Modal verbs na verbs wey dem dey use before main verb to show ability, possibility, permission, necessity etc. Dem be modifiers wey dey alter di meaning of di main verb. For dis article, we go itemize di modal verbs wey déy for Naija Pidgin, and we go explain haw dem dey use dem.

Naija Pidgin modal verbs

fit
must
gat
need
suppose
mek
go

Modal verb functions

Possibility

Dem dey use di modal verb fit to show sey something fit happen, fit be true, or fit occur depending on haw di matter take be. Examples:

Yu fit get di job if yu apply early.
With di way wey sky déy, rain fit start dey fall.
We fit gat attend di class.

Permission

Dem dey use modal verbs to ask or give persin permission to do something. Di verb wey dem dey use for dis one na fit. Examples:

I fit see di manager now?
She fit see pastor tomorrow.

Necessity or obligation

Dem dey use modal verbs to express action wey important or necessary, like duty, responsibility or requirement. Di verbs wey dem dey use for dis one na gat and must. Examples:

I gat finish dis work before tomorrow.
Government must take care of poor people.

Likelihood

Dem dey use modal verbs to express things wey likely to déy true, but wey dem no fit talk as fact. For Naija Pidgin, verbs like suppose and gat dey serve dis purpose often. Examples

My seeds suppose don germinate.
He gat déy satisfied with di money wey e dey earn.

Ability

Dem dey use modal verbs to express weda persin fit do something or not. Di modal verb wey we dey use for here na fit. Examples:

I fit run five kilometers non-stop.
She fit cook better Naija jollof rice.

Request

Dem dey use modal verbs to make request. Di verbs wey dem dey use for dis purpose na fit and go. Examples:

Abeg yu fit drop me for Surulere?
Yu go like help me carry dis bag?

Suggestion or advice

Dem dey use di modal verb mek to give suggestion or advice. Examples:

Mek yu try dis pepper soup wey my mama cook.
Mek una drive softly-softly o, una dey hear?

Command

Dem dey use di modal verbs must and gat to relay command. Examples:

Yu must komot shoe before yu enter dis house.
Una gat déy school before 8 AM.

Habit

Dem dey use modal verbs to express actions wey déy ongoing or habitual. Di verb wey we dey use for dis purpose na go. Examples:

Wen I bin dey school for France, I go branch bakery before I reach house.
My dog go scratch floor wen hunger dey catch am.

Modal verbs and tenses

Dem dey use di modal verbs wey we don cover so far mainly with present and future tenses; dem no dey too use dem with past tenses. Na becos dem dey use dem for situations wey neva happen, or hypotheticals wey no even happen at all. Mek yu look di example sentences below to sabi haw dem dey use modal verbs for different tenses:

Tense	Examples
Simple past	Dem suppose gó watch ball for stadium.
Simple present	He fit dey feel am.
Present continuous	We suppose dey solve problems.
Present perfect	She fit don travel go Europe already.
Present perfect continuous	I suppose don dey work on dis project since morning.
Simple future	I go fit attend di meeting tomorrow.
Future continuous	Di company go fit dey start operations next quarter.
Future perfect	We go fit don move gó anoda city by December.
Future perfect continuous	If no give up, I go fit don dey learn to play guitar for five years next year.

Past modal verbs

Dem dey use past modal verbs talk about things wey no really happen for past. Anoda name for dese modal verbs na “modals of lost opportunity”. For Naija Pidgin, we get di following past modal verbs:

for
for fit
suppose

Examples:

She for come, but she bin sick.
She for fit win if she bin train more.
Yu suppose tell me di truth.

Modal verbs and negation

We get some examples for here wer we dey use modal verbs for inside sentences with negation:

Dem fit no deliver di package today.
Dem no fit deliver di package today.
We bin no fit find place to park.
Yu must to no give am any money.
We no need attend di class.
Una no suppose call am.
Mek una no lie for my head o.
Yu no go help me carry my load?