Modal verbs

Examples: can, must, may, should

Caractersticas

- Acompaan a otro verbo en infinitivo sin to (salvo have to, ought to y be able
to)
- No se conjugan (salvo have to y be able to)

CAN

- Poder: posibilidad I can go to your party. Permiso Can I use your pen?
- Saber. Habilidad He can drive very well. She cant play the guitar.

Solo en oraciones en presente

COULD

- Poder (pasado): posibilidad I could see her. I couldnt go to Madrid.

Habilidad I could dance some years ago
- Podra: posibilidad remota You could lose your keys. He could fall down.
Permiso Could I use your pen? (ms cortesa)

BE ABLE TO

- Present perfect: I have been able to speak English

- Simple future: I will be able to go
- Past perfect: I had been able to understand

MUST

- Deber: obligacin You must study. You mustnt tell lies. Must I wear a suit to
your party?
- Deber de: deduccin Its 5 oclock a.m my parents must be sleeping

Solo para presente

HAVE TO

- Past simple: I had to study

- Simple future: I will have to work harder

MAY

- Poder: posibilidad remota It may rain. You may fail. Permiso May I use
your pen? May I come in?

MIGHT
 - Podra: posibilidad ms remota It might rain. You might have an accident.
Permiso Might I use your pen?

SHOULD

- Debera: consejo You should study harder. You shouldnt smoke

OUGHT TO: You ought to study