MODAL VERBS + INFINITIVE

1. OBLIGATION:
Must (deber, tener que)
Have to (deber, tener que)
Need to (ser necesario, tener que)

I have to study hard for my exams / I must study hard for my exams
I need to study hard for my exams

Past: I had to / needed to study hard

2. PROHIBITION:
Mustn’t (no puedes, no se puede)
Can’t

You mustn’t / can’t park here.

3. NO OBLIGATION:
Don’t have to (no hace falta que, no es necesario que)
Don’t need to

You don’t have to / don’t need to come to school tomorrow: it’s Saturday.

4. RECOMMENDATION:
Should (debería), shouldn’t (no debería)

You should go to the doctor.

You shouldn’t go to bed very late.

5. ABILITY: (habilidad, capacidad de hacer una cosa)

Can (poder, saber)
 To be able to (ser capaz de, sustituye a can en todos los tiempos verbales)

I can speak three languages (saber)

I can’t speak English (no saber)
I was able to swim when I was 5 years old (saber)

6. POSSIBILITY
Can (poder)
Could (podía, pude)
to be able to (poder)

I could finally finish my homework (al final pude terminar los deberes)

I can go with you this afternoon because I don’t have to study. (poder)

I can’t go with you this afternoon because I have to study (poder)

7. PERMISSION / REQUEST: (permiso, petición)

Can
Could
May

Can you open the window?

Could you open the window?
May I come in?

8. DEDUCTION (deducción, sacar conclusiones a partir de unos hechos)

a) Positive deduction (100% seguro de que sí)

MUST
This must be Jim’s brother. He looks just like him.
Este debe ser el hermano de Jim. Se parece mucho a él.

b) Negative deduction (100% seguro de que no)

 CAN’T
My mobile phone is ringing. It can’t be Peter because he hasn’t got a mobile
phone.
Mi móvil está sonando. No puede ser Peter porque él no tiene móvil.

c) Doubt (50% certainty)

MAY / MIGHT / COULD (se pueden poner en negativa)

She may not come for dinner because she had to work until late.
Puede que ella no venga a cenar porque tenía que trabajar hasta tarde.

PASSIVE VOICE

V. MODAL + BE + PARTICIPIO

I must read the book

The book must be read

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MODAL VERBS

1. MUST: a) obligation b) positive deduction

2. MUSTN’T: a) prohibition
3. HAVE TO: a) obligation
4. DON’T HAVE TO: a) no obligation
5. NEED TO: a) obligation
6. DON’T NEED TO: a) no obligation
7. CAN: a) ability b) possibility c) permission
8. CAN’T: a) ability b) possibility c) prohibition d) negative deduction
9. MAY / COULD: a) permission b) doubt