MODAL VERBS

Los auxiliares modales (modals) se utilizan, junto con el verbo

principal para agregar algún significado adicional al verbo (frase)
ya sea de obligación permiso, probabilidad, etc.
El escoger uno u otro modal no tiene relación con la gramática,
sino con lo que se desea expresar. Precisamente por esta razón,
existen diferentes posibilidades.

You have to wait here (Obligatorio)

Must*
You should wait here (Deseable)
ought to

You can wait here (Permitido)

may*

You should not wait here (Indeseable)

Ought not to

You can’t wait here (Prohido)

mustn’t

*El uso del “must” o “may” significa un tono más autoritario en la oración; entre
personas del mismo nivel, se suele usar “have to” y “can”

Como todos los “modals”, éstos pueden referirse al futuro o al presente, el

contexto aclara el tiempo.

FUTURO PRESENTE

He’ll be there at 6 He’ll be there now (seguro)

He may be there at 6 He may be there now (posible)
He might be there at 6 He might be there now (Poco
probable)
He won’t be there at 6 He won’t be there now (Imposible)

He’ll = He will He won’t= He will not

EJERCICIO
Lee la información y completa las oraciones con verbos auxiliares del
recuadro.

1999- 2060: What will happen?

Certain Population increase bigger cities

Possible Nuclear war cure for cancer
Improbable World peace total destruction of the world
Impossible Problems of humanity solved human colonies on
other planets

Will May Might Won’t

1. The problems of humanity _____________ be solved

2 .There ___________ be a nuclear war
3. Peace ___________ become general throughout the world
4. The world _____________be totally destroyed
5. The population of the world ____________certainly increase
6. Scientist __________find a cure for cancer
7. The great cities of the world ________get bigger
8. There __________ be colonies of human beings on other planets

UTILIZA ESTOS VERBOS MODALES PARA EXPRESAR TU

OPINIÓN SOBRE LA PROBABILIDAD DE LOS SIGUIENTES
EVENTOS.

1. A woman _______ become President of Mexico

2. Mexico _______ win the World Cup this century
3. Computers _______ be more important than books in Mexican schools
in 2060
4. Mexico City ______ have 40 million inhabitants or more in 2060
5. Meat made of soybeans __________ become more common than real
meat before 2060
6. Reading English well _______ be important for me when I finish school
7. Japan _______ become a richer country than the United States.
8 .I _______ get married in the next ten years.
Distribuye los cuatro verbos en cada reactivo de manera que
todos tengan sentido.

must should have obtain

1. Mexican who want to visit Europe ____________ a passport.

2. People who want to start an exercise program _______ medical
check-up.

must not should not panic smoke

3. Passengers ____________ when oxygen is being used.

4. Passengers _______ if there is an emergency.

must may get buy

5. People who wish to, ____________ buy tickets for the concert in
advanced.
6. This is a private property. If you wish to enter you _______
permission.

May should leave check

7. If you finish the exam early, you ____________ the room.

8. Students_______ that their names are on their exams papers.

can’t shouldn’t exercise drink

9. You ____________ if you are going to drive.

10. You_______ if you have hepatitis.
LOS USOS MÁS COMUNES DE LOS VERBOS MODALES SON
PARA EXPRESAR:

Obligación: have to , must

(Se tiene que, se debe de)

Deseabilidad : ought to, should

(Se debería )

Indeseabilidad : ought not, should not

(No se debería)

Posibilidad: May , can

(Se puede)

Habilidad: Can

Prohibición : Can not, must not

(No se puede, no se debe)

Probabilidad : might, could

(Se podría )

Seguridad : Will, shall

(Se hará)

Imposibilidad : Will not

(No se hará)