23 Jan 2023

MODAL VERBS

MODAL VERBS

MODAL VERB

MEANING/USES

EXAMPLES

CAN
(poder/ saber/ tener la habilidad)
-                ability
-                permission
-                possibility
- He can speak English
- Can I open the door?
- Anybody can make mistakes

CAN’T
(No se puede, porque es imposible)

-   impossibility

- I can’t find my keys, I’ve lost them.

COULD
(Pudo, podría)
-                past ability
-                present or future permission
-                I could never play the piano
-                Could I smoke in here?

MAY
=MIGHT
(Poder/ es posible
-                Permission (more formal than can)
-                Possibility
-                You may borrow my car if you like
-                The road may be blocked
-                What you say might be true

SHOULD
=OUGHT TO
(debería/ consejos)

-                advice
-                You should do as he says
-                You should go to the doctor
-                You ought to start now


MUST
(tener que/ tener la obligación)

-                obligation (imposed by the speaker)
-                certainty/deduction
-                You must be back by 12 o’clock

-                There must be a mistake

HAVE TO
(tener que/ tener la obligación)

- obligation (imposed by other person)

- I have to be back at 12 o’clock

DON’T HAVE TO
(no es necesario/ no tienes que…)

- absence of obligation

- You don’t have to go to school in the afternoon

MUSTN’T
(no se debe… está prohibido)

- prohibition

- You mustn’t park on the yellow lines

NEED
(Es necesario)

- necessity

- You need have a passport to travel abroad