Modal Verbs

MODAL VERBS

Ana Agar

What are modal verbs?

When do we use modal verbs?

What are the rules for modal verbs?

1. SAME FORM FOR ALL PERSONS

Iyou he she must it we they

He musts

2. NO AUXILIARY VERB FOR NEGATIVE AND INTERROGATIVE FORMS

I should...

I shouldn't...

or... should I?

They don't can... Does she must?

3. MODAL VERBS ARE FOLLOWED BY INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO

I must to go now

EXCEPTIONS!!!!

4. THEY ONLY HAVE ONE TENSE: PRESENT OR PAST

PRESENT

PAST

INFINITIVE

PAST PARTICIPLE

am/is/are

was/were

been

to be

must

should

can

could

could

MODAL VERBS

MUST/HAVE TO obligation But... what is the difference???

meaning

Have to (tener que) Must (deber)

Have to is a normal verbMust is a modal verb

grammar

PRESENT

PAST

INFINITIVE

PAST PARTICIPLE

to have to

have/has to

had to

had to

must

use

Have to: external obligationsMust: personal obligations

INFINITIVE

PRESENT

PAST

PAST PARTICIPLE

was/were able to

am/is/are able to

to be able to

been able to

can

could

could

Be able to is the verb to be, a normal verbCan/Could are modal verbs

To be continued...