MODAL VERBS

1. OBLIGACIÓN

 Must (deber, tener que): “you must train very hard if you want to be a successful
athlete”.( personal yo lo decido)
 Have to (tener que): “I have to get up at six every morning except Sundays”. (no es
algo que yo decido)

No obligation: use don´t have to to how that there is no obligation. You can do something if
you want to but it´s not compulsory.

2. PROHIBICIÓN

 Mustn´t (no deber): “ You mustn´t make a noise during the exam”.
 Aren´t/weren´t allowed to (no estar permitido/no estaba permitido): “Teachers
aren´t allowed to smoke inside the school”.
 Can´t/couldn´t (no poder/ no podíamos): “You can´t take photos using a flash in
this museum”.

3. PERMISO (pedir y dar permiso)

 Can (poder): “I hate that song! Can I put something different on?” “Yes, you can.”
 May (poder): “May I use your computer ? Yes, you may”.
 Could (podría): “Could I use your computer?
 Are/were allowed to (permitir): “My sister is allowed to use a dictionary in her
translation exams at university. Incredible!”.

4. RECOMENDACIONES, SUGERENCIAS, CONSEJOS, OPINIONES

 Should (debería):”Brian should buy a new computer”

 Ought to (debería): “Bob ought to be more careful when he is driving: he is a real
danger to pedestrians.
 Could (podrías):” You could ask your parents to lend you some money if you haven´t
got enough.
 Need (necesitas) if we want to use stronger language
“you need to see that. It is amazing! ( no es moldal verbs pero cumple con el presente
simple.”
“she need to tell

5. HABILIDAD, CAPACIDAD Y CONOCIMIENTO (PRESENTE)

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  Can (saber):” Marty can play the guitar better than anyone I know”.

6. HABILIDAD, CAPACIDAD Y CONOCIMIENTO (PASADO)

 Could (sabía): “She was a gifted child and could read when she was only three years
old.
 was/were able to (fue capaz de,pudo ): “I was abroad on holiday at the time of the
general Election but I was able to vote by post.”

7. AUSENCIA DE HABILIDAD O CAPACIDAD EN EL PRESENTE

 Can´t (no sabe):”My father can´t drive but my grandmother can.

8. AUSENCIA DE HABILIDAD O CAPACIDAD EN EL PASADO

 Couldn´t ( no sabía/no podía):”Did you know that Einstein couldn´t speak fluently
until he was nine?
 Wasn´t/weren´t able to “no fue capaz de/no pudo); “Despite playing well, they weren
´t able to score the goals they needed to qualify”.

9. POSIBILIDAD/INCERTIDUMBRE

 Se utiliza “might, may o could” + infinitivo para hablar de posibilidad en el futuro o de

posibilidad referida a actividades presentes.
 May : “Some students may fail the exam”.
 Might : “They might go to the opera, but they prefer rock concerts.
 Could: “He could be at a friend´s house”.

10. PEDIR A OTRA PERSONA QUE HAGA ALGO

 Can/could. Ex. “Can/could you close the door?” INFORMAL

 Will/would. Ex. Would/will you close the door, please? FORMAL

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 Exercises

1. CIRCLE THE CORRECT ANSWER.

A. You (may/must) eat three nutritious meals a day if you want to be healthy.
B. We in France this summer. (Would/ could) we spend a few days with you?
C. You (shouldn´t/should) be respectful of the elderly.
D. If you want to have dinner at the restaurant, you (are able to/ ought to) book a table in advance.
E. In order to be accepted to university, you (might/have to) have good marks in your exams.

2. FILL IN THE CORRECT FORM OF THE MODALS FROM THE LIST BELOW. THERE MAY BE
MORE THAN ONE CORRECT ANSWER.

Should/ought to/ must/ can/ might/ mustn´t/ may

The computer is a wonderful invention, however you __________ use it carefully. In order to avoid losing
documents, you __________ always save everything you type. In addition, you ___________ print out a copy
of all important documents. One of the greatest fears of computer users is a virus. There are certain dates on
which you ________ turn on your computer for fear of infection. Your computer ________ get a virus if you
insert used diskettes, so you __________ try to avoid doing so. Moreover, you _______ want to buy an anti-
virus program.

3. CHOOSE THE MOST APPROPIATE SENTENCE.

1. We could have bought the house for less money.

a. We really should. B. It is a pity we didn´t

2. I advised him to spend more time on his studies. Now he is sorry he didn´t listen.
a. He should study more. B. He should have studied more.

3. David would have booked you a ticket.

a. Why didn´t you ask him to? B. Why don´t you ask him to?

4. I am an only child. I am sorry my parents had no more children.

a. My parents should have had more children. B. My parents must have had more children

5. He didn´t come to our meeting yesterday.

a. He must have had another meeting b. He must have another meeting

4. TRANSLATE THESE SENTENCES INTO ENGLISH

1. Podriamos ido a ver una pelicula.

2. Deben terminar antes de las 6.

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 3. ¿Qué piensas que deberia hacer?

4. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORDS:

a. Look at these clouds. I think it (must/might) rain soon.

b. Do you have toothache?Don´t you think you (should/have to) go to the dentist?
c. I would like to talk to you. (May/Would) I call you at home?
d. When she was younger, she (can/could) run much faster.
e. It was very difficult , but Danny (might/was able to) get a ticket for the football match.

5. CHOOSE THE CORRECT MODAL VERB.

1. My brother could walk/might walk before he started talking.

2. You have worked very hard. You could be /must be tired.
3. Helen musn´t do/couldn´t do her homework, because she was ill.
4. The weather forecast says it may rain/should rain tomorrow.
5. I´ll try to finish, but I can´t have/ might not have enough time.
6. Jim always goes on holiday to the same place. He might like/must like it there.

6. CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER.

1. Ron doesn´t feel well. He ___________ see a doctor.

a. should b. had to c. ought to

2. When the children were young, they ________ speak English. Unfortunately, they don´t remember
any of it.
a. must b. could c. might

3. It ________ rain tomorrow. Take umbrellas and raincoats with you on your trip.
a. can´t b. may c. must

4. I ______ speak four languages. My parents taught me all four.

a. can b. need c. should

5. Although I broke my finger, I __________sign my name.

a. was able to b. have to c. couldn´t

6. You ________ review the work done in class or you will forget it.
a. should b. may c. needn´t

7. you __________eat so quickly. You will get a stomach-ache.

a. can´t b. doesn´t have to c. shouldn´t

8. As a child, he _________ dance like a professional.

a. can b. could c. is able to

9. They _________ travel to London tomorrow.

a. can´t b. will be able to c. couldn´t

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10. Yesterday, I _________ enter the computer room because I had a special key.
a. was able to b. could c. can