MODALS VERBS

Modal verbs, like auxiliaries, are used in English for a

speaker to communicate different states or attitudes
(on leave, probability, necessity).
A class of modal meaning, is the degree of certainty
manners are used to say that a situation is safe,
probable, possible or impossible
The other kind of meaning has to do with the
obligation and freedom of action: manners can be used
to say that someone is bound to do something, you can
do something, that something is permitted or
prohibited
a) certainty (positive or negative) must,
Must not, can, can not.
b) probability / possibility. Should,
Should not, may, May not
c) weak probability or possibility Might,
might not, could, could not
d) conditionality or possibility. Could,
could not.
ARE THE MODAL VERBS
Modal verbs are used to express various aspects of
obligation and freedom. These uses of modal verbs are
very important in terms of education, suggestions,
invitations and instructions.
a) strong obligation: Must
b) prohibition: must not, can not
c)Weak requirement: Should suggestion or
recommendation, might, May
d) will, persistence and offers. Will, would
e) (very formal) can permit, couds, may, might
f) ability can, be able to


OBLIGATION AND FREEDOM OF
ACTION
A. Do not combine (never changes its form in
different people), so modal verbs do not take
"s" in the third person singular.
B. The main verb is always in infinitive form
without to, except ought modal.
C. As complementary verbs are modal verbs do
not work without other verb
GRAMMAR
an affirmation order words is subject



in the questions, the word order is modal, subject,
main verb

HOW THE USE THE MODAL
VERBS
"Can" means skill or ability. In these cases it can be
translated as "power" in Spanish
-I can ski / puedo esquiar
We can use the can if we decide now that we will do in
the future
-I can have lunch with you tomorrow. / Puedo comer
contigo maana.

CAN
Affirmative: subject + can + verb
I can speak English
Negative: subject + cant + verb
I cant speak english
Interrogative : Can + subject + verb
Can I speak english ?
Short Answer: Yes, subject + can
*Yes, I cant
No, subject + cant
*No , I cant
-"Could" indicates possibility or ability in the
past.
-You can also use "could" for possibilities in
the future.
-As "can", in interrogative sentences "could"
may request permission or to inquire about the
possibilities, but is more formal.
*Joe could speak Spanish when he was young. (Joe poda hablar
espaol cuando era joven.)

COULD
Affirmative: subject +could +verb
* You could be wrong
Negative: Subject + couldnt + verb
*I couldn't see very clearly (Yo no pude/podra
ver muy claramente)
Interrogative : Could + subject + verb
*Could you open the window? (Pudiste/podras
abrir la ventana?)


The verb "may" could be used in the same way that "could", but is
more formal and polite.
Can also be used to give permissions or instructions.
The questions yes or no, the use of "may" is more polite than
"can".
The modal verb is MAY MIGHT closely related since both have
the same use and meaning, but MAY indicates a greater degree
of certainty .
To express a possibility in the future, we will only place him in
prayer when the action is performed. For those questions that is
more polite MIGHT COULD and MAY.

MAY - MIGTH
She may decide to travel to Spain (Ella puede decidir
viajar a Espaa)
May you take me to the school? (Podras llevarme a la
escuela?)
You may leave if you like. (Puede salir si quiere.)
You may use your cell phones now. (Podis usar sus
telfonos ahora.)
May I have a glass of water? (Podra tomar un vaso de
agua?)
May I leave now? (Podra salir ahora?)

Affirmative: subject + may/might + verb
*She may help me tomorrow.(Ella podr ayudarme maana.)
*They might visit the hospital this afternoon. (Ellos podran
visitar el hospital esta tarde.)
Negative: subject + may not /migth not migntnt + verb
*She may not apologize her friend( Ella no puede disculpar a su
amiga)
*He might not find a solution to his problem(l no podra encontrar una
solucin a su problema)
Interrogative: may/migth + subject + verb
*May I use your telephone please? ( Puedo usar su telfono por
favor?)
*Might I use your telephone please? ( Podra usar su telfono por
favor?)


The verb MUST and which can be attributed two main meanings:
to indicate that we are sure of the certainty of something and
also to express an opinion, that is, indicate the need to do
something. You can also use "could" for possibilities in the future.
"Must" expresses an internal obligation, not an external
obligation as is "Have To.
"Must" is used only in the present and in the future.
*He must have a lot of money( l debe tener mucho dinero)
(Indica la certeza que posee gran cantidad de dinero)
*They must pay attention. (Ellos deben prestar atencin)

MUST
Affirmative: subject + must +verb
*I must go to the library (Debo ir a la biblioteca)
Negative: subject + musnt / must not + verb
*You must not talk to strangers (No debes hablar con extraos)
Interrogative : must + subject + verb
*Must we do everything today (Debemos hacer todo hoy?)

We use it to express that something is necessary. Expresses an
obligation in English.
HAVE TO is preferably used to talk about an obligation imposed
from outside (rule, law, rule)
Unlike all other modal verbs, auxiliary HAVE TO DO need to
formulate questions and negations and supports all tenses.
*You have to drive on the right (tienes que conducir por la
derecha)
*His father said he had to do it (Su padre dijo que lo tena que
hacer)

HAVE TO
Affirmative: Subject + have to + verb
*We have to be there at 5 o'oclock. (tenemos que
estar all a las 5)
Interrogative : do /does + subject + have to + verb
*Do we have to be there at 5 o'clock? (Tenemos que
estar all a las 5?)
Negative: Subject + dont/ doesnt + have to + verb
*We don't have to be there at 5 o'clock (No tenemos
que estar all a las 5)

"Should" denotes an obligation or recommendation. It reflects a view on what
is right. This translates as the subjunctive of "duty" in Spanish.
"SHOULD" can also be used to express the probability that something will
happen in the future
*I should call my parents more often. (Debera llamar a mis padres ms a
menudo.)
*You have saved a lot of money so you should buy a new car (T has
ahorrado mucho dinero por lo que deberas comprar un nuevo coche)
*She has worked the whole year so she should have holidays (Ella ha
trabajado todo el ao por lo que debera tener vacaciones)

SHOULD
To express something that should have been done in
the past but did not use the form SHOULD HAVE & &
past participle of the main verb, for example:
Should I have arrived Earlier (He should have come
earlier)
We Should Have Travelled yesterday (We should
have traveled yesterday)
She Should Have prepared her exams.
The past is used to indicate that something should
have been done and not done.
Affirmative: subject + should + verb
*I should call my mother (Debera llamar a mi madre)
Negative: subject + shouldnt + verb
*I shouldn't waste my time (No debera desperdiciar mi tiempo)
Interrogative: should + subject + verb
*Should we worry? (Deberamos preocuparnos?)