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 cant sing flamenco. I am able to swim
Can we play instruments? I wasnt able to sing
I will be able to go

Can I go to the toilet? Be allowed to

Can Present Permission I cant 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 cant be at home, because
------------------------
(Logical deduction) her car isnt 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 couldnt go to the party last Be allowed to
night. I wasnt 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 didnt have to clean
Ill have to study
Be allowed to
(PROHIBITION)
Must Present You were not allowed to talk.
ONLY NEGATIVE
Prohibition You mustnt smoke here. DIFFERENT FROM:
We mustnt drive a car. Dont have to
(Absence of obligation)
I dont have to go (No tengo que ir)
I mustnt go (No debo ir)
Certainty ONLY POSITIVE
(Strong He must be at school now. ----------------------
belief) This coat must be Johns.

Should / Advice You should see a doctor.

Present ----------
ought to Opinion You ought to respect road signs

English Teacher: Mercedes Gonzlez Delgado IES Carlos Cano Los Barrios (Cdiz)
 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 neednt come so early.
Dont have to
Neednt Present
or (only this form, without to) (Absence of obligation)
I didnt 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?
---------------------

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 Im not sure
COULD because its very dark in the room.

CANT IMPOSSIBILITY This coat cant be hers, its too big.

Should / had better

Ya has visto que should se utiliza para decir lo que creemos que se debera hacer, dar un consejo o
una opinin. Pues had better (o la contraccin, 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.
Youd better turn at the junction. (Es mejor que gires en el cruce).
Negativa: sujeto + had better + not + verbo en la forma base.
Youd 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 tambin 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 Ms vale que.
Youd better slow down when its raining. (Ser mejor que reduzcas la velocidad cuando est
lloviendo)
Youd better not drink while driving! (Ms vale que no bebas mientras conduces!)

English Teacher: Mercedes Gonzlez Delgado IES Carlos Cano Los Barrios (Cdiz)