LOS VERBOS MODALES

Qu son los Verbos Modales?

Los verbos modales son un tipo de verbo auxiliar, como DO, BE y HAVE, pero dan ms informacin que un auxiliar normal; o en el caso de DO, no se puede traducir al espaol. Los modales, adems, tienen sus propias reglas. Los verbos modales
son CAN, COULD, WILL, WOULD, SHALL, MAY, MIGHT, MUST, SHOULD and OUGHT TO.

Reglas de los Verbos Modales:

SIGNIFICADOS/USOS 1. Se conjugan igual para todas las personas. EJEMPLOS

I can, you can, he can, etc. Not: he cans

2. No se utilizan con otros auxiliares, excepto en los

tiempos perfectos.
3. Son seguidos por el infinitivo (sin TO). 4. Se forma el negativo agregando not o la

Can you run? Not: Do you can run?

I must take my medicine. (Excepcin: Ought to) I cant play the piano. (Excepcin: may not no lleva contraccin)

contraccin -nt.

Atencin: Hay otro tipo de verbos modales llamados HALF-MODALS los cuales tienen la misma funcin que los verbos modales pero siguen otras reglas estructurales. stos son HAVE TO y NEED TO.

Reglas de los half modals

SIGNIFICADOS/USOS 1. La conjugacin es diferente para EJEMPLOS

la tercera

persona del singular.

2. Se pueden usar con el auxiliar DO.

I have to, he has to, I need to, he needsto I do need to go, cant you understand that? I have to wear a uniform. He neednt weara uniform. I dont have to go. Not: I havent to go.

3. Van seguidos por el infinitivo con TO (Excepto

por el negativo de need to) con la contraccin nt.

4. El negativo de HAVE TO no se puede formar

Lista de significados y usos de los Verbos Modales

Como fue mencionado anteriormente, los verbos modales y half-modals expresan significado. A continuacin tienes una lista de ellos con sus significados y usos.
SIGNIFICADOS/USOS CAN EJEMPLOS 1. I can speak 2. Can I borrow your pen? 3. Can you open the 4. I can come next Monday. English. window?

1. 2. 3. 4.

Habilidad Permiso Peticin Posibilidad

COULD

1. Habilidad en el pasado 2. Peticin formal 3. Permiso en Reported Speech 4. Posibilidad 5. Segundo condicional
WILL

1. I could run fast when I was a child. 2. Could you open the window, please? 3. Mary said she could go out tonight. 4. Wheres Mary? I dont know, she could be in her office. 5. If it didnt rain, we could go to the park.

1. Certeza 2. Futuro: - decisiones espontneas - predicciones 3. Promesas 4. Ordenes 5. Primer condicional

WOULD

1. He will definitely come to the party 2a. I will call Mary before she leaves. 2b. I think the economy will get better soon. 3. I will return your money tomorrow. 4. You will do as I tell you. 5. If it stops raining we will play football. 1. Would you like some cheese? 2. If I had a car I would change my job. 3. On Sundays we would go to the park to play football. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1. 2. 3. 4. I shall visit Mary next week. I shall help you with your homework. Shall I invite Jim to the party? Shall I open the window for you? Where shall I put this box? You shall go there immediately I may be able to take a day off. May I use your phone? May I have some more cake, please? May I help you?

1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
MAY

Ofertas formales Condicionales Hbitos en el pasado Futuro Promesas Pedir consejo Para ofrecer ayuda Pedir instrucciones Ordenes Posibilidad Permiso Peticin formal Ofertas formales Posibilidad Recomendaciones Sugerencias Suposiciones Consejo

SHALL

1. 2. 3. 4. 1. 1. 2. 3. 4.

MIGHT SHOULD

1. We might be able to join you in London next week. 1. 2. 3. 4. You should read this book, its great. Perhaps we should consider a different option. They should be at home by now. You should see a doctor at once

OUGHT TO

1. 2. 3.

Obligacin moral Recomendacin Probabilidad

1. You ought to do as you are told. 2. You ought to see the Picasso museum. 3. They ought to be home by now. 1. You must wear protective glasses in the lab. 2. I must take my medicine. 3. They left at 8 oclock, so they must be at home by now. 4. You must stay at my house when you come to the city. 1. I have to wear safety goggles in the lab. 1. I need to take my medicine with my breakfast.

MUST

1. 2. 3. 4.

Obligacin Necesidad Deduccin/suposicin Invitacin

HAVE TO

1. 1.

Obligacin Necesidad

NEED TO

Modales negativos
SIGNIFICADOS/USOS CANT EJEMPLOS

Certeza
MUSTNT

Mr. Simpson cant be dead, I saw him only 5 minutes ago. You mustnt smoke in a hospital. You dont have to go to the party if you dont want to.

Prohibicin
DONT HAVE TO

Innecesidad