Modal Verbs 1st Bach
Modal Verbs 1st Bach
Modal Verbs 1st Bach
• FORM:
(+) I can speak Japanese
(-) I can’t/cannot speak Japanese
(?) Can you speak Japanese? Yes, I can
**Common mistakes! DO NOT!!!
• PRESENT and CURRENT ABILITY: “I can drive a car, but I can’t drive a
bus” (it should be translated as “saber”)
• POSSIBILITY (70%)
“It can rain this afternoon” (it is possible, it is translated as “poder”)
* can’t = impossible (0%) “I can’t go to the party tonight. I’ve broken my
leg”
• It’s a semi-modal, with the same meaning as “CAN” = ability. But it can have
past, present and future form. You only have to change the verb TO BE.
(past) “I was able to bite my toes”, “You were able to swim fast”
• PAST ABILITY: when a person was able to do something in the past, but
he or she can no longer do it at present.
“When I was a baby, I could bite my toes”
“My grandfather could run fast when he was younger”
We use the modal expression had better to refer to the present or the future, to talk
about actions we think people should do or which are desirable in a specific situation.
The verb form is always had, not have. We normally shorten it to ’d better in informal
situations. It is followed by the infinitive without to:
It’s five o’clock. I’d better go now before the traffic gets too bad.
Not: I’d better to go now.
Had better is a strong expression. We use it if we think there will be negative results if
someone does not do what is desired or suggested:
She’d better get here soon or she’ll miss the opening ceremony.
**MUST vs HAVE TO
Both must and have are used to express an obligation, responsibility or necessity.
However, there is a slight difference in meaning or use.
– We generally use must when the speaker decides that something is necessary, or
needs to be done:
“I must write a letter to John” - in this case I have decided that I need to write a letter to
John. Nobody else has told me to write it. I think it is necessary.
– We use have to when somebody else other than the speaker has made the
decision.
“I have to write a letter to John” - here, I didn't decide to write a letter. Somebody
else has told me it was necessary to do it.
Let's look at some more examples:
“I must book a hotel for my trip next week” - I'm reminding myself that it is
necessary to do it.
“We have to wear a uniform at work” - our boss makes us wear a uniform. It is an
obligation that our boss has decided that is necessary.
– The teacher says: “You must complete the essay by Friday”
– The student says: “We have to complete the essay by Friday”
The teacher has used MUST because he has given the students an obligation. The
student uses HAVE TO because somebody else (the teacher) has told them what
needs to be done.
8. MUSTN’T
• PROHIBITION: It’s forbidden, banned, prohibited, you are not allowed.
“You mustn’t smoke at school”
“You mustn’t use the mobile phone in the classroom”
9. DON’T HAVE TO/ DOESN’T HAVE TO
• ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION:(no es necesario que…) It is not obligatory,
but you can do it if you want.
“ You don’t have to wear a tie at school”
“Peter doesn’t have to study in the summer, he has passed all the subjects”
10. NEEDN’T
The same meaning as “DON’T/DOESN’T HAVE TO” (no es necesario que…)
“You needn’t wear a tie”
“he needn’t study in the summer”
11. OTHER MODALS
POSSIBILITY
• COULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE: past possibility
“You could have told me your mum was in hospital.”
• MAY HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE: supposition about something in the past.
“She may have phoned, but we don’t know because we were in the garden.”
“Joe may have taken the wrong train.”
• MIGHT HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
“You might have known the answer.”
ABILITY
• COULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE: ability to have done something in the past
which in the end wasn't done.
“You could have played better.”
ADVICE or RECOMMENDATION
• SHOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE: criticism or regret about something you
did wrong. You didn’t do something which was a good idea.
“I was anxious, you should have phoned me.”
“You should have warned me earlier.”
• SHOULDN'T HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE: criticism or regret after an event,
showing that it shouldn't have happened.
“He shouldn't have told them.”
• OUGHT TO HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE:
“I ought to have apologized, I had been very rude.”
LACK OF NECESSITY
• NEEDN’T HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE: We did something although it wasn’t
necessary to be done. An unnecessary past action.
“You needn’t have made so many pancakes, nobody is hungry now.”
“He needn't have bought it.”
CONDITION
• WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE: past condition or situation. Willingness
or desire to do something in the past which in fact could not be done.
“I would have visited you, but I forgot your address.”
(Te habría visitado, pero olvidé tu dirección)