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MODALS

MODALS
CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO
A. Los modales son un pequeño grupo de verbos auxiliares que se comportan de
diferente manera que los verbos normales. Este grupo incluye: can, could, may, might,
must, ought to, shall, should, will
Los modales tienen las siguientes características en común.
•I 1. Solo tienen una forma. No añaden en la tercera persona singular -s presente.
I can He can
2. La negativa se forma añadiendo not (frecuentemente abreviado n't) y no
necesita el verbo do.
We should not / shouldn 't She will not / won't
3. La interrogativa se forma invirtiendo el orden del sujeto y el modal.
Must they...? Shall we...?
4. Los modales van seguidos de la raíz del verbo (sin to) excepto ought to,
I must go. He can leave. You ought to listen.
B. Los modales no tienen forma ni de pasado ni de futuro. Para expresar dichos
tiempos empleamos otros verbos en su lugar tales como be able to y have to

C. El semimodal need puede usarse tanto como verbo normal o como auxiliar.

D. Usos de can, could y be able to

Can tiene muchos usos diferentes. Algunas veces empleamos be able to
en lugar de can.
1. Habilidad, capacidad
He can speak three languages, (habilidad presente = is able to)
She could play the piano at the age of three, (habilidad en el pasado).
2. Imposibilidad
The doctor can't see you today. He is fully booked.
3. Petición
Can /L/seyoL//'p/ione?(petici6n informal)
Could I talk to you for a moment? (peticion educada)
4. Posibilidad, sugerencia
You can catch a bus from here. (posibilidad de hacer algo)
You could try the Citizen's Advice Bureau, (sugerencia)
5. Permiso
You can borrow the car tonight, (informal)

EXERCISE 1 Match the following sentences with the uses in Focus 1.

1. Tom, can you lend me five dollars? .......3......
2. Although the Titanic sank quickly, many passengers were able to escape.
3. The tap is broken. It can't be fixed. .................
4. You could try drinking tea with honey for a sore throat. .................
5. Could you hold the line a moment, please? .................
6. You can walk from here. It's not far. .................
7. Here, you can borrow my pen. .................
8. You could try eating less if you want to lose weight. .................

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9. Could I please reserve a table for dinner? .................

10. Robert can play chess. .................

EXERCISE 2
Fill in the blanks with the positive or negative form of can, could or be able to.
1. She .................. leave the hospital next week, they say.
2. I'm not sure whether he's telling the truth. He .................. be lying.
3. I .................. finish sewing this dress yet. I've been too busy this week.
4. She .................. take my key and let herself in later.
5. David .................. play the piano and also the violin.
6. .................. you please help me translate this letter?
7. You .................. drive. It's against the law if you have no driving licence.
8. The baby .................. sleep. There is far too much noise here.
9. We .................. go to Egypt for our holiday. What do you think?
10. Hijackers took control of the plane, but fortunately the crew .................. overpower
11. I………………... see you tomorrow because I'm going away.
12. Deaspite the flames, the firemen ………….. rescue the family from the burning
Building

COULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

A. Usamos could have + participio pasado para indicar que teníamos

la posibilidad de hacer algo en el pasado, pero que de hecho no lo hicimos.
I could have sent her a card, but I was too busy.
B. Se usa también para expresar una suposición porque no sabemos lo que
sucedió. •
He didn't come to school yesterday. He could have been ill.

EXERCISE 3 in the following sentences, make guesses about the past according to the
situation given
1. An animal has eaten all the cheese.
It could have been a mouse.
2. It's possible she didn't tell you the truth.
She ...……………………........................ to you.
3. His arm is in plaster.
He………………….......... an accident in his car.
4. Her face looks familiar.
I.........……………………...................... her before.
5. They aren't speaking to each other.
They………………………………….......... an argument.
6. The student didn't take the job despite their offer.
The student………………….............., but he refused it
7. I didn't try to pass the test, although it wasn't difficult.
I……………………………….................. , but I didn't try.

MAY AND MIGHT

A. Para permisos formales - you may use a pencil in this exam.

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MODALS

B. Para prohibiciones formales You may not smoke here.

C. Para peticiones educadas May I see you again?
D. Posibilidad, la manera de traducir este uso es "puede que" o "pudiera ser
que". He may be the right man for the job.
E. Posibilidad negativa He may not / might not even be interested.
F. Una sugerencia cuando no hay una alternativa mejor.
There's no more work to do. You may as well/might as well go
home. (mas vale que te vayas...)
G. Sugerencia educada, frecuentemente seguida de verbos como like y want.
You might like to join us for dinner.
H. Empleamos might en lugar de may en oraciones que empezaron en el
pasado.
He looked like he might start crying.

EXERCISE 4 Match the following sentences with the uses

1. Visitors may not enter this section of the palace! ........B.......
2. We might as well go to Turkey since flights to Italy are fully booked up for April.
3. May I sit here? .................
4. They might not finish the building although they promised to. .................
5. The teacher thought you might like to sit and watch a lesson. .................

EXERCISE 5 Fill in the blanks with the positive or negative form of either may or
might and match the sentences with the uses
1, ......May...... I leave my coat here, please? ........... C...........
2. Soldiers .................. leave the barracks at night, and must remain inside at all times.
3.Don't fiddle with the television. You .................. break it! .................
4.He said you .................. need my help today. .................
5.We .................. as well invite friends over if we can't go out tonight. ....
6.You .................. like to visit the British Museum while you're in London.
7................... I ask your name, please? .................
8.Students .................. use any study notes in this exam. .................
9.We .................. as well leave now. This party isn't going to improve. ....
10.She looked like she .................. faint so I gave her a drink of water.

MAY/MIGHT HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

May / might have + participio pasado se usa para expresar una suposición porque no
sabemos lo que ocurrió. Este uso es el mismo que con could have + participio pasado. |
He didn 't answer the phone all day. He may / might / could have been out of town.

EXERCISE 6 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning of the
original sentence. Use may / might have + past participle and the words given.
1. Perhaps he telephoned, but I was out earlier.
He .............................................................................................................................
2. It's possible a bank loaned them the money.
The bank .......................................................
3. Maybe he didn't want to meet us.
He .................................................................
4. She seems upset. She could have overheard our conversation.
She seems upset. She ...............................................................

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5. Maybe the show was taken off the air because of poor ratings.
The show ....................................................................................
MUST
A. Obligación
I must visit my father in hospital soon. (debo...)
B. Necesidad imperiosa
You must vaccinate your cat against rabies, (tienes que...)
C. Deducción, para expresar seguridad basada en los hechos o circunstancias.
There is no heartbeat and the body is cold. He must be dead (debe estar muerto,
seguro que está muerto)
D. Para convencer a alguien a que haga algo.
You must try that restaurant. It's excellent, (tienes que probar...)
Recuerda que must se utiliza para hablar solamente del presente y del futuro. No
tiene pasado.

EXERCISE 7 Match the following sentences with the uses

1. I must pay the TV licence. It's due today. ,..,...B.,,,
2. Unauthorized people must be cleared by security. ………..
3. You must go and see that play. It's wonderful! .................
4. I must go now. I'm late for work. .................
5. She must be at home. Her car is parked outside the house.

HAVE TO
A. Obligación, mandato (con el mismo sentido que must).
Peter has to be home by 10 o'clock.
All students have to register by October 5th.
B. Necesidad en el pasado (must no tiene pasado).
I had to return my library books yesterday, (tuve que...)
C. Para expresar la imposibilidad de elección.
I have to go. The baby-sitter won't stay late. (Me tengo que ir.)
I will have to get my hair cut.
(Las reglas del ejercito me imponen que me tenga que cortar el pelo.)
Analiza el contraste con: I must get my hair cut. (Quiero cortármelo.)
Nota: Will have to se emplea para expresar el futuro.

EXERCISE 8
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of have to. There may be several possibilities.
1- I .................. fill up the car last night. I was out of petrol.
2. The city council .................. hold elections soon. The people are very unhappy with
the present situation.
3. We .................. buy them a gift, even if we don't go to the wedding.
4- I…….............. try and lose some weight. I feel a little heavy.
5. Visitors to this factory .................. wear hard hats when they enter the plant area It's
a safety precaution.
6. We .................. go now. It's getting late and the children are tired.
7. She .................. see the doctor on Wednesday. He doesn't receive patients on
Mondays and Tuesdays.
8. We .................. get up early tomorrow morning. We are taking a train to Edinburgh.

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MODALS

9. In Spain people .................. work on Sundays.

10. She .................. take a later flight. The earlier one was cancelled.

MUSTN'T DON'T HAVE TO NEEDN'T

A. Mustn't se usa para prohibir algo.
-| You mustn't shout in the library.
B. Don't have to y needn't significan: no es necesario.
You don't have to / needn't shout. I can hear you perfectly well.
Nota: La forma negativa de must (obligación) es don't have to / needn't.

EXERCISE 9 Fill in the blanks with mustn't or don't have to / needn't.

1. You .................. play with matches! You'll burn yourself.
2. We .................. pay this bill until the end of the month.
3. Whales are still being hunted and killed for their meat and oil. We ........ allow
this to continue.
4. You .................. worry. I'll take care of everything.
5. . Drivers .................. exceed the 90 kph speed limit.
6. Pupils .................. go to school tomorrow. Workers are repairing the electrical
system.
7. We .................. wear coats. It's warm outside.
8. Pupils .................. watch this play. It's an optional activity.
9. You .................. drive so fast. We're not late.
10. You .................. leave medicines in places where children can get hold of them.

MUST HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

Se emplea para expresar que estamos bastante seguros de algo que ocurrió en el pasado,
o cuando sacamos conclusiones lógicas.
John didn't come to school. He must have been ill. (debe de haber estado enfermo,
seguro que estuvo enfermo) It's terribly late. She must have stayed at work. (debe de
haberse quedado...)

EXERCISE 10 In the following sentences, draw conclusions about the past according to
the situation given Use must have + past participle.
1. She isn't here now. She ................................................................................................
2. Their car is parked here. They .......................................................................... a taxi.
3. There was no cake left last night. The children ............................................................
4. I found pieces of glass on the floor. Someone ..............................................................
5. The flowers are dead. The gardener..............................................................................

EXERCISE 11 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning of the
original sentences. Use must have + past participle and the words given.
1. She hasn't called me. She probably didn't remember my number.
She ................................................................................................................................
2. My bag has simply disappeared.
Someone .......................................................................................................................
3. The flight has gone and they are still at the airport.
They ..............................................................................................................................
4. He was here a moment ago. I'm sure you saw him.

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You ...............................................................................................................................
5. I suppose he bought you a birthday gift.
He .................................................................................................................................
SHOULD, OUGHT TO, HAD BETTER (´d better)
A. Para dar un consejo, para dar una opinión.
You look ill. You should see a doctor.
B. Para expresar que algo es inaceptable o es incorrecto hacerlo.
You shouldn't be rude to your aunt.
C. Para expresar una predicción o probabilidad de que algo ocurra.
I should be home by 5.00
D. Para indicar que algo no es correcto o no es lo que esperábamos encontrar.
Those lights shouldn't be on. I switched them off before we left.
E. Sugerencias educadas u ofrecimiento de ayuda cuando no estamos muy
seguros de una respuesta positiva.
Should I open the window?
F. Nota 1: Should puede sustituirse por ought to. No hay diferencia de significado entre
los dos.
You should take a taxi = You ought to take a taxi.
I've got four bottles of wine for the dinner party. It should be enough = It
ought to be enough.
Nota 2: Estos verbos se pueden traducir por "debería".

EXERCISE 12 Fill in the blanks with the positive or negative form of should or ought
to and match the sentences with the uses
1. The car has broken down. What................ I do? Call the garage or fix it myself?…...
2. Why are the children home so early? They .................. be at school now. .................
3. You .................. renew your driving licence. It has expired. .................
4. Someone has broken into the neighbour's house. You .................. call the police. .....
5. John ................. be here by now. He said he'd be here at 6.00. .................
6. You really .................. spit. It's a disgusting habit. .................
7.Citizens .................. pay their taxes on time. .................
8. The baby has fallen asleep. .................. I put him in his cot? .................
9. You .................. stay long when you visit people in hospital. They tire very easily
and need to rest. .................
10. Don't you feel well? Maybe you .................. see a doctor. ...................

SHOULD/OUGHT TO HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

A. Empleamos indistintamente should o ought to + have + participio pasado cuando no
se siguió un buen consejo.
You ought to have seen a dentist earlier. Now you probably need extensive
treatment.
B. Cuando las expectativas u obligaciones no se cumplieron.
She should have passed the test, but unfortunately she failed.
C. Para referirnos a una acción poco sensata en el pasado.
He isn't allowed out this week. He shouldn't have been so rude.

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EXERCISE 13 In the following sentences, make statements about the past according to
the situation given. Use should have + past participle and the words given.
1. Mary bought a second-hand car. She didn't have it checked Now the car is in the
garage.
She ...........................................................
2. David didn't study for his exams although he was advised to, so he failed them all.
David .................................................
3. We expected John to arrive an hour ago. He hasn't arrived yet.
John………………………………………………….............................. by now.
4. It was stupid of Alan to be rude to his boss.
Alan ..............................................................
5. Look how wet you are from the rain! It was silly not to take an umbrella.
You ..................................................................

EXERCISE 14 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning of the
original sentence.
1. It was wrong of you not to wait for him. (waited)
2. What a pity the boy didn't apply for a grant in advance, (ought)
3. We expected him to win the prize, but he didn't, (should)
4. It was stupid of me to try and push the car on my own. (have)
6. You made a big mistake leaving the car unlocked, (left)

Review of Modals
EXERCISE 15 Choose the most appropriate modal.
1. I think the finger is broken. You .................. go to hospital.
a. might b. could c. ought to d. can
2. She .................. come early. Dinner isn't until 9.00 pm.
a- has to b. must c. needn't d. can't
3. There's been an accident! .................. I call an ambulance?
a. Should b. Can c. May d. Ought
4. You .................. cheat in exams. It's forbidden.
a. don't have to b. mustn't c. couldn't d. ought to
5. The bus was badly damaged in the accident, but the children .................. get out
through a broken window.
a- can b. had to c. ought to d. were able to
6. If you are interested in a career in sport, you .................. try talking to our tennis
coach.
a. could b. mustn't c. had to d. have got to
7. I can hear the siren now. It .................. be the police.
a. can b. would c. must d. have to

EXERCISE 16 Look at the following situations and create sentences using modals
according to the instructions given. Try to ask one question.
Example: John is a very talented man. (Talk about ability.)
He can play several instruments.
As a child he could solve difficult maths problems.

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Can he speak any foreign languages?

1. We are going to London for a weekend. (Make suggestions about things to do.)
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
2. I start studying at university in September. (Talk about necessity.)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………
3. Neil has a fever and a sore throat. (Give him some advice.)
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
4. You want to hold a party at the weekend. (Make polite requests and ask for
permission.)
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
5. You have just won a lottery. (Talk about possibility.)
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………

EXERCISE 17 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning of the
original sentence. Use modals.
1. It isn't necessary to phone before you visit me.
You ....................................
2. Taking the book without permission was the wrong thing to do.
You ...................................
3. Do you want to go to Torremolinos this summer? (like)
………………………………………………………………………………
4. Perhaps John is at school now. (be)
………………………………………………………………………………
5. Chewing gum is forbidden in class, (chew)
………………………………………………………………………………
6. I suggest you get a second opinion.
You ......................................
7. He isn't here. Perhaps he went home. (may)
………………………………………………………………………………
8. I expected him to pass his driving test, but he failed.
He .....................
9. It puzzles me why she likes him so much. (understand)
………………………………………………………………………………
10. If you want my advice, see a doctor!
You ............................
11. He can only come here next week. (able)
………………………………………………………………………………
12. The teacher allows students to leave early on Fridays.
Students ........................

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13. My coat needs dry-cleaning. I'll take it tomorrow, (must)

………………………………………………………………………………
14. Perhaps the post will arrive soon.
The post .............................
15. A driving licence isn't necessary for that job.
You ..................................