Modal Verbs

Presentation
 Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are verbs that are always followed by another
infinitive verb;
E.g. She can play the piano very well.
To form the negative or the interrogative we don’t need an
auxiliary verb:
NEGATIVE – we just add NOT to the modal verb
E.g. We must not (mustn’t) wear sunglasses in the classroom
INTERROGATIVE – we just put the modal verb before the
subject
E.g. Can you speak German?
 Modal Verbs: Ability
Can / Can’t + infinitive:
To talk about ability in the present.
E.g. She can play the piano very well.
Be able to + infinitive:
To talk about ability in the present, the past and future.
E.g. The swimmer wasn‘t able to race because of the injury.
E.g. I will be able to climb better after the course.
Could / Couldn’t + infinitive:
To talk about ability in the past.
E.g. Before the internet you couldn’t access to information.
 Modal Verbs: Permission
Can:
To talk about what is permitted or allowed.
E.g. Can I have a drink mum? Yes, you can.
Could:
To talk about what is permitted or allowed.
E.g. Could I have some extra time to finish my homework?
May (more formal):
Less common to express permission.
E.g. May I take a photo of you for my blog, please?
 Modal Verbs: Advice
Should / Shouldn’t + infinitive:
It is used to give advice and make strog suggestions.
E.g. You should read El País online today.
Ought to / Ought not to / Ought + subject + to + verb +?
It is used to give advice (objective opinion).
E.g. We ought to book our railway tickets.
 Modal Verbs: Obligation
Must + infinitive:
It is used to express obligation and necessity (personal obligation).
E.g. I must pay more attention to the news.
Have / Has to + infinitive:
It is used to express obligation (external obligation).
E.g. I have to wear a suit and tie at work.
Musn’t + infinitive:
It is used to express prohibition.
E.g. You mustn‘t lie.
 Modal Verbs: lack of obligation
Don’t / Doesn’t have to + infinitive:
It is used to talk about what we are not obliged to do.
E.g. You don‘t have to say anything.
Don’t / Doesn’t need to + infinitive:
It is used to talk about what is not necessary.
E.g. You don‘t need to play football if you are ill.
Modal Verbs: Possibility, probability & certainty
May (puede que, tal vez):
It is used to express possibility in the present or future.
E.g. I may be late. / In the future there might be more diseases.
Might (pudiera / podría ser que):
Less possible than may (future or present).
E.g. They might not come today.
Could (pudiera / podría ser que):
More uncertainty than may (future or present).
E.g. She could need to check her messages
 Modal Verbs: possibility, probability &
certainty
Must:
It is used to express a higher possibility or when we are certain
something is true.
E.g. It must be raining. The ground is wet.
Can’t:
It is used to express certainty. We use can’t when we are certain
something is impossible.
E.g. The gym can‘t be closing already.
 MODAL USE TRANSLATION EXAMPLE

She can play the piano very well.

ABILITY CAN, BE ABLE TO, COULD PODER, SER CAPAZ DE, PODÍA The swimmer wasn’t able to run the race.
Before the internet you couldn’t access to information.

Can I have a drink?

PERMISSION CAN, COULD, MAY PODER, PODRÍA, PODRÍA Could I have extra time?
May I borrow a pen?

You should read the newspaper today.

ADVICE SHOULD, OUGHT TO DEBERÍA
We ought to book the tickets.

I must pay more attention to the news.

OBLIGATION MUST, HAVE TO DEBER, TENER QUE
I have to wear a suit at work.

NO TENER QUE, NO TENER You don’t have to say anything.

LACK OF OBLIGATION DON’T HAVE TO, DON’T NEED TO
NECESIDAD DE You don’t need to play football if you are ill.

I may be late.
POSSIBILITY,
MAY, MIGHT, COULD PUEDE QUE, PUDIERA They might not come today.
PROBABILITY She could need to check messages.

It must be raining. The ground is wet.

CERTAINTY MUST, CAN’T DEBE, NO PUEDE
The gym can’t be closing already.
Great Job!