MODAL VERBS I
MODAL BASIC ALTERNATIVES if you
TENSE EXAMPLE
VERB MEANING have to use other tenses
Be able to
I can swim very well. (ALL THE TENSES)
Ability He can’t sing flamenco. I am able to swim
Can we play instruments? I wasn’t able to sing
I will be able to go
Can I go to the toilet? Be allowed to
Can Present Permission I can’t stay late at night. (ALL THE TENSES)
I can go out tonight. I was allowed to go
I will be allowed to go
You will be able to find a
Possibility I can go in two directions.
place to park near the station.
Impossibility She can’t be at home, because
------------------------
(Logical deduction) her car isn’t in the garage.
I could talk at the age of 3. Be able to
Ability (past ability/habit) I was able to open the door.
Past (It happened just ONCE)
Permission I couldn’t go to the party last Be allowed to
night. I wasn’t allowed to go…
Could Polite Could you pass the salt,
-------
Requests please?
Present Polite
You could take me to the shop. -------
Suggestions
Tom could be on the train
Possibility now.
-------
Have to (obligation)
Obligation AFFIRMATIVE: (ALL THE TENSES)
You must go to school. I have to study
or Strong He must make his bed. I had to study
necessity You must tell her the problem. I didn’t have to clean
I’ll have to study
Be allowed to
(PROHIBITION)
Must Present You were not allowed to talk.
ONLY NEGATIVE
Prohibition You mustn’t smoke here. DIFFERENT FROM:
We mustn’t drive a car. Don’t have to
(Absence of obligation)
I don’t have to go (No tengo que ir)
I mustn’t go (No debo ir)
Certainty ONLY POSITIVE
(Strong He must be at school now. ----------------------
belief) This coat must be John’s.
Should / Advice You should see a doctor.
Present ----------
ought to Opinion You ought to respect road signs
English Teacher: Mercedes González Delgado IES Carlos Cano – Los Barrios (Cádiz)
It may rain.
Possibility ----------
It may not rain.
May Present Permission May I come in, please? Be allowed to
Polite May I give you my phone
-----------
request number?
Might Present Probability Cars might fly in the future. ----------
Absence of
obligation You needn’t come so early.
Don’t have to
Needn’t Present
or (only this form, without ‘to’) (Absence of obligation)
I didn’t have to come.
necessity
Obligation I need to slow down on this
Need to Present
necessity road.
“need” is not a modal verb.
Formal
Would you please turn right? ---------------------
request
Would Present
Would you like to come to my
Offers party?
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REMEMBER! MODALS TO EXPRESS LOGICAL DEDUCTION IN THE PRESENT:
MUST CERTAINTY She must be at home, the lights are on.
MAY, MIGHT, PROBABILITY
His shirt might be blue, but I’m not sure
COULD because it’s very dark in the room.
CAN’T IMPOSSIBILITY This coat can’t be hers, it’s too big.
Should / had better
Ya has visto que should se utiliza para decir lo que creemos que se debería hacer, dar un consejo o
una opinión. Pues had better (o la contracción, ‘d better)
better es otra forma muy coloquial de expresar lo
mismo.
• Afirmativa: sujeto + had better + verbo en la forma base. Significa “Es mejor que” + un verbo en
presente de subjuntivo.
You’d better turn at the junction. (Es mejor que gires en el cruce).
• Negativa: sujeto + had better + not + verbo en la forma base.
You’d better not be late. (Es mejor que no llegues tarde)
• Interrogativa: no se suele usar en interrogativa.
Por otra parte, tiene un uso distinto de should,
should ya que también se utiliza para expresar una
advertencia, como avisando al oyente de que algo malo o desagradable le puede ocurrir si no hace
lo que le decimos. Entonces significa algo como “Sera mejor que…” o “Más vale que…”.
You’d better slow down when it’s raining. (Será mejor que reduzcas la velocidad cuando está
lloviendo)
You’d better not drink while driving! (¡Más vale que no bebas mientras conduces!)
English Teacher: Mercedes González Delgado IES Carlos Cano – Los Barrios (Cádiz)
