Verbos modales http://webs.ono.com/lallena/ModalVerbs.html

Los verbos modales realizan una función similar a la de los verbos auxiliares. Dan información adicional sobre el verbo que los sigue y se utilizan para indicar posibilidad, probabilidad, certeza, deducción, capacidad, consejo, obligación, prohibición, permiso, hacer peticiones, ofrecimientos, sugerencias, etc. Son verbos modales: can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will y would. Los verbos modales tienen algunas características que los diferencian de los verbos normales: 1. Los modales van seguidos siempre de un verbo en infinitivo: She must leave in a few minutes. I think it will look rather nice. Things might have been so different. People may be watching. She ought to go straight back to England. My sister can't drive yet. You could be right. Shall we go out for a meal tonight? You should study harder. Would you finish this for me? 2. Los modales sólo tienen una forma. No añaden '-s' a la tercera persona del singular del presente y no tienen formas acabadas en 'ing' o en '-ed'. Tampoco tienen infinitivo. There's nothing I can do about it. I'm sure he can do it.

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3. Los verbos modales no necesitan el auxiliar DO para la forma negativa ni para las preguntas. Para la forma negativa de un modal simplemente añadimos NOT o una palabra negativa inmediatamente detrás del modal. You must not worry. I can never remember his name. 'Can + not' se escribe siembre como una palabra, 'cannot'. I cannot go back. = I can't go back. En inglés hablado o escrito informal 'not' se contrae en '-n't' y se añade al modal: could not -> couldn't

We couldn't leave the farm.

should not -> shouldn't

You shouldn't talk like that.

must not -> mustn't

You mustn't talk about Ron like that.

would not -> wouldn't

I wouldn't do it if I were you.

Las siguientes formas contractas son irregulares: shall not -> shan't

I shan't let you go.

will not -> won't

Won't you change your mind?

cannot -> can't

We can't stop now.

'Might not' y 'ought not' se contraen a veces en 'mightn't' y 'oughtn't'. Sin embargo, es muy raro que 'may not' aparezca como 'mayn't' en inglés moderno. Para hacer una pregunta, se pone el modal delante del sujeto. Could you give me an example? Will you be coming in later? Shall I shut the door? 4. La mayoría de los verbos modales no se pueden utilizar en tiempos de pasado o futuro. Por ejemplo, no podemos decir *She will can 2

come with me. Tampoco es correcto *We musted study a lot. Cuando nos referimos al pasado, utilizamos un modal seguido de 'have' y un participio pasado: They may have seen the film - Puede que hayan visto la película 5. Los modales no indican normalmente el tiempo en que ocurre algo. Sin embargo, 'shall' y 'will' indican a menudo un hecho o una situación futura. I shall do what you suggested. He will not return for many hours. 6. En inglés hablado y en inglés escrito informal, 'shall' y 'will' se utilizan en forma contracta como 'll. 'Would' se contrae en 'd. I'll see you tomorrow. I hope you'll agree. Mary said she'd love to stay. 'Shall', 'will' y 'would' no se contraen cuando van al final de una oración. Paul said he would come, and I hope he will. ATENCIÓN: La forma contracta del auxiliar 'had' es también 'd. I'd

heard

it

many

times.

=

I

had

heard

it

many

times.

7. 'Could' se utiliza como pasado de 'can' para expresar habilidad. 'Would' se utiliza en estilo indirecto como reporting verb de 'will'

para expresar futuro.

When I was young, I could run for miles. I will see my mother tomorrow --> He said that he would see his mother the next day.

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8. Nunca se usan dos modales juntos. Por ejemplo, no se puede decir *"He will can come". En su lugar se puede utilizar BE ABLE TO: "He will be able to come". De la misma forma, tampoco podemos decir *"I will must go". Pero podemos utilizar HAVE TO: "I will have to go".

9. Los modales se pueden utilizar en question tags: You won't tell her, will you? She can drive, can't she?

Prohibición / Obligación / Ausencia de obligación / Permiso Prohibición

Obligación

Ausencia de obligación

mustn't You mustn't run in the corridor

must You must be here on time

needn't You needn't come tomorrow

can't You can't use your dictionary in the exam

have (got) to You have to wear a uniform You've got to be quiet.

don't have to You don't have to buy it

may not You may not use your mobile phone here

should You should bring your book

haven't got to I haven't got to do any homework

shall not You shall not leave without permission

ought to It's very cold. You ought to take a coat

didn't need to I didn't need to take the bus because it was just across the road.

Permiso can You can use your book may May I use your car? could Could I take another biscuit?

needn't have + past participle You needn't have come (You came although it wasn't necessary)

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Habilidad o capacidad / Posibilidad o probabilidad / Certeza / Deducciones Habilidad o Capacidad

Posibilidad o probabilidad

Certeza

Deducciones

can I can speak French

can The temperature in Jaén can reach 40ºC in July

will Most of you will have heard of this.

must You must be Tom's father.

could When I was younger I could play tennis quite well.

could They could be friends

would You would agree that changes must be done

can't She can't have left the party.

be able to - I'll be able to finish it on time. - We were able to talk to the headteacher. (We actually talked to her)

may It may rain

should She should be sad living in Great Britain

must have + past participle She must have forgotten

might It might be true

shall We shall be leaving as soon as we are ready.

can't have + past participle She can't have finished yet

may have + past participle She may have forgotten it

must have + past participle I must have left my credit card in the bookshop (I'm sure I did)

might have + past participle They might have arrived could have + past participle He could have killed her

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Peticiones / Ofrecimientos / Sugerencias y consejos / Deseos Peticiones

Ofrecimientos

Sugerencias y consejos

Deseos

can Can you help me?

can Can I help you?

should You should ask your teacher

would I would like to know the answer.

could Could I interrupt you?

may May I help you?

ought to She ought to be more careful

would rather I would rather have left

will Will you open the window, please?

shall Shall I close the door?

could We could go to the cinema.

would sooner I'd sooner walk than go by bus

would you mind if Would you mind If I used your car?

will Will you have a cup of tea?

should have + past participle She ought to have finished it.

would you mind + V-ing Would you mind bringing some bread?

would Would you like a drink?

shall Shall we meet outside the bank?

should Should I phone for a taxi for you?

can You can take a taxi if you are tired might You might like to come with us had better You'd better leave now (we might have a quarrel)

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