect:
  • We can to do it
    Correction suggestion: can do
Correct sentences
for comparison:
  • We can do it
  • I will do whatever I can to help.
  • We will do everything we can to assist
  • I always thought it was just my fellow employees doing every thing they could to get ahead.
  • You can use the modal verbs should and may to show probability without certainty.
  • The Reps called as many customers as they could to let them know.
  • I'm trying as hard as I can to step through the details.
ID: TO_AFTER_MODAL_VERBS [1]
Version: 6.6-SNAPSHOT (2024-11-25 22:33:08 +0100)