INGLS DE PRIMERO DE BACHILLERATO

REPASO
( English in Context 1, Primero de Bachillerato )
PRIMERA EVALUACIN

Units 1, 2 and 3

UNIT 1 :
FIRST PART : VOCABULARY
I. ADJECTIVES + PREPOSITIONS :
A) Match the adjectives with the correct prepositions and translation :
1. disappointed
2. to be afraid
3. depressed
4. excited
5. furious
6. good
7. interested
8. rude
9. shocked
10. to be sorry
11. surprised
12. tired
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)

at
about
about
by
by
for
in
of
of
to
with
with

1. deprimido por
2. emocionado por
3. grosero con
4. sorprendido por
5. cansado de
6. tener miedo
7. decepcionado con
8. furioso con
9. bueno en
10. interesado en
11. escandalizado por
12. compadecerse de, lamentar

disappointed ...............................................
to be afraid .................................................
depressed ...................................................
excited .......................................................
furious .......................................................
good ..........................................................

7. interested ...............................................
8. rude .......................................................
9. shocked .................................................
10. to be sorry .............................................
11. surprised ...............................................
12. tired . ...............................................

B) Complete the sentences with the correct preposition : at - by - about - of - with - about - in
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Im really excited ...... going skiing this weekend.

Andy isnt interested ...... football.
My sister is afraid ...... fireworks.
Im furious ...... Ben for losing my favourite CD.
Is Kate good ...... sport?
Do you ever feel depressed ...... anything?
We were shocked ...... the price of the tickets.

C) Complete the sentences with the correct adjectives :

tired - sorry - excited - rude bad - afraid disappointed
1. Vicentes really ....... at tennis. He cant hit the ball.
2. I was ....... with my exam results. I needed an A and I got a B.
1

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

She hasnt got any friends. I feel ....... for her.

Theyre ....... of studying every day. They need a holiday!
I know you hate Carla, but dont be ....... to her.
Are you ....... about the party tomorrow?
Dont turn off the light. Im ....... of the dark.

D) TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH :

1.
2.
3.
4.

Estaba decepcionado por su fin de semana y escandalizado por la actitud de Nigel.

Est sorprendida y emocionada por sus planes.
Estoy interesado en verla.
Fueron groseros con Ian y lo compadezco.

II. PHRASAL VERBS :

A) Match the following phrasal verbs with their meanings :
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

to dress up to turn up - to join in - clear up to share out - to get together

.. : to participate
.. : to distribute
.. : to make a place tidy (recoger)
.. : to get dressed
.. : to meet
.. : to arrive or appear

B) Phrasal verbs: having a party. Match 1-6 with A-F to form complete sentences.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Were all getting

Im going to turn
You dont have to dress
Were going to share

A)
B)
C)
D)

up in special clothes - you can just wear jeans.

out some pizzas between all of us.
up at about 8.
together at Jordis this evening.

C) TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH :

1. Distribuy todo lo que tena.
2. Recogi la sala de estar, se visti y sus amigos se reunieron en su casa. Pero Bruce no apareci.

UNIT 2 :
FIRST PART : VOCABULARY
I. ADJECTIVES FOR DESCRIBING PLACES :
beautiful boring crowded damp deserted dry exciting historical humid modern - noisy
- peaceful picturesque quiet stressful ugly wild
A) Write the opposites of the following adjectives :
beautiful :
boring :

crowded :
dry (x2) :

noisy (x2) :
modern :

B) Translate into English :

1. Era un lugar hmedo, desierto y aburrido. Se acordaba de su ruidosa y abarrotada ciudad.
2. Su nueva casa estaba en una zona tranquila, pintoresca e histrica. Olvid su estresante da.
2

II. Word building : suffixes. Nouns which describe people : Add a suffix to these words to form a
noun:
1.
2.
3.
4.

art
biology
to tour
Australia

5. history
6. comedy
7. to explore

8. to drive
9. to travel
10. to translate

11. to visit
12. to direct
13. to emigrate

14. immigrate
15. to reside
16. to study

SECOND PART : GRAMMAR

THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS :

RECUERDA QUE :

El presente simple se utiliza para expresar :

acciones habituales : I get up at 7 every day. I live in Algeciras.
hechos, verdades universales : The sun sets in the West. (el sol se pone al oeste), two and two
equals four.

El presente continuo se utiliza para expresar :

acciones que tienen lugar en el momento en que se habla : John is sleeping now.
acciones provisionales : He is living in London at the moment because he has a temporary
working contract there.

I. PUT THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO THE PRESENT SIMPLE OR THE PRESENT
CONTINUOUS AS REQUIRED :
1. She normally ..................................... (practise) with me, but not today because
she ..................................... (study) for an exam.
2. He likes Amenbar. He always ..................................... (see) all his films.
3. Manuel ..................................... (be) in England, he ..................................... (study) music in
London.

RECUERDA : Stative verbs

Hay verbos que no se ponen en tiempos continuos. Son los que no denotan movimiento :
be, have, belong to (pertenecer a)
verbos que denotan opinin : believe, think (cuando significa creer)
understand, know
verbos que denotan gustos o preferencias : to want, to prefer, to like, to dislike
verbos que denotan voluntad : want
verbos que denotan sentimientos : love, hate, prefer

THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE. FOR AND SINCE.

3

RECUERDA QUE :

El presente perfecto simple se forma con el sujeto + have/has + participio ( he has arrived) y se
utiliza para :
indicar una accin que tuvo lugar en un momento indeterminado del pasado (NUNCA se
expresa la fecha) y tiene una repercusin en el presente.
Ive bought the book. (se entiende I have it now)
Compara: - Keith has gone to London. (se entiende Now he is in London)
- Keith went to London last year. (accin totalmente desvinculada del presente,
no indica nada sobre dnde est Keith en la actualidad)
se utiliza tambin cuando nos referimos a un perodo de tiempo an no acabado.
I haven't had breakfast this morning. (La maana no ha acabado, an puede que desayune.)
Compara:

- Have you seen Hamlet?

Hamlet (se entiende "si no has visto esta obra, an puedes
verla, pues siguen representndola en el teatro)
- Did you see Hamlet?
Hamlet (si no la has visto, ya no la puedes ver, pues ya no la
representan)
- Have you seen Raymond today?
- Did you see Raymond today?

Seguido de un complemento introducido por FOR o SINCE, indica una accin que empez
en el pasado y contina en el momento presente. En espaol corresponde al presente.
I have lived here since 1990. (Vivo aqu desde 1990)
He has worked for this company for two years. (Trabaja desde hace dos aos.)
He has been a doctor for two years. (Es mdico desde hace dos aos.)
I've had this car since 1989. (Tengo este coche desde 1989.)
I've known Jimmy for a few months. (Conozco a Jimmy desde hace unos meses.)

RECUERDA QUE :
El complemento introducido por SINCE, indica el momento en el cual empez la accin.
El complemento introducido por FOR indica cunto tiempo lleva realizndose la accin.
Los tipos de expresiones que siguen a cada uno de ellos son:
FOR
SINCE
- an hour / two minutes
- five o'clock
- four days
- Wednesday / Sunday / yesterday
- seven months
- June / November / last month
- several years
- 1984 /1800
- a century
- the seventh century

I. TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH :

4

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Han vuelto de Roma.

Lleva tres das lloviendo, no hemos salido de casa.
Lleva dos das saliendo de casa muy temprano.
Est pensando en ello desde que se lo dijiste.
Est en casa desde que oy que ha vuelto Rod.
Est hablando en ese despacho desde hace veinte minutos.
Llevan tres meses casados.
Lleva un extrao uniforme.
Ese coche le pertenece desde que lo gan en una competicin.

THE PAST SIMPLE AND THE PAST CONTINUOUS :

RECUERDA QUE :

El pasado simple se utiliza para expresar :

acciones que tuvieron lugar en el pasado : I was born in Algeciras in 1987. He lived in
Algeciras when he was a child. Generalmente hay una fecha o una referencia temporal en la
frase o en el contexto.
una secuencia de acciones en el pasado : I got up, had breakfast, had a shower and left the
house.
acciones habituales en el pasado : When I was a child, I always played in this park.

El pasado continuo se utiliza para expresar (contrastado con el pasado simple) acciones de cierta
duracin que tenan lugar en el pasado y en el curso de la cual surge otra accin : John was
having a shower when the telephone rang.

PAST
SIMPLE

PAST
CONTINUOUS

Affirmative
Interrogative
Negative
Affirmative
Interrogative
Negative

Subject + Verb-ed (or Irregular past)

Did + subject + Verb in infinitive
Subject + did + not + Verb in inf.
Subject + was/were + Verb in -ing form
Was/Were + subject + Verb in -ing form
Subject + was/were + not + Verb in -ing

I arrived yesterday
Did you come yesterday?
I didn't know it
She was singing
Were you sleeping?
She wasn't listening

PUT THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO THE PAST SIMPLE OR THE PAST
CONTINUOUS, AS REQUIRED :
While I ..................................... (1)(have) a bath I suddenly ..................................... (2)(hear)
something explode in the kitchen. When I got there, the heater ..................................... (3)(be) in flames
and smoke ..................................... (4)(pour) out of the room.
I called for help and
(5)
soon ..................................... (hear) Mr. Taylor coming up the stairs, he ..................................... (6)
(7)
(run).
I .....................................
(not/can) open the door straight-away because
(8)
(9)
I .....................................
(get) dressed. When I .....................................
(let) him in,
(10)
he .....................................
(turn) the gas off. The firemen soon ..................................... (11)(arrive)
to put the fire out. Mrs. Taylor ..................................... (12)(help) me clear up the mess. Its a good
thing they
..................................... (13)(turn) up so quickly,
she remarked and
(14)
they ..................................... (not/make) much noise. I was afraid that they would wake the baby.

USE THE VERBS IN THE LIST TO COMPLETE THE SENTENCES. USE THE PAST
SIMPLE OR THE PRESENT PERFECT :
leave (x3), lose (x2), fly (x2), have, take, eat (x2)
1. I .......................... ( never ) from London to Dublin.
2. We ....................... from London Airport to Dublin yesterday. The flight only ...................... two
hours.
3. .......................... ( you ) anything or shall I make you a sandwich ?
4. .......................... ( you ) anything at the caf yesterday or .......................... ( you ) only a coffee ?
5. You wont believe this. Charles .......................... Paula ! They are getting divorced.
6. Chris ................ Pamela in 1990, but they are still friends.
7. I .......................... my wallet ! I must have left it on the bus.
8. I .......................... my wallet on holiday last year. I .......................... it on a bus.

THE PAST PERFECT

Forma :

Affirmative

Subject + had + Past Participle

He had heard it

Interrogative

Had + subject + Past Participle

Had he seen her?

Negative

Subject + had + not + Past Participle

He had not been there.

RECUERDA QUE :
El pasado perfecto se utiliza para indica una accin que tuvo lugar antes que otra accin del
pasado :
When he arrived, all the children had gone to bed.
When I closed the door, I realised I had left the key inside.

PUT INTO THE PAST SIMPLE OR THE PAST PERFECT :

1. When Sarah got off the bus it was raining heavily; she ......................... ( go ) into a shop to buy a
new umbrella because she ...................( leave ) her old umbrella at home.
2. He ............ ( retire ) from work early but he .......................( work ) hard all his life.
3. She had to ask him to repeat because she .............. ( not / hear ) what he ................( say ) just
before.
4. I was tired so I (go) to bed early.
5. She wanted to see Canada after she (see) some photos.
6. We were sleeping when the plane (land).
7. I havent got any food because I (eat) it all in the morning.
8. Pedro wasnt there when I arrived. He (already/leave).
MISCELLANY. TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH :

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Estaba emocionado porque nunca haba viajado antes.

Tiene hambre porque no ha comido nada.
Cuando vivan en Australia, solan hacer una barbacoa cada fin de semana.
La has visto ya?
Nunca haban vivido en ese pueblo.
Estaba hablando con mi amigo cuando son el telfono.

USED TO

RECUERDA que
Used to expresa una situacin que se daba en el pasado y que ya no se da :
There used to be a hotel here. (Haba un hotel aqu). Se sobreentiende que ya no existe el hotel.
(En la frase There was a hotel there, no sabemos si el hotel sigue existiendo o no en el presente, o no
interesa expresarlo.)
Used to expresa acciones habituales en el pasado. Se traducen por sola, solas, etc. :
I used to play in this park as a child.
He used to be in a bad temper in the morning. (Sola estar de mal humor por la maana).
Used to tiene la misma estructura que los dems verbos en forma interrogativa y negativa :
Did you use to go to school by bike ? I didnt use to like soup as a child.

USED TO : TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH :

1. Sola invitarnos a todas sus fiestas de cumpleaos.
2. Sola practicar muchos deportes cuando viva all.
3. Solas estudiar por la maana?
4. No solamos venir aqu. .

THE COMPARATIVE AND THE SUPERLATIVE

RECUERDA que
I. THE COMPARATIVE:
A) El comparativo de superoridad :
La forma del comparativo de superioridad depende de si se forma a partir de un adjetivo corto
o largo. Son cortos todos los monoslabos.
Entre los de dos slabas, se consideran cortos los que terminan en le (able, noble), -y lazy, er
(clever), -ow (narrow), -some. En caso de duda, siempre se puede tratar como largo un adjetivo de dos
slabas.
A partir de tres slabas, todos se consideran largos.
7

1. Adjetivos cortos : se aade er al adjetivo. : young/ younger large/larger

Modificaciones ortogrficas :
en los monoslabos con una sola vocal terminados en consonante, se duplica esta consonante :
big/bigger, fat/fatter
Cuando un adjetivo corto termina en y, esta y se convierte en i latina : lazy/lazier.
Cuando el adjetivo corto termina en e, slo se aade la r.
2. Adjetivos largos : se utiliza more delante del adjetivo : more interesting, more intelligent
Con ambos tipos, el complemento de la comparacin se introduce con than :
He is older than his brother. The novel is more interesting than the film.
B) El comparativo de igualdad : tanto si el adjetivo es corto como si es largo, se utiliza as + Adj + as
Thomas is as intelligent as Matthew.
C) El comparativo de inferioridad :
De nuevo, tanto si el adjetivo es corto como s es largo, se utiliza :
bien less + Adj + than : He is less impatient than Jane. We are less tall than John.
sin embargo, se prefiere la forma not as + Adj +as : He is not as impatient as Jane. We are not as
tall as John.
II. THE SUPERLATIVE
A) El superlativo de superoridad :
De nuevo, la forma del superlativo de superioridad depende de si se forma a partir de un
adjetivo corto o largo.
1. Adjetivos cortos : The + Adj. est : the largest car, the nicest girl. Se dan las mismas
modificaciones ortogrficas que para el comparativo.
2. Adjetivos largos : The + most + Adj. : the most intelligent boy, the most marvellous place
B) El superlativo de inferioridad : tanto si el adjetivo es corto como si es largo, se forma con the +
least + Adj : the least nice girl, the least interesting film.
ADJETIVOS Y ADVERBIOS CON COMPARATIVOS Y SUPERLATIVOS IRREGULARES:
ADJETIVO
good/well
bad
far
much/many
little
0

COMPARATIVO
better
worse
farther
more
less

SUPERLATIVO
the best
the worst
the farthest
the most
the least

The Comparative
I. Complete these sentences. Each time use the comparative form of one of the following adjectives or
adverbs: early easily expensive interested large near often quiet thin
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

This jacket is too small. I need a .larger.... size.

You look......................................Have you lost weight?
He doesnt study much. He's... in having a good time.
Youll find your way.........................................................if you have a map.
You're making too much noise. Can you be a bit................................?
You're late. I thought you would be here.............................
The hotel was surprisingly cheap. I thought would be much.............................
It's a pity you live so far away. I would like you to live ...................................

II. Complete these sentences. Use the comparative of the words in brackets + than.
Example: His story was more interesting than we at first thought (interesting)
1. Sorry I'm late. It took me.................to get here . I thought. (long)
2. She looks about 20, but in fact she's .... she looks. (old)
3. The problem is not so complicated. It's .. you think.
(simple)
4. Your English has improved. You speak a lot..................
you did when
we last met. (fluently)
5. Health and happiness are................................ money. (important)
6. We always go camping when we go on holiday . It's much ..........................staying in a hotel.
(cheap)
7. I like the countryside. It's ....and ...living in a town.
(healthy/peaceful)
III. In this exercise you have to complete the sentences using as ... as.
Examples: I'm quite tall but you are taller. I'm not as tall as you.
1.
2.
3.
4.

My salary is high but yours is higher. My salary isn't ..............................................................

I still feel tired but I felt a lot more tired yesterday. I don't ..
They've lived here for quite a long time but we've lived here longer. They haven't ............................
I wasn't nervous before the interview but usually I'm a lot more nervous. I wasnt

IV. Re-write these sentences so that they have the same meaning. Begin as shown.:
Example: Jack is younger than he looks. Jack isn't as old as he looks.
1. The station was nearer than I thought. The station wasn't.................................
2. The hotel is cheaper than I expected. The hotel isn't ................................................................
3. The examination was easier than we expected. The examination wasn't ..
.
V. Complete the sentences with a superlative and preposition.
Example: It's a very nice room.
It's the nicest room in the hotel.
1 It's a very cheap restaurant. It's .. the town.
2 It was a very happy day. It was .. my life.
3 She's a very intelligent student. She .. the school.
4 It's a very valuable painting. It .. the gallery.

UNIT 3:
FIRST PART: VOCABULARY
I. WORDS RELATED TO TELEVISION
A) Nouns: match these words with their definitions:
cartoon - chat show contestant - detective series documentary script - soap opera - episode game show programme - reality show sitcom station - the news - channel
1. .................. : programme which gives information or reports about recent events
2. .................. : humorous radio or television series showing the reactions of a group of characters
(personajes) to unusual situations, such as misunderstandings or embarrassing coincidences
(situation comedy)
3. ..................: group of short films about policemens job.
4. .................. : words of a film, play, programme or speech (guin)
5. .................. : film or television or radio programme that gives facts and information about a subject
6. .................. : one of the parts into which a story is divided, especially when on television
7. .................. : television station (canal)
8. .................. : person who participates in a competition
9. ..................: television show in which contestants compete for prizes by playing.
10. ..................: film made with drawings
11. .................. : television programme which presents dramatic or humorous situations or actual
events of ordinary people instead of professional actors
12. .................. : television or radio programme in which noted people, participate in discussions or are
interviewed.
13. .................. : company which sends out radio or television broadcasts (emisora)
14. .................. : serial on television or radio, characterized by sentimentality, and melodrama.
B) Verbs: match these words with their definitions:
appear in ban broadcast miss record turn off
1. .................. : to transmit (a radio or television program)
2. .................. : to prohibit
3. .................. : to register (sound or images) in permanent form by electrical means for reproduction
(grabar)
4. .................. : to stop the activity of an electric machine
5. .................. : not to do or see something planned (perderse algo)
6. .................. : to become visible
C) Complete the following sentences with ban broadcast miss record appear - in the correct
tenses:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Do you remember the actor who ............... in Friends?

Ill be home late tonight so Ill ............... The Simpsons.
They decided to ............... the advert because it was too shocking.
The BBC ............... the football final every year.
I cant watch the film tonight. Can you ............... it for me?

D) Translate into English:

1. Grab un documental. Pero la emisora de televisin lo prohibi y no lo transmitieron.
10

2. No me gustan los culebrones ni los reality shows. Prefiero los programas de tertulia y no me pierdo
una comedia.
3. Esta cadena de televisin slo muestra noticias y series policacas.
II. VERBS FOLLOWED BY A PREPOSITION:
A) Match the words with the correct preposition and definition:
1. agree
2. apply
3. approve
4. argue
5. believe
6. depend
7. dream
8. laugh
9. shout
10. think
11. wait
12. worry

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)

about
about
about
about
at
at
for
for
in
in
on
with

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

to be of the same opinion as

to have a dependence
to use the brain to plan something, etc.
to express strong opinions, in a loud voice
to have a positive opinion of someone or something
stay in one place until someone comes, or something happens
to think about problems or unpleasant things that might happen in
a way that makes you feel anxious (preocuparse por)
8. to smile making sounds with your voice to show that you think
someone or something is stupid (reirse de)
9. to have faith, confidence, or trust (creer en)
10. to have a deep aspiration (soar con)
11. to speak angrily to someone, telling them that you disagree with
them (discutir)
12. to request something, usually officially, especially by writing
(solicitar)

B) Complete the sentences with the correct preposition.

1.
2.
3.
4.

I completely agree ...... you.

Toby doesnt approve ...... smoking.
Confident people believe ...... themselves.
You shouldnt laugh ...... people who cant
dance.
5. My sisters always shouting ...... me.

6. We might go to the beach. It depends ...... the

weather.
7. Last night, I dreamt ...... winning a lot of
money.
8. You shouldnt worry ...... your appearance so
much.

C) Match 1-5 with A-E to form complete sentences:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

My parents really believe

I think you should apply
Ive always dreamt
How often does your dad shout
What do you think

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

about being on TV.

about when youre going to sleep?
for a new job.
at you?
in me

III. DO AND MAKE:

A) Write the following words in the right line:
a decision a favour friends a mistake a noise the shopping your best your homework an effort

do
make
B) Write sentences with the same meanings as these ones. Use the correct form of make or do and
the words in brackets:
Example: Can you help me? Can you do me a favour? (a favour)
1. You should always try as hard as possible. You .......................................... (your best)
2. Hassan tries hard at school. Hassan .......................................... (an effort)
11

3.
4.
5.
6.

There are some errors in your homework. Youve .......................................... (mistakes)

Marla buys food on Saturdays. Martha .......................................... (the shopping)
You have to be quiet. You mustnt .......................................... (a noise)
Have you got any arrangements for the weekend? Have .......................................... (plans)

C) Translate into English:

1. Hazme un favor, haz la compra.
2. He tomado una decisin. Voy a hacer un esfuerzo, no quiero cometer errores.
3. No hagas ruido, Thomas est haciendo sus deberes.

SECOND PART : GRAMMAR

MODAL AUXILIARIES
A) LOS AUXILIARES MODALES SEGUIDOS DEL INFINITIVO SIMPLE:

RECUERDA
I. GENERALIDADES :
A) Caractersticas morfolgicas :
1. En tercera persona de singular, los auxiliares modales no llevan la -s de tercera persona :
He must go. She can swim. It may rain.
2. No tienen infinitivo, por tanto no tienen ningn tiempo del futuro.
3. No tienen gerundio, por tanto no tienen ningn tiempo continuo.
4. No tienen participio, por tanto no tienen ningn tiempo perfecto.
B) Caractersticas sintcticas :
Can you speak English?
1.
2.

You may not smoke in the classroom.

En forma interrogativa, no llevan el auxiliar do.

Van seguidos del infinitivo sin to.

Contracciones :
II. SIGNIFICADOS :
A) Idea de permiso : auxiliares may, can y could (en preguntas ) :
May I come in? You may smoke if you like.
Can I go with you?
Could I use your telephone? You cant drive in Spain if you are under eighteen.
Los auxiliares may y can se utilizan para pedir o dar permiso.
May es ms formal que can. En los tiempos de que carecen, se sustituyen por su sinnimo to be allowed to :
He may not come / he cannot come :
Present perfect : He hasnt been allowed to come. Will future : He wont be allowed to come.
B) Idea de capacidad fsica o intelectual : auxiliar can :

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He can speak English.

She can play the piano.
You cant understand because you are too young.

He can swim very fast.

He can reach the ceiling.
Can I use your phone ?

El auxiliar can se utiliza para expresar el significado de capacidad fsica o intelectual. Su pasado es could o
was/were able to. La diferencia es que con could se expresa simplemente una capacidad en el pasado realizndose la
accin o no, y con was/were able to s se expresa la realizacin de una accin en el pasado :
When he was young, he could swim across the Strait of Gibraltar.
Cuando era joven, poda, es decir, tena la capacidad de cruzar el estrecho de Gibraltar a nado. (No se sabe si
efectivamente lo cruz o no.)
When he was young, he was able to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar.
(Cuando era joven, pudo, cruzar el estrecho de Gibraltar a nado.)
En los tiempos de que carece, se sustituye por la expresin to be able to :
He can win : Past perfect : He had been able to win. Will future : He will be able to win.
C) Idea de obligacin : must

I must finish that work today. (Debo, tengo que terminar...)

We must get up early to go to school.
You must have a driving licence to drive a car.

El auxiliar must indica obligacin en forma afirmativa. En los tiempos de que carece, se sustituye por la expresin
to have to :
He must go : Past perfect : He had had to go. Will future : He will have to go.
D) Idea de prohibicin : mustnt

You mustnt smoke in a hospital. (No debes fumar en un hospital : se

entiende est prohibido.)
You mustnt go out during the school hours.

En forma negativa, este auxiliar indica prohibicin.

D) Idea de no obligacin : neednt (dont have to)
En realidad, neednt es la verdadera forma negativa de must. Indica la ausencia de obligacin.
You neednt come tomorrow.
No hace falta que vengas maana (no tienes obligacin de venir maana).
Dont have to es su sinnimo : You dont have to come tomorrow.
E) Idea de probabilidad : auxiliares may, might, can y could :
MAY / MIGHT
It may be a mistake. (Puede que sea un error.)

CAN / COULD
People can be very stupid when they are in love. (La
gente puede ser muy estpida cuando est enamorada.)
Dont do that, Kathrin might get angry. (No hagas eso,
Agreements can be difficult when nobody wants to yield.
podra ser que se enfade Kathrin.)
(Los acuerdos pueden ser muy difciles cuando nadie
quiere ceder.)
Mary sometimes comes on Monday, she may come today. Traffic can be very slow when it rains. (El trfico puede
(A veces viene Mary los lunes, puede que venga hoy.)
ser muy lento cuando llueve.)
Theres a traffic jam, we may be late for the concert.
Dont do that, it could have a negative consequence. (No
(Hay un embotellamiento, puede que lleguemos tarde al hagas eso, podra tener una consecuencia negativa.)
concierto.)
Los auxiliares may, might, can y could expresan la idea de probabilidad.
Diferencias :

Entre may y can :

Con may, la probabilidad que se expresa solamente vale para un individuo.
Con can, la probabilidad que se expresa vale la gente en general.

En los tiempos de que carecen, desaparece el modal, y la idea de probabilidad se recupera con un adverbio como
probably, maybe, perhaps :

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It may rain :

Present continuous : It is probably raining.

Present perfect continuous : It has probably been
raining.
Will future : It will probably rain.

F) Idea de certeza, certidumbre : must

You have been travelling all day, you must be tired.
Carol knows a lot about films, she must often go to the
cinema.

Jason didnt have lunch today, he must be hungry.

El auxiliar must indica certidumbre. En los tiempos de que carecen, desaparece el modal, y la idea de
certidumbre se recupera con un adverbio como certainly o surely.
You must be tired. Will future : You will certainly be tired.
G) Idea de consejo : should y ought to
You should have a rest, you look tired.
You should tell her the truth, it would be better.
You should believe in your capacity to do that.

You ought to have a rest, you look tired.

You ought to tell her the truth, she will understand.
You ought to believe in your capacity to do that.

Should y ought to son sinnimos y se utilizan para dar o pedir un consejo.

Ought to es el nico auxiliar modal que va seguido de to.

RESUMIENDO :
AUXILIAR :

SIGNIFICADO 1

SIGNIFICADO 2

SIGNIFICADO 3

MAY
CAN
MUST
SHOULD
OUGHT TO
NEEDNT

EXERCISES :
I. Supply a modal auxiliary :
1. Im not sure where Tom is, he . be at the cinema.
2. Ann not come to the party, she has been punished.
3. He speak five languages.
4. People .. be dangerous when they drink.
5. John do something stupid if he hears it.
6. I really . understand, its too difficult.
7. .. I use your mobile phone ?
8. I .. study, I have an exam tomorrow.
9. You .. invite him to the party, he feels lonely.
10. We wait for them, they have said they wouldnt come.
11. Benjamin ................. be at home. He is always at home at this time.
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II. Rewrite these sentences using a modal auxiliary :

1. Perhaps scientists will control the worlds climate in future.
2. Customers have permission to leave their cars in the park behind the shop.
3. Theres a possibility that John wont be on time for the start of the film.
4. No one has the permission to drive a motorbike without a helmet.
5. I never manage to start his motorbike in winter.
6. Its possible theyll lose our address.
7. Perhaps there is a traffic jam.
8. She isnt allowed to go out at that time.
9. Its forbidden to go into that place if you are not a member of the club.
10. Perhaps they know it already.
11. He is able to play any musical instrument, my advice is that we admit him in our band. (Two
modals)
12. You have to do it again.
13. You dont have to be a top model to be a pleasant person.
14. My advice is that you be yourself.
IV. Translate into English:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Puede ser que Tom est en casa.

Todava no sabe escribir, es muy pequea.
Es probable que John trabaje esta tarde.
Puedes conocer gente muy interesante cuando viajas.
No hace falta que se lo digamos, ya lo sabe.

6. Podra utilizar ese diccionario?

7. Puedes venir? No, no me
dejan.
8. Deberas olvidarlo.

V. PUT INTO THE PRESENT PERFECT:

1. He can swim for hours.
2. They must be surprised.
3. They must wear a uniform.

4. She may use her fathers car (he has lent it to her).
5. They may have lunch in that restaurant (Im not sure).
6. He cannot come with us (his parents dont let him).

B) LOS MODALES SEGUIDOS DEL INFINITIVO PERFECTO :

Se puede expresar:

- la probabilidad de una accin pasada. (con may, can y could)

- una certidumbre sobre una accin pasada. (con must)
- la no necesidad de una accin pasada. (con neednt)
- un reproche sobre una accin pasada (con should y ought to)

mediante la estructura Aux. Mod. + have + participio :

It may have rained : puede que haya llovido.
He must have arrived : Puede que haya llegado.
You neednt have translated it : no haca falta que lo tradujeras.
You shouldnt have said that : no deberas haber dicho eso.
Recuerda, esta estructura slo se puede utilizar para los significados arriba indicados, nunca
cuando may expresa permiso, can expresa capacidad o permiso, y must obligacin.

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EXERCISE : REWRITE THESE SENTENCES USING A MODAL AUXILIARY. Youll have to

use the structure Aux. Mod. + have + participio :
1. It wasnt a good idea to stay there.
2. They have certainly heard it.
3. They have probably forgotten it.
4. It wasnt necessary for you to wait for us.

5. You didnt have to wait for us.

2. Perhaps they have seen him.
3. It wasnt a good idea to buy that.
4. Im sure he has understood.

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