Verbos modales

http://webs.ono.com/lallena/ModalVerbs.html

Los verbos modales realizan una funcin similar a la de los verbos auxiliares. Dan informacin adicional sobre el verbo que los sigue y se utilizan para indicar posibilidad, probabilidad, certeza, deduccin, capacidad, consejo, obligacin, prohibicin, permiso, hacer peticiones, ofrecimientos, sugerencias, etc. Son verbos modales: can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will y would. Los verbos modales tienen algunas caractersticas que los diferencian de los verbos normales: 1. Los modales van seguidos siempre de un verbo en infinitivo: She must leave in a few minutes. I think it will look rather nice. Things might have been so different. People may be watching. She ought to go straight back to England. My sister can't drive yet. You could be right. Shall we go out for a meal tonight? You should study harder. Would you finish this for me? 2. Los modales slo tienen una forma. No aaden '-s' a la tercera persona del singular del presente y no tienen formas acabadas en 'ing' o en '-ed'. Tampoco tienen infinitivo. There's nothing I can do about it. I'm sure he can do it.

3. Los verbos modales no necesitan el auxiliar DO para la forma negativa ni para las preguntas. Para la forma negativa de un modal simplemente aadimos NOT o una palabra negativa inmediatamente detrs del modal. You must not worry. I can never remember his name. 'Can + not' se escribe siembre como una palabra, 'cannot'. I cannot go back. = I can't go back. En ingls hablado o escrito informal 'not' se contrae en '-n't' y se aade al modal: could not -> couldn't should not -> shouldn't must not -> mustn't would not -> wouldn't We couldn't leave the farm. You shouldn't talk like that. You mustn't talk about Ron like that. I wouldn't do it if I were you.

Las siguientes formas contractas son irregulares: shall not -> shan't will not -> won't cannot -> can't I shan't let you go. Won't you change your mind? We can't stop now.

'Might not' y 'ought not' se contraen a veces en 'mightn't' y 'oughtn't'. Sin embargo, es muy raro que 'may not' aparezca como 'mayn't' en ingls moderno. Para hacer una pregunta, se pone el modal delante del sujeto. Could you give me an example? Will you be coming in later? Shall I shut the door? 4. La mayora de los verbos modales no se pueden utilizar en tiempos de pasado o futuro. Por ejemplo, no podemos decir *She will can 2

come with me. Tampoco es correcto *We musted study a lot. Cuando nos referimos al pasado, utilizamos un modal seguido de 'have' y un participio pasado: They may have seen the film - Puede que hayan visto la pelcula 5. Los modales no indican normalmente el tiempo en que ocurre algo. Sin embargo, 'shall' y 'will' indican a menudo un hecho o una situacin futura. I shall do what you suggested. He will not return for many hours. 6. En ingls hablado y en ingls escrito informal, 'shall' y 'will' se utilizan en forma contracta como 'll. 'Would' se contrae en 'd. I'll see you tomorrow. I hope you'll agree. Mary said she'd love to stay. 'Shall', 'will' y 'would' no se contraen cuando van al final de una oracin. Paul said he would come, and I hope he will. ATENCIN: La forma contracta del auxiliar 'had' es tambin 'd. I'd heard it many times. = I had heard it many times.

7. 'Could' se utiliza como pasado de 'can' para expresar habilidad. para expresar futuro. 'Would' se utiliza en estilo indirecto como reporting verb de 'will' When I was young, I could run for miles. I will see my mother tomorrow --> He said that he would see his mother the next day.

8. Nunca se usan dos modales juntos. Por ejemplo, no se puede decir *"He will can come". En su lugar se puede utilizar BE ABLE TO: "He will be able to come". De la misma forma, tampoco podemos decir *"I will must go". Pero podemos utilizar HAVE TO: 9. Los modales se pueden utilizar en question tags: You won't tell her, will you? She can drive, can't she? "I will have to go".

Prohibicin / Obligacin / Ausencia de obligacin / Permiso

Prohibicin mustn't You mustn't run in the corridor can't You can't use your dictionary in the exam may not You may not use your mobile phone here shall not You shall not leave without permission Obligacin must You must be here on time have (got) to You have to wear a uniform You've got to be quiet. should You should bring your book Ausencia de obligacin needn't You needn't come tomorrow Permiso can You can use your book may May I use your car? could Could I take another biscuit?

don't have to You don't have to buy it

haven't got to I haven't got to do any homework didn't need to I didn't need to take the bus because it was just across the road. needn't have + past participle You needn't have come (You came although it wasn't necessary)

ought to It's very cold. You ought to take a coat

Habilidad o capacidad / Posibilidad o probabilidad / Certeza / Deducciones

Habilidad o Capacidad can I can speak French could When I was younger I could play tennis quite well. be able to - I'll be able to finish it on time. - We were able to talk to the headteacher. (We actually talked to her) Posibilidad o probabilidad can The temperature in Jan can reach 40C in July could They could be friends Certeza will Most of you will have heard of this. would You would agree that changes must be done Deducciones must You must be Tom's father.

can't She can't have left the party.

may It may rain

should She should be sad living in Great Britain

must have + past participle She must have forgotten

might It might be true

shall We shall be leaving as soon as we are ready. must have + past participle I must have left my credit card in the bookshop (I'm sure I did)

can't have + past participle She can't have finished yet

may have + past participle She may have forgotten it might have + past participle They might have arrived could have + past participle He could have killed her

Peticiones / Ofrecimientos / Sugerencias y consejos / Deseos

Peticiones can Can you help me? could Could I interrupt you? will Will you open the window, please? would you mind if Would you mind If I used your car? would you mind + V-ing Would you mind bringing some bread? Ofrecimientos can Can I help you? may May I help you? shall Shall I close the door? will Will you have a cup of tea? Sugerencias y consejos should You should ask your teacher ought to She ought to be more careful could We could go to the cinema. should have + past participle She ought to have finished it. shall Shall we meet outside the bank? can You can take a taxi if you are tired might You might like to come with us had better You'd better leave now (we might have a quarrel) Deseos would I would like to know the answer. would rather I would rather have left would sooner I'd sooner walk than go by bus

would Would you like a drink?

should Should I phone for a taxi for you?