What are Modal Verbs?

Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences: 1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person. Examples:

He can speak Chinese. She should be here by 9:00.

2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past. Examples:

He should not be late. They might not come to the party.

3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses. Examples:

He will can go with us. Not Correct She musted study very hard. Not Correct

Can
"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility. Examples:

I can ride a horse. ability We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris. opportunity She cannot stay out after 10 PM. permission Can you hand me the stapler? request Any child can grow up to be president. possibility

Could
"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can." Examples:

Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. possibility Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. past ability You could see a movie or go out to dinner. suggestion Could I use your computer to email my boss? request We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. conditional

May
"May" is most commonly used to express possibility. It can also be used to give or request permission, although this usage is becoming less common. Examples:

Cheryl may be at home, or perhaps at work. possibility Johnny, you may leave the table when you have finished your dinner. give permission May I use your bathroom? request permission

Might
"Might" is most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used in conditional sentences. English speakers can also use "might" to make suggestions or requests, although this is less common in American English. Examples:

Your purse might be in the living room. possibility If I didn't have to work, I might go with you. conditional You might visit the botanical gardens during your visit. suggestion Might I borrow your pen? request

Must
"Must" is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express necessity or strong recommendation, although native speakers prefer the more flexible form "have to." "Must not" can be used to prohibit actions, but this sounds very severe; speakers prefer to use softer modal verbs such as "should not" or "ought not" to dissuade rather than prohibit. Examples:

This must be the right address! certainty Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. necessity You must take some medicine for that cough. strong recommendation Jenny, you must not play in the street! prohibition

Should
"Should" is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation. Examples:

When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam. recommendation You should focus more on your family and less on work. advice I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. obligation By now, they should already be in Dubai. expectation

Would
"Would" is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves as the past form of the modal verb "will." Additionally, "would" can indicate repetition in the past. For more information on the grammar behind the modal verb "would," visit the following tutorials: Conditional Tutorial, Future in the Past, and Would Always. Examples:

If he were an actor, he would be in adventure movies. conditional I knew that she would be very successful in her career. past of "will" When they first met, they would always have picnics on the beach. repetition

Los verbos modales - Modal Verbs

Can Indica habilidades o posibilidad. Ejemplos I can speak english (Yo s hablar ingls.) The doctor can see you at 3.00 ( El doctor le puede visitar a las tres. ) Can you speak german? (Sabes hablar alemn? ) Sintaxis afirmativa: sujeto + can + verbo negativa: sujeto + can not / can't + verbo pregunta: can + sujeto + verbo? respuesta corta: Yes, sujeto + can / No, sujeto + can't Could Es el pasado de can. Tambin se utiliza para preguntar por algo, pero ms educadamente que con can. Ejemplos Could you speak Japonese before you went to Japan? (Sabas hablar japons antes de que fuiste a Japn?) Tony could swim when he was six. (Toni sabia nadar cuando tena seis aos. ) Could you help me? (Podra ayudarme?) Sintaxis

afirmativa: sujeto + could + verbo negativa: sujeto + could not / couldn't + verbo pregunta: could + sujeto + verbo? respuesta corta: Yes, sujeto + could / No, sujeto + couldn't May Lo utilizamos para decir que algo es posible o muy probable. Lo usamos con el presente o futuro. Tambin se utiliza para preguntar por algo pero ms educadamente que con el could. Ejemplos I may stay at home or I may go to a disco.(Puede que me quede en casa o puede que vaya a la discoteca) May I use your dictionary? (Podra usar su diccionario?) Sintaxis afirmativa: sujeto + may + verbo negativa: sujeto + may + not pregunta: may + sujeto + verbo? Might Es el pasado de may. Tambin se usa para expresar una eventualidad pero con ms probabilidad. Ejemplos Be careful. You might burn yourself. (Ten cuidado. Te podras quemar.) Sintaxis afirmativa: sujeto + might + verbo negativa: sujeto + might not / mightn't Must Se utiliza cuando pensamos o realizamos algo que es necesario o muy probable. La forma negativa equivale a una prohibicin. Para hablar en pasado o futuro debemos usar el modal have to. Ejemplos I am really tired. I must go home now. (Estoy realmente cansado. Debo irme a casa ahora) You must keep your room tidy. (Debes conservar tu habitacin ordenada.) Sintaxis afirmativa: sujeto + must + verbo negativa: sujeto + must not / musn't + verbo pregunta: must + sujeto + verbo? respuesta corta: Yes, sujeto + must / No, sujeto + mustn't Have to Lo utilizamos para expresar que algo es necesario. Para formular la pregunta y la negacin debemos utilizar el auxiliar do. El pasado es had to. Ejemplos You have to drive on the right in the USA.(Tienes que conducir por la derecha en los EEUU.) I don't have to wear a uniform at school. (No tengo que llevar uniforme en la escuela.) Did you have to work yesterday? (Tuviste que trabajar ayer?) Sintaxis afirmativa: sujeto + have to + verbo negativa: sujeto + don't have to / do have to + verbo pregunta: Do + sujeto + have to + verbo? respuesta corta: Yes, sujeto + do does // No, sujeto + don't doesn't Should Se utiliza para dar consejo o una opinin. Ejemplos You should have a holiday. (Deberas tener vacaciones.)

You shouldn't work so hard (No deberas trabajar tanto.) What do you think I should do? (Qu crees que debera hacer?) Sintaxis afirmativa: sujeto + should + verbo negativa: sujeto + should not / shouldn't + verbo pregunta: should + sujeto + verbo? respuesta corta: Yes, sujeto + should / No, sujeto + shouldn't Ought to Significa deber, esperar que ocurra algo... Ejemplos I think I ought to tell him. (Creo que debo contrselo.) She ought to pass the exam. (Seguramente aprobar el examen.) Sintaxis afirmativa: sujeto + ought + verbo negativa: sujeto + ought not / oughtn't + verbo pregunta: ought + sujeto + verbo? respuesta corta: Yes, sujeto + ought / No, sujeto + oughtn't Would / would like Would se utiliza en general para las frases condicionales. Tambin lo usamos para predicciones, ofrecimientos y para preguntar por algo educadamente. Ejemplos I would like to go to London (Me gustara ir a Londres) Peter was working very hard. He would be tired tomorrow. (Peter estuvo trabajando duro. Estar cansado maana.) Would you like coffe? (Le gustara tomar caf?) Sintaxis afirmativa: sujeto + would + verbo afirmativa corta: sujeto+ 'd + verbo negativa: sujeto + would not / wouldn't+ verbo pregunta: would + sujeto + verbo? respuesta corta: Yes, sujeto + would / No, sujeto + wouldn't