Negating Modal Verbs

All modal verbs are negated by adding ‘not’ after the modal verb.

• I shouldn’t be telling you this.
• I can’t go to the meeting.

Most modal verbs (all except must and might) are contracted when negated.

Can: can’t
Could: couldn’t
Should: shouldn’t
Would: wouldn’t
Will: won’t

NOTE: Pay special attention to the irregular forms like can’t or won’t.