MI PRIMER BLOG: agosto 2016

MODAL VERBS

CAN YOU WATCH THE NEXT VIDEOS?

NEXT WRITE A COMMETARY IN THIS PAGE ABOUT THE MODAL VERBS, CONSIDER FOR SEPARATING THE TWO GROUPS.

English Modal Verbs Table

Modal verb	Usage	Example
can	ability	I can do several things at the same time.
	when something is possible	Miracles can happen.
	permission	You can go now.
	informal requests	Can you come for a minute?
could	past form of "can"	She said she could pay for us as well.
	polite requests	Could you move your bag, please?
	possibility	It could be that he missed the train.
may	possibility	It may rain tomorrow.
may	ask or give permission (formal)	May I speak?
might	past form of "may"	He said he might change his mind.
might	possibility	This might fail.
must	you have to do it	You must obey the law
must	it's very logical or very likely to happen	They left so early, they must be home by now.
must not/ mustn't	you are not allowed to do it	You mustn't smoke in here.
shall	future for "I" and "we"	I shall see him tomorrow.
shall	questions and suggestions for "I" and "we"	Let's continue, shall we?
should	the right thing to do	She should call the police.
	advice	- What should I do? - You should stop thinking about it.
	what is likely or expected to happen	We should be back by midnight.
will	future action or states (not plans)	Prices will go up next summer.
will	promises and intentions	It's alright, I'll pick it up.
would	past form of "will"	He told me he would come.
	imagined situations	What would you do if you were him?
	for polite requests, offers and invitations	- Would you please sit down? - Would you like some tea? - We are meeting with Sarah next Saturday, would you like to come along?
	to say what you want to do or have	I would like a piece of cake.
ought to	the right thing to do	You ought to apologize.

English Modal Verbs – Situations Table

Situation	Modal Verb	Example
requests (formal)	may	May I sit down?
requests (informal)	can	Can I sit down?
requests (polite)	could	Could I sit down?
requests (polite)	would	Would you mind if I sit down?
permission (formal)	may	You may sit down.
permission (informal)	can	You can sit down.
obligation (full)	must	You must tell the police the truth.
obligation (partial)	should	You should tell your friends the truth.
obligation (partial) (less common)	ought to	You ought to tell your friends the truth.
logical conclusions (stronger than "should")	must	He left an hour ago, so he must be there already.
logical conclusions (weaker than "must")	should	He left half an hour ago, I believe he should be there already.
possibility (general)	can	It can rain sometimes.
possibility (weaker than "may" and "might")	could	It could rain, but it is not very common in this part of the country.
possibility (weaker than "may")	might	It's not very cloudy yet, but it might rain.
possibility (stronger than "might")	may	It starts getting cloudy – it may rain soon.
future actions/states/intentions	will	Look at the sky! It will rain soon.

Los verbos modales son verbos auxiliares que no pueden funcionar como un verbo principal, a diferencia de los verbos auxiliares “be”, “do” y “have” que sí pueden funcionar como un verbo principal.
Los verbos modales expresan modalidad. Pueden expresar habilidad, posibilidad, necesidad u otra condición. Son verbos auxiliares del futuro y del condicional. Los tiempos verbales ingleses no son suficientes para expresar ideas de posibilidad o incertidumbre. No existe un tiempo verbal del condicional en inglés. A la vez, se usan verbos auxiliares para el condicional. Tampoco hay un tiempo verbal como el subjuntivo en español. Por eso, es muy importante entender los usos de los verbos modales.
Como verbos complementarios que son, los verbos modales no funcionan sin otro verbo. Este otro verbo siempre va después del verbo modal y está en la forma de base (el infinitivo sin “to”). No se conjugan los verbos modales y no tienen tiempo.
Los verbos modales son:

can

could

may

might

will

shall

should

ought to

must/have to

would

Uses (Usos)

Can

“Can” indica habilidad o posibilidad. En estos casos puede ser traducido como “poder” en español.
Ejemplos:

I can speak five languages. (Puedo hablar cinco idiomas.)

We can work late tonight if you need us. (Podemos trabajar hasta tarde esta noche si nos necesitas.)

Bill and Tom can’t help you. (Bill y Tom no pueden ayudarte.)

The restaurant can be expensive if you drink a lot of wine. (El restaurante puede ser caro si bebes mucho vino.)

It can be dangerous to drive if you are tired. (Conducir puede ser peligroso si estás cansado.)

En frases interrogativas, el uso de “can” puede solicitar permiso o preguntar sobre posibilidades.
Ejemplos:

Can I have a glass of water? (¿Puedo tomar un vaso de agua?)

Can you help me? (¿Puedes ayudarme?)

Can they work late tonight? (¿Pueden trabajar hasta tarde esta noche?)

Could

“Could” indica posibilidad o habilidad en el pasado.
Ejemplos:

Joe could speak Spanish when he was young. (Joe podía hablar español cuando era joven.)

I couldn’t sleep last night. (No pude dormir anoche.)

It could have been worse. (Podría haber sido peor.)

Could you play an instrument when you were a child? (¿Podías tocar un instrumento cuando eras un niño?)

También se puede usar “could” para posibilidades en el futuro.
Ejemplos:

You could pass the test if you studied. (Podrías pasar el examen si estudiaras.)

I think it could rain later. (Creo que podría llover más tarde.)

Como “can”, en frases interrogativas “could” puede solicitar permiso o preguntar sobre las posibilidades, pero es más formal.
Ejemplos:

Could you pass the salt please? (¿Podría pasarme la sal por favor?)

Could you help me? (¿Podrías ayudarme?)

Could I be wrong? (¿Podría estar equivocado?)

Nota: Se usa “could” en frases condicionales. Ver la lección sobre frases condicionales para más información sobre el uso de “could”.

May

Como “could”, se usa “may” para indicar posibilidades en el futuro.
Ejemplos:

I would bring an umbrella, it may rain later. (Llevaría un paraguas, puede llover más tarde.)

It may be better to finish this now, rather than wait until tomorrow. (Tal vez sea mejor terminar esto ahora, en lugar de esperar hasta mañana.)

También se puede utilizar para dar permisos o instrucciones.
Ejemplos:

You may leave if you like. (Puede salir si quiere.)

You may use your cell phones now. (Podéis usar sus teléfonos ahora.)

En frases interrogativas, el uso de “may” es más educado que “can” o “could”.
Ejemplos:

May I have a glass of water? (¿Podría tomar un vaso de agua?)

May I leave now? (¿Podría salir ahora?)

Might

Se usa “might” para indicar posibilidades en el presente o el futuro. En estos casos, es un sinónimo de “may”.
Ejemplos:

I would bring an umbrella, it might rain later. (Yo llevaría un paraguas, puede llover más tarde.)

It might be better to finish this now, rather than wait until tomorrow. (Tal vez sea mejor terminar esto ahora, en lugar de esperar hasta mañana.)

También se puede usar al igual que “may”, para pedir permisos o hacer peticiones corteses, aunque este uso es mucho más común en el Reino Unido que en los Estados Unidos.

Will

Como veremos en lecciones posteriores, se utiliza “will” para formar el tiempo futuro.

También el uso de “will” significa voluntad o determinación.
Ejemplos:

I will help you. (Te ayudaré.)

We will learn English. (Aprenderemos inglés.)

Se utiliza “will” en frases interrogativas para pedir información, un favor o sobre opciones.
Ejemplos:

Will they find a cure for cancer? (¿Encontrarán una cura para el cáncer?)

Will you help me move? (¿Me ayudas a mudarme?)

Will he go to Paris by car or train? (¿Irá a París en coche o en tren?)

Shall

Se usa “shall” como “will” para formar el tiempo futuro. El uso de “shall” es mucho más común en el Reino Unido y en general es más educado.
Ejemplos:

Chris shall be happy to see you. (Chris estará feliz de verte.)

I’ll take the 3 o’clock train. (Tomaré el tren a las 15h.)

Nota: Las formas cortas de “will” y “shall” son lo mismo. Entonces “I’ll” en el ejemplo anterior puede significar “I will” o “I shall”.

También se puede utilizar “shall” para ofertas y sugerencias o para preguntar sobre opciones o preferencias.
Ejemplos:

Shall l we meet at 10pm? (¿Quedamos a las 22h?)

Shall we go to the movies or a museum? (¿Vamos al cine o a un museo?)

Should

“Should” indica una obligación o recomendación. Refleja una opinión sobre lo que es correcto. Se traduce como el condicional de “deber” en español.
Ejemplos:

I should call my parents more often. (Debería llamar a mis padres más a menudo.)

You shouldn’t work so hard. (No debería trabajar tan duro.)

They should practice more if they want to win the championship. (Deberían practicar más si quieren ganar el campeonato.)

Se utiliza “should” en frases interrogativas para preguntar si existe una obligación o para pedir una recomendación.
Ejemplos:

Should we leave a tip? (¿Deberíamos dejar una propina?)

Should I have the steak or the chicken? (¿Debería comer el bistec o el pollo?)

Where should they meet you? (¿Dónde deberían encontrarte?)

Ought to

“Ought to” es un sinónimo de “should”.
Ejemplos:

She ought to quit smoking. (Debería dejar de fumar.)

I ought to call my parents more often. (Debería llamar a mis padres más a menudo.)

They ought to work less. (Deberían trabajar menos.)

Note: Nunca se usa “ought to” en frases interrogativas en inglés americano.

Must

“Must” indica una obligación, prohibición o necesidad. También puede emplearse “have to” (tener que).
Ejemplos:

You must [have to] read this book, it’s fantastic. (Tienes que leer este libro, es fantástico.)

You must [have to] brush your teeth two times a day. (Tienes que cepillarte los dientes dos veces al día.)

We must [have to] leave now or we will be late. (Tenemos que irnos ahora o llegaremos tarde.)

You must not drink and drive. (No puedes beber y conducir.)

When must we meet you? (¿Cuándo debemos quedar? )

También se puede usar “must” para indicar probabilidad o asumir algo.
Ejemplos:

John’s not here. He must be sick because he never misses class. (John no esta aquí. Debe estar enfermo porque nunca pierde clases.)

It must be difficult to learn a new language as an adult. (Debe ser difícil aprender un idioma como adulto.)

Es posible también usar “must” para preguntas retóricas.
Ejemplos:

Must you always be late? (¿Siempre tienes que llegar tarde?)

Must she talk so much? (¿Tiene que hablar tanto?)

Would

Se usa “would” para declarar una preferencia y para preguntar por algo educadamente.
Ejemplos:

She would like to go to New York someday. (Le gustaría ir a Nueva York algún día.)

I would like a beer and my wife would like a glass of wine please. (Me gustaría una cerveza y a mi mujer le gustaría una copa de vino por favor.)

Would you like some coffee? (¿Le gustaría un cafe?)

Would you help me please? (¿Me ayudas por favor?)

When would you like to go to the movies? (¿Cuándo te gustaría ir al cine?)

Nota: Se usa “would” en frases condicionales. Ver la lección sobre

LISTEN AND PRACTICE THE NEXT SONG:

COPY IN YOUR NOTEBOOK THE NEXT EXERCISES AND ANSWER THEM.

Q1.	I didn’t feel very well yesterday. I ..... eat anything.
		cannot
		couldn’t
		mustn’t

Q2.	You ..... look at me when I am talking to you.
		could
		should
		would

Q3.	I was using my pencil a minute ago. It ..... be here somewhere!
		can
		could
		must
		would

Q4.	You really ..... be late again.
		must not
		don’t have to be

Q5.	If you don’t start working harder, you ..... repeat the course next year.
		have to
		must
		will have to

Q6.	His parents spoil him. He’s always ..... to do whatever he wants.
		been able
		been allowed

Q7.	Phone her now. She ..... home by now.
		has to be
		must be
		would be

Q8.	You ..... forget your sun cream. It’s going to be very hot!
		don’t have to
		mustn’t
		needn’t

Q9.	I ..... be able to help you, but I’m not sure yet.
		might
		would

Q10.	Entrance to the museum was free. We ..... pay to get in.
		needn’t
		didn’t need to

Q11.	Already as a child Mozart ..... play the piano beautifully.
		could
		should
		would

Q12.	Which sign are you more likely to see at an airport: Bags ..... not be left unattended.
		can
		must
		may

Q13.	I really ..... try to get fit.
		may
		must
		would

Q14.	..... take a photograph of you?
		Am I allowed to
		May I

Q15.	Students ..... borrow up to 6 books at any time.
		are allowed to
		could

Q16.	Whose is this bag? - I don’t know, but it ..... belong to Yuta.
		could
		may
		should
		would

Q17.	..... I go to the bathroom, please?
		May
		Must
		Would

Q18.	His excuse ..... be true, but I don’t believe.
		can
		may

Q19.	It’s very important to ..... speak more than one language.
		can
		be able to

Q20.	I don’t like ..... get up early on a Sunday.
		being able to
		being allowed to
		having to

Q21.	..... you speak French? - Only a few words, but my Russian is pretty good.
		Can
		Could

Q22.	..... you help me move this table? (Both answers are possible. Choose the more polite request.)
		Can
		Could

Q23.	I ..... talk already before I was two years old.
		could
		should
		would

Q24.	I ..... help you, but I don’t want to.
		can
		could
		would

Q25.	..... you open the window, please.
		Can
		May

Q26.	I ..... move the table. It was too heavy.
		couldn’t
		mustn’t
		shouldn’t
		wouldn’t

Q27.	You ..... not put your feet on the cafeteria tables.
		must not
		do not have to

Q28.	If you continue to practise so hard, you ..... beat me before too long!
		can
		could
		will be able to

Q29.	..... you swim? (Both are possible. Which is better?)
		Are you able to
		Can

Q30.	You ..... eat so much chocolate. It’s not good for you.
		don’t have to
		mustn’t
		shouldn’t

Q31.	I’m afraid I ..... play tennis tomorrow. I’ve got a dentist appointment.
		can’t
		couldn’t
		would not be able to

Q32.	You can come to the meeting if you want but you ......
		have to
		don’t have to
		mustn’t

Q33.	What do you want to do? - Well, we ..... have a picnic, but it looks like rain.
		can
		could
		should
		would

Q34.	I’m so hungry I ..... eat a horse!
		can
		could
		must
		should

Q35.	The test starts at 10.30. You ..... be late.
		don’t have to
		mustn’t

Q36.	Why didn’t you tell me? I ..... you!
		could help
		could have helped
		was able to help
		would help

Q37.	How did you do in the test? - Ok. It ..... worse!
		could be
		could have been
		might be
		would have been

Q38.	He ..... broken the classroom window. He wasn’t even in school today.
		couldn’t have
		mustn’t
		shouldn’t have

Q39.	You ..... tired. You’ve only just got out of bed!
		don’t have to be
		can’t be
		mustn’t be

Q40.	She ..... be very pleased with herself. She got the best grades.
		has to
		must
		cannot

___________________________________