MODAL VERBS

BACHILLERATO

Characteristics
They are INCOMPLETE VERBS.
They dont have all the tenses.
There is not past participle, so
there is not passive. They use
other verbs to complete the
tenses.
- CAN is completed with BE ABLE TO
They can play the piano.
They will be able to play the piano in the future.

- MUST is completed with HAVE TO

You must come early.

 They dont have s in third person

singular of the present simple
He can open the door
She must come early

 They are followed by an infinitive without

'to' in most cases.
BUT:
NEED takes 'to' when expressing absence of
obligation in the negative:
You do not need to stay if you don't want
to.

OUGHT TO is a special case and you must

learn it like that. It expresses convenience.
Ex: You ought to study more more if you
want to pass the exam.

 They dont need auxiliary verb in the

interrogative or negative form
Can I help you?
We shouldnt go to the toilet

PROBABILITY/
POSSIBILITY
CAN
CANT

She cant be his

mum. She s too
young

MIGHT

It might rain
tomorrow

MAY NOT
MIGHT
NOT

If the bus doesnt

arrive soon, we
may not see the
start of the film

COULD

It could rin
tomorrow

MAY

It may rain
tomoroww

MUST

She must be his

sister because
they look alike.

ABILITY

PERMISSION

I can play the

piano

Can I go out
tonight?

I cant speak
German

Can I borrow
the car? No, I
cant.

I could already
read when I
was two

Could I see
your passport
please, sir?

OBLIGATION/
ADVICE

May I leave the

table?
You must leave
before the
clock strikes
twelve.

HAVE TO

I have to study
tonight.

SHOULD /
OUGHT TO

You should see

it. Its
excellent.

HAD
BETTER

You had better

sleep more.

OFFERS

MODALES PERFECTOS
Son modales que se refieren siempre
a acciones ocurridas en el pasado.
FORMACIN:
MODAL + HAVE + PARTICIPIO PASADO
Ejemplos:
It must have been a difficult decision
They should have invited her to their
wedding

MODAL
PERFECT

USES

EXAMPLES

MUST HAVE + P.P.

Conclusin lgica sobre

un hecho del pasado

Linda has arrived late.

She must have been
in a traffic jam

MAY / MIGHT HAVE

+ P.P.

Una suposicin sobre

algo pasado

She may / might have

taken the wrong bus.

COULD HAVE + P.P.

Habilidad de haber
hecho algo pero
finalmente no lo hizo

You could have asked

the doctor before
taking that medicine

COULDNT HAVE +
P.P.

Certeza de que algo no

pudo haber sucedido

He couldnt have
gone to the concert
because he was doing
a test

WOULD HAVE + P.P.

Quiso haber hecho algo,

pero no pudo hacerlo
por causas externas

I would have gone to

the party, but I was too
busy

SHOULD / OUHT TO
HAVE + P.P.

Queja de que algo haya

ocurrido en el pasado o
lamento de que no se
haya cumplido lo que
esperbamos

You should / ought to

have warned me
earlier