1. MODAL VERBS (verbos defectivos)

2. All modal verbs are followed by an infinitive:
Mary can dance classical ballet
You must listen to the teacher
The negative is:
Mary can’t dance…
You mustn’t listen to the teacher
The short answer is:
Can Silvie play cards? - Yes, she can
Must I go now? - Yes, you must

3. VERB CAN (puedo, sé) 1. polite request 2. present ability 3
VERB CAN (puedo, sé) 1. polite request 2.present ability 3.present possibility

4. CAN 1. Polite request (ask something properly, with good manners)

5. Can you spell your name, please?
Can I have a cola/ lemonade?
Can you tell me the time, please?
Can you tell me the way to the Odeon Cinema?

6. 2. Present ability (physical capacity and training to do something)
CAN
2. Present ability (physical capacity and training to do something)

7. I can drive
Jack can speak three languages- English, Italian and French
Can you play golf?

8. CAN
3. Present possibility (there are conditions for things to be done)

9. Can you come to the party tomorrow?
I can be at the station at 6:30 to see Mary off
My family can come and see me at the show

10. COULD
(podía, sabía)
Polite request
Past ability
Past possibility

11. 1. Polite request (ask something properly, with good manners)
VERB COULD
(podía, sabía)
1. Polite request (ask something properly, with good manners)

12. Could you give me change, please?
Could I have a double cheese burger and a large orangade?
Could you help with the homework?
Could you make your bed before noon?

13. 2. Past ability (you were able physically in the past, not now)
COULD
2. Past ability (you were able physically in the past, not now)

14. I could cycle when I was five
I couldn’t speak English very well last year
My grandpa could hike in the mountains for hours
Maradona could play football fantastically

15. COULD
3. Past possibility (there were conditions for things to be done)

16. I couldn’t go to the cinema last weekend, I had lots of homework
She could arrive on time to catch the plane
My dad couldn’t come and collect me from school yesterday

17. MUST / MUSTN’T /HAVE TO vs
DON’T HAVE TO
MUST = debo, tengo que = Obligación
MUSTN’T = no debo, está prohibido= Obligación
HAVE TO = debo, tengo que= Obligación
DON’T HAVE TO= no hace falta que, no es necesario= Ausencia de obligación

18. Obligación:
-I must arrive on time
- You mustn’t drive at more than 120 km/h
-I have to eat healthy to feel well
Ausencia de obligación:
-I don’t have to do the shopping- my parents do it
-I don’t have to get up early at the weekend

19. similar to MUST and HAVE TO= It’s necessary for you to do something
VERB NEED
similar to MUST and HAVE TO= It’s necessary for you to do something
(es necesario que, necesitas)

20. You need to stay calm in the exam
You need to put your safety belt
Sally needs to study harder

21. NEEDN’T = DON’T HAVE TO=
I’ts not necessary to do something=
Ausencia de obligación=
(no es necesario que, no hace falta que)

22. You needn’t give me a lift, I’ll take the bus
You needn’t climb the stairs, there’s a lift
We needn’t go to school on Saturday

23. VERBS SHOULD and OUGHT TO =
It’s a good idea to do something. I advise you to do something = Advice, recommendation
(deberias hacer)

24. We should all try and use less petrol
You look very ill, you should go to the doctor
Ought I to dye my hair to look younger?
We ought to hurry or we’ll miss the train

25. There’s a chance that something happens =
VERB MAY/ MIGHT =
There’s a chance that something happens =
(puede que)

26. It may rain tomorrow
We might go for a picnic if it’s sunny
Fernando Alonso may win his next race
I may study engineering, I’m thinking about it

27. Something is impossible=
VERB CAN’T =
Something is impossible=
Negative certainty
(no puede ser que)=

28. You can’t speak seriously
That can’t be Joe, he’s much taller
Henry didn’t steal anything; it can’t be him

29. VERB MUST =
Something is sure=
Positive certainty=
(tiene que ser)

30. Those vegetables must be fresh, they are very green and crunchy
That handwriting must be Sonia’s
That must be Jill, she dresses exactly like her

31. THE MODAL PERFECTS
CAN
MUST
SHOULD
MAY
WOULD
COULD …
+ Perfect infinitive= have done
* The modal presents refer to the present or the future:
Jimmy may come to the party (today, tomorrow)
Alison could stay at our place (today)
*The modal perfects refer to the past:
Some students ought to have sat the test (the test was done)
We needn’t have brought wine, there was a lot to drink (the dinner is finished)

32. Examples (translate yourself)
I might have come earlier = Pude haber venido antes
He could have carried his luggage= Pudo haber cargado con su propio equipaje
I would have lent you the book but you didn’t ask for it= Te habria prestado el libro pero no lo pediste
They should have left earlier
They needn’t have menaced us
The film might have been better.
Ought we to have told you?
Mr Olson can’t have been the been in the crime scene

33. HAD BETTER affirmative: had better do negative : had better not do
ADVICE = synonym of should
WARNING = be careful !
You had better study for the exam right now, there’s little time
They had better save money in case they lose their jobs
The congress organisers had
better finish the preparations
You had better shut up your mouth!
They had better not complain any more!
She had better not dare to speak!