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
should not -> shouldn't
must not -> mustn't
would not -> wouldn't
We couldn't leave the farm.
You shouldn't talk like that.
You mustn't talk about Ron like that.
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

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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

Ausencia
Prohibición Obligación Permiso
de obligación

can
mustn't must needn't
You mustn't run You must be here You needn't come You can use your
in the corridor on time tomorrow
book

have (got) to
can't may
You have to wear don't have to
You can't use your
a uniform You don't have to May I use your
dictionary in the
You've got to be buy it
exam car?
quiet.

may not could

should haven't got to
You may not use
You should bring I haven't got to Could I take
your mobile phone
your book do any homework
here another biscuit?

didn't need to
shall not ought to I didn't need to
You shall not It's very cold. You take the bus
leave without ought to take a because it was
permission coat just across the
road.

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 Posibilidad o
Certeza Deducciones
Capacidad probabilidad

can
can will must
The temperature
I can speak Most of you will You must be
in Jaén can reach
French have heard of this. Tom's father.
40ºC in July

could
would
When I was could can't
You would agree
younger I could They could be She can't have left
that changes
play tennis quite friends the party.
must be done
well.

be able to
- I'll be able to
finish it on time. should must have + past
- We were able to may She should be sad participle
talk to the It may rain living in Great She must have
headteacher. (We Britain forgotten
actually talked to
her)

shall can't have + past

might We shall be participle
It might be true leaving as soon as She can't have
we are ready. finished yet

must have + past

may have + past participle
participle I must have left
She may have my credit card in
forgotten it 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

Sugerencias y
Peticiones Ofrecimientos Deseos
consejos

should would
can can
You should ask I would like to
Can you help me? Can I help you?
your teacher know the answer.

could ought to would rather

may
Could I interrupt She ought to be I would rather
May I help you?
you? more careful have left

will shall could would sooner

Will you open the Shall I close the We could go to I'd sooner walk
window, please? door? the cinema. than go by bus

should have + past

would you mind if will
participle
Would you mind Will you have a
She ought to have
If I used your car? cup of tea?
finished it.

would you mind +

V-ing would shall
Would you mind Would you like a Shall we meet
bringing some drink? outside the bank?
bread?

can
should
You can take a
Should I phone for
taxi if you are
a taxi for you?
tired

might
You might like to
come with us

had better
You'd better leave
now (we might
have a quarrel)