"must" expresses an interdiction when negated. (need) is sometimes used like a modal verb, especially negated ( "He need not come."). In Dutch: ; cognates of may, must, can, shall, and will. In Danish: , cognates of may/must, can, will, shall. They generally have the same corresponding meanings in English, with the exception of , which usually means "to want to" (but which can also mean "will"). In Swedish: (past tense: ), , cognates of may/might, must, can, will, shall. They generally have the same corresponding meanings in English, with the exception of , which means "to want to". Since modal verbs in other Germanic languages are not defective, the problem of double modals (see above) does not arise: the second modal verb in such a construction simply takes the infinitive form, as would any non-modal verb in the same position. Compare the following translations of English "I want to be able to dance", all of which translate literally as "I want can dance" (except German, which translates as "I want dance can"): See also Notes References External links Verbs in English Grammar, wikibook modal auxiliaries Website/Project that collects phrases containing modal auxiliaries on the web (in German and English) modal auxiliaries Website/Project that collects phrases containing modal auxiliaries on the web (in German and English) Modal auxiliary verbs: special points English modal and auxiliary verbs