2. CAN
CAN EXAMPLES
MEANING Poder
1. Ability 1. Mary can run very fast.
USES 2. Request 2. Can i call you tonight?
3. Possibility 3. Women’s sports can be
exciting to watch.
3. BE ABLE TO / CAN’T
M ODAL MEANING USES EXAMPLES
His brother is
Be able to Poder Ability able to skate very
well.
1. Certainy that 1. You can’t be
Can’t No poder something is 40 , you look
impossible. much younger!
2. Prohibition 2. You can’t play
here .
4. COULD
COULD EXAMPLES
MEANING Podría
USES 1. Past ability 1. She could run fast when
she was 5.
2. Polite request 2. Could you help me with
the suitcase?
3. Polite suggestion 3. You could exercise and
eat healthier food.
4. Possibility 4. It could be dangerous for
women to compete with
men.
5. MAY/MIGHT
MODALS MEANING USES EXAMPLES
1. Possibility 1. It may rain
May Quizá tomorrow.
2. Polite request 2. May i join this
team?
She might win the
Might Quizá Possibility gold medal in the
competition.
SHOULD/OUGHT TO
MODAL MEANING USES EXAMPLES
Should Deberias Advice, opinion You should try and
get on well with
your siblings.
Ought to Deberias Advice , opinion You ought to warm
up before training.
6. MUST/HAVE TO
MODAL MEANING USES EXAMPLES
1. Obligation 1. You must train
hard for the
Must Deber que match.
2. Certainy that 2. She’s got a
something is great job. She
true must be very
happy.
Have to Tener que Obligation , I have to buy the
necessity tickets today.
7. MUSTN’T/DON’T HAVE TO
MODAL MEANI NG USES EXAMPLES
You mustn’t
Mustn’t Estar prohibido Prohibition exceed the speed
limit.
Don’t have to No tener que Lack of obligation I don’t have to get
up early tomorrow.
NEED TO/NEEDN’T
MODAL MEANING USES EXAMPLES
Need to Necesitar Obligation, You need to
necessity practise harder.
Needn’t No necesitar Lack of obligation You needn’t bring
anything to the
party.
8. Would
MODAL MEANING USES EXAMPLES
1. Formal request 1. Would you
open the
Would Podrías window ,
please?
2. Offer 2. Would you like
something to
drink?
9. Exercises
Can ,could ,have to ,must ,might, should
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/
interactivemodal1.htm
Must, have to
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal2.htm
Might, must, should, could, have to and ought to
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal3.htm
Review
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal8.htm
11. Must have / Might have
Modal Meaning Uses Examples
“debe haber” we are almost The phone rang
Must have sure something but there was no
happened in the answer. He must
have gone out
past
(otherwise he
would have
answered).
“puede que A guess about She might / may
Might have haya” something which have bought a
happened in the new car
past.
12. Modal Meaning Uses Examples
Would have “hubiera” Willingness to She would
have done have gone to
something but in school but she
fact could not was so tired.
Should/ ought to “deberias haber ” (a) it was the right He should
have thing to do but we have arrived at
didn't do it. (b) we his office by
expected now. Let's try
something to ringing him.
happen but it
didn't.
“ podría haber” The ability to do You could have
Could have something in avoided that
the past, but that accident, but
in the end was not you didn´t.
done.
13. Modal Meaning Uses Examples
Shouldn´t have “no deberia speculate He shouldn´t
haber” negatively about have eaten all that
what may or may chocolate because
not have now he has a
happened or to stomachache.
regret past
actions
Needn´t have “no hubiera hecho An unnecesary I needn’t have
falta que” action in the past bought tomatoes.
When I got home,
I found that I
already had some.
Couldn´t have “no pudo haber” We are sure that He couldn´t have
something did not gone to England
happen because all the
flights were
cancelled
14. 1) Online exercises
ENGLISH PAGE - Modal Forms
http://webcb.blogspot.com.es/2012/10/new-modal-perfect-
exercises.html#!/2012/10/new-modal-perfect-exercises.html
2) Exercises to print
http://cordelia.typepad.com/english_today/2010/04/moda
ls-modal-perfect-practice.html
