La modalidad y sus

funciones
La subjetividad del hablante en escena
 Veamos los siguientes ejemplos: ¿cuál es la
función de “can” en cada caso? ¿Es la misma?
1. The rock can contain traces of hydrocarbons.
2. The stent can deliver the drug when it is needed.
3. Can we install a traffic light in this crossing?

Habilidad
Permiso
Posibilidad
 Veamos los siguientes ejemplos:
¿Qué diferencia observan entre los ejemplos? ¿en qué ejemplos distinguen opinión o
presencia del escritor? ¿algún ejemplo es un hecho sin intervención de opinión?

• The use of stem cells is very promising.

• It is certain that the use of stem cells will be very promising.
• The use of stem cells must be very promising.
• The use of stem cells may be very promising.
• The use of stem cells might be very promising.
• The use of stem cells could be very promising.
• It is possible that the use of stems cells will be very promising.
 Consideraciones

• Los VERBOS MODALES agregan sentido al significado general de

• CAN
la oración . Pudiendo expresan necesidad, habilidad, posibilidad, • COULD
sugerencia , opinión, obligación ,etc.)
• Al ser complementarios, los verbos modales no funcionan sin otro • MAY
verbo. Este otro verbo siempre va después del verbo modal y en MIGHT
infinitivo.
• El mismo verbo modal puede expresar diferentes sentidos (diferentes • WILL
funciones) según el CONTEXTO de uso. • MUST
• Existen frases o adverbios que expresan modalidad: be able to, be
supposed to, likely, probably. • OUGHT TO
• SHOULD
 she can speak three
HABILIDAD languages

You cannot use the phone in

this office.
PERMISO Students can use dictionaries
CAN during the exams.

POSIBILIDAD It can be dangerouse to drive if

you are tired
 HABILIDAD He could run faster when he
(en el pasado) was younger

COULD PERMISO
Could I go with you?

They could find the cure by the

POSIBILIDAD
end of the year.
 The importance of the effects
may differ.
The vaccine may be ready by
POSIBILIDAD march
MAY The schools might open in turns

MIGHT
(-ía)
PERMISO May I use the phone, please?
 Products should use less plastic
packagging
SUGERENCIA
SHOULD You should see a doctor if you have
fever.

OUGHT
TO
(Debería) The letter should get to you
POSIBILIDAD tomorrow
 All health care workers must wear
Obligación fase masks when testing Cov19
patients .

MUST
(Debe)
Necesidad This must be the worst economic
Lógica crisis since 1930.
MUSTN’T PROHIBICIÓN
You mustn’t drink and
drive
 Prices will go
PREDICCIÓN up.

We will discuss this in the following

sections.
PLAN
WILL
PROMESA
OFRECIMIENTO I will help you
 The increase in salaries would
POSIBILIDAD represent a 25%
CONDICIÓN They would offer more if the
situation was different

WOULD
PREFERENCIA I would like some coffe.
OFRECIMIENTO Would you join us for lunch?
 You have to show your passport at
OBLIGACIÓN the passport control.
HAVE
TO
If Richard wants to become a
professional musician, he
NECESIDAD has to practice every day.
 Los verbos modales pueden expresar ideas en el
PASADO

VERBO MODAL + HAVE + VERBO participio

 You look happy, you must have heard the good news
(te ves feliz, debes haber escuchado las buenas noticias)

 I should have studied harder. (debería haber estudiado mas)

 I would have gone to the party but I was really busy.

(Hubiera ido a la fiesta , pero estaba realmente cansado)
Analice las funciones de las siguientes instancias modales, atendiendo a la lista:

• Plan (implica
voluntad) • Posibilidad • Predicción (las cosas
• Habilidad • Necesidad lógica ocurren sin volición )
• Prohibición • Permiso • Sugerencia

1) The traditional method is likely to fail.

2) In the following section, the paper will describe the process in detail.
3) Yo mustn´t enter the room without a facemask.
4) The therapy would work after three months of treatment.
5) A new approach must be used to provide a satisfactory solution.
6) You should study more.
7) The device can deliver the accurate amount of insulin into the
bloodstream.
 Actividad: Inferencia y motivación
• Hyperloop Preliminary design study
http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/hyperloop_alpha-20130812.pdf

• Geomechanics.
M. Josh ⁎, L. Esteban, C. DellePiane, J. Sarout, D.N. Dewhurst, M.B. Clennell: (2015)“Laboratory characterisation of shale properties” CSIRO

Earth Science and Resource Engineering, Perth, Australia [enlínea], pp

1,2.<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0920410512000411>

• Bioabsorbable Stents: The Future For The Prevention Of Coronary

Arteryblockages
Jacob Wallace (JHW33@pitt.edu)