MODAL VERBS

• No tienen flexión verbal → No se conjugan

• Son verbos auxiliares → La negativa se hace con NOT y se pueden contraer. En preguntas
se invierten con el sujeto.
• Siempre van seguidos de un verbo en infinitivo sin to.

SEMI-MODAL VERBS (have to & be able to)

• Si tienen flexión verbal → Si se conjugan

• No verbos auxiliares (excepto BE ABLE TO) → La negativa se hace con el auxiliar
necesario al igual que las preguntas.
• Siempre van seguidos de un verbo en infinitivo sin to.

ABILITY

• CAN → Cuando expreso habilidades innatas o adquiridas en el presente.

Susan can speak three languages fluently.

Paul can’t swim more than 200 m

• COULD → Cuando expreso habilidades innatas o adquiridas del pasado.

Susan could speak three languages fluently when she was at university.

Paul couldn’t swim when he was a child but now he can swim more than 200m

• BE ABLE TO
o En pasado es sinónimo de managed to (arreglárselas para…) y lo usamos para
hablar de habilidades que no son adquiridas y son específicas.
o También lo usamos en futuro y presente como sinónimo de can.

Susan is able to speak three languages fluently.

Paul isn’t able to swim more than 200 m.

Paul was able to get tickets for the concert although they were sold out.

I will be able to speak English when I finish this course.

CERTAINLY AND POSSIBILITY

• MUST → Lo uso para hacer deducciones lógicas. Expresar la seguridad de que algo es
cierto en el presente.

Susan’s car is not here. She must be in the office.

Everyone is laughing a lot. This film must be really funny.

I am sure that Paul is in the cinema because he told me yesterday.

Paul must be in the cinema because he told me yesterday.

• CAN’T → Expresar que algo es imposible o que no es cierto en el presente.

That man can’t be Tom. He went to London yesterday.

Susan can’t be working today because it’s bank holiday.

It’s impossible that Susan is vegetarian. I saw her eating a hamburger.

Susan can’t be vegetarian. I saw her eating a hamburger.

• MAY/ MIGHT / COULD → Expresas que algo es posible o no en el presente o futuro.

It’s probably that the restaurant has a free table if we phone quickly.

The restaurant may have a free table if we phone quickly.

The restaurant might have a free table if we phone quickly.

The restaurant could have a free table if we phone quickly.

It’s likely that Paul doesn’t come to the party tonight.

Paul may not come to the party tonight

Paul might not come to the party tonight

Paul could not come to the party tonight

FORMAL REQUEST

• COULD / MAY → Usamos could y may en preguntas para hacer peticiones formales.

Could you bring me a glass of water, please?

May I go to the toilet, please?

ADVICE

• SHOULD / OUGHT TO → Se usan para dar consejo.

You should visit the doctor about that cough

Paul ought to study more if he wants to go to university.

You shouldn’t eat so much chocolate, you are getting fat.

You oughtn’t to drink wine because you usually get sick.

It’s a good idea for people to have first-aid supplies in their car.

People should/ought to have first-aid supplies in their car.

NECCESITY

• NEED TO / HAVE TO → Need to NO es un verbo modal, es un verbo que va seguido de

un sustantivo o de un verbo en infinitivo con to. Have to se puede usar también para
indicar la necesidad de hacer algo al igual que need to.

I need to buy a new pair of shoes because the old ones are broken.

I have to buy a new pair of shoes because the old ones are broken.

I needed to send this letter on time.

I had to send this letter on time.

• DON’T NEED TO / DON’T HAVE TO → Indican la falta de necesidad.

I don’t need to buy a new pair of shoes because they are still ok.

I don’t have to buy a new pair of shoes because they are still ok..

I didn’t need to send this letter last week.

I didn’t have to send this letter last week.

• NEEDN’T → Sí es un verbo modal. Se usa para indicar la falta de necesidad en el

presente.

I don’t need to buy a new pair of shoes because they are still ok.

I needn’t buy a new pair of shoes because they are still ok.

I don’t need a new pair of shoes because they are still ok. (Es correcto ya que need puede ir
seguido de un sustantivo o de un verbo en infinitivo con to)

I needn’t a new pair of shoes because they are still ok. (Es incorrecto ya que needn’t es un
verbo modal y no puede ir seguido de un sustantivo)
PROHIBITION

MUST NOT / MUSTN’T

• Lo usamos para hablar de lo que no está permitido. Es muy común en señales y

advertencias que informan sobre las normas y las leyes.

Visitors must not park in the staff car park.

Baggage must not be left unattended.
Guests must not make noise after 10 p.m.

• Usamos mustn’t cuando la prohibición viene de quien habla.

(Padre a hijo) You mustn't say things like that to your sister.
(Profesor a estudiante) You mustn't be late to class.
I mustn't let that happen again.

CAN’T → Lo usamos para hablar de algo que está en contra de las normas, particularmente
cuando no cumplimos las reglas.

What does this sign say? Oh, we can't park here.

You can't take photos in the museum. They're really strict about it.
Sorry, we can't sell knives to under-18s.

OBLIGATION

HAVE TO → Lo usamos para mostrar que la obligación viene de otra persona y no de quien
habla. Es una “obligación externa”.

We have to wear a uniform when we're working in reception.

(Estudiante a profesor) When do we have to hand in our homework?
Al has to work tomorrow so he can't come.

MUST → Expresa una obligación o necesidad fuerte. Lo usa la persona que pone la obligación.

I must phone my dad. It's his birthday today.

(Profesor a estudiante) You must hand in your homework on Tuesday or you will lose ten per
cent of your mark.
(Señal en un avión) Seat belts must be worn by all passengers.

NO OBLIGATION

DON’T HAVE TO → Lo usamos para expresar la falta de obligación. Puedes hacer algo, pero no
es obligatorio.

You don't have to wear a tie in our office but some people like to dress more formally.
You don't have to go to the bank to do a transfer. You can do it online.
You don't have to come with me, honestly. I'll be fine!

NOTA: EN PASADO TODAS LA OBLIGACIONES SEAN DEL TIPO QUE SEAN SE EXPRESAN CON
HAD TO