Modal verbs

Overview of modal verbs

Los verbos modales presentan estas caractersticas:
1 Van seguidos del infinitivo sin to.
I can swim. S nadar.
We must leave. Nos tenemos que marchar.

2 No llevan -s en la tercera persona del singular.

He can read. El sabe leer.

3 No admiten verbos auxiliares en las formas negativa e interrogativa.
You mustn'tpark there. No debes aparcar ah.
Can we come n? Podemos pasar?

He aqu algunos verbos modales: can, could, may, might, must y should.
Hay verbos que no cumplen las tres caractersticas arriba citadas. Son los llamados verbos semimodales: ought to,
have to y had better.
Algunas expresiones tienen un significado similar al de ciertos verbos modales. Es el caso de be able to, be allowed to
y had better.
1 Construye frases correctas.
She / can / dance / beautifully
She can dance beautifully.

1 He / not allowed / stay up late / every night

4 We / not need / leave yet

2 She / have to / study science

5 They / not able / go on holiday / every year

3 You / must / be careful

6 You/ought/work harder

2 Ordena estas palabras para construir preguntas correctas.

wear / a / uniform / she / have / does / to / ?
Does she have to wear a uniform?
1 p l a y / t h e / piano/ can /you /?

4 pay / have / 1 / to / do / ?

2 he / able / come / i s / t o / ?

5 tell / her / 1 / the truth / should / ?

3 we / allowed / park / here / to / are / ?

6 leave / now / we / oueht / to / ?

Meanings
Habilidad
Capacidad

can
could
be able to

Icanswim. S nadar.
He could talk when he was two. A los dos aos ya saba hablar.
Tigers are able to run fast. los tigres corren a gran velocidad.

Posibilidad y
deduccin

may /might/
could
can't
must
should
ought to
had better

This painting may / might / could be valuadle. (Es posible que tenga un gran valor.)
Puede que este cuadro sea valioso.
No, that can't be Tom. (No es posible que sea Tom.) No, ese no puede ser Tom.
This must be hls car. (Estoy segura de que este es su coche.) Este debe de ser su coche.

Consejo

Obligacin y
necesidad
Prohibicin

Ausencia de
obligacin

must
have to
need to
mustn't
can't

You must wearaseat belt - it's the law. Debes ponerte el dnturn. Es obligatorio.
Ail chlldren have to go to school. Todos los nios deben acudir a la escuela.
We need to be very careful. Debemos tener mucho cuidado.

don't have to

You can wear a helmet whenyou're cycllnq, butyou don't have to. (No lo Impone la ley.)
Cuando vayas en blcl puedes ponerte el casco, pero no es necesario.
You can leave now -you needn't wait for us. (No es necesario.)
Ya puedes marcharte. No hace falta que nos esperes.

needn't
Permiso

You should eat more fruit. Deberas comer ms fruta.

He ought to do more exercse. Debera hacer ms ejercicio.
You had better wait a few more days. Ser mejor que esperes unos das ms.

can
be allowed to

Students mustn 't use thelr moblle phones d u ring Sessons.

Los alumnos no deben utilizar sus telfonos mviles durante las clases.
Chlldren under flfteen can't watch thls film,
los menores de quince aos no pueden ver esta pelcula.

You can come with us ifyou //te. 51 quieres, puedes venir con nosotros.
We're allowed to go home early on Frdays. Los viernes nos podemos marchar antes.
Grammar Basics Unit 2

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