MODAL VERBS
BASIC RULES AND EXAMPLES
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1.BASIC RULES MODALS VERBS
The golden rules for using modal verbs correctly
Three essential rules for the correct use of modal verbs in English: - They are always followed by an infinitive verb, as they have no meaning on their own. Normally this verb does not have to, although there are some exceptions which are also considered modal verbs: be able to, need to and have to. For example: She can speak spanish. - They are not conjugated, i.e. they do not add -s in the third person singular and have no past or future tense, although there are some exceptions. They also do not have infinitive, compound or progressive tenses. For example: Today I should play. - In the interrogative and negative forms, they do not need to add the auxiliary (do or does). For example: Can you come with me tomorrow?
2. Obligation & Prohibition
Prohibition
Obligation
Mustn’t (It is used to express prohibition) You mustn’t smoke inside any building No puedes fumar dentro de ningún edificio Don't need to (Relates to NOT having the need to do something.) You don't need to buy the new book. Ella no necesita comprar el nuevo libro. Don't have to (Means that you are not obliged to do something or that it is not indispensable). You don’t have to pay for the entrance. The fee is voluntary. No tienes que pagar por la entrada. La tarifa es voluntaria.
Must (To indicate duty or obligation to do something; we could translate it as have to or must.) You must wear a helmet Debes llevar un casco Have to / have got to (For orders and obligations, usually referring to laws and regulations.) You have to wear a helmet Debes llevar un casco Need to (to express need, requirement, things or people who need us.) You need to tell the truth Debes decir la verdad
3. ADVICES
SHOULDN'T
SHOULD
It means that something is not convenient or not is considered correct. You shouldn’t eat that. No deberías comer eso.
It is used to express recommendations or advice, giving an opinion of what is considered correct. You should go to the doctor as soon as possible. Deberías ir al doctor lo antes posible.
4. CERTAINTY
Must (It is used to express that there is certainty about something or that you are 100% sure of something.) He must know something about it. Debe saber algo al respecto. Cant't (To say that something is not probable or that there is no certainty about it in the present. It is the negative form of ‘must’). He can’t be very old — he’s about 25, isn’t he? No puede ser muy viejo, tiene unos 25 años, ¿no?
May (To express a more or less probable possibility in the present and in the future). Joe hasn’t eaten a bite of her dinner. He may have an upset stomach. Joe no ha probado bocado de su comida. Quizá tiene dolor de barriga. May not ( To express a more or less likely negative possibility in the present and in the future). I may not go out tonight. Puede que no salga esta noche.
Might (It expresses an unlikely possibility in the present and future of which there is no certainty). It might rain over the weekend. Podría llover el fin de semana. Might not ( It expresses an improbable possibility to speak of negative probability in the present and in the future of which there is no certainty). I might not go to the meeting. Puede que no vaya a la reunión.
5. ABILITY
Can (It is used to refer to a skill or ability in a broader sense in the present. This is perhaps its most frequent use. In these cases, in Spanish we usually use the verbs "saber", "poder" or "ser capaz de".) Solène can speak three languages. Solène sabe hablar tres idiomas. Can't (It is used to refer to a skill or ability in a broader sense in the present but it in the negative.) Gemma can’t play the guitar Gemma no sabe tocar la guitarra
Could (Used to talk about a general ability in the past.) I could play the piano when I was five. Podía o sabía tocar el piano cuando tenía cinco años Couldn't (Used to talk about a general ability in the past but in the negative) She couldn’t ride a horse. No sabía montar a caballo.
Be able to ( It means to be able, to have the capacity for something, and is most often used to talk about an action in the future and past.) Yesterday I was able to go. Ayer yo pude/podía ir.
EXTRA INFORMATION: While "can" is limited to the present, "be able to" provides a wider range of temporal usage. For example, only "was/were able to" can be used to talk about a specific ability in the past that was achieved.
Modal Verbs Videogames
Project realised by: Quintín Merino Gómez Francisco Javier Roldán Castro Jesús Rafael Triguillos Marín