MODAL VERBS (THEORY AND EXERCISES)

Un verbo modal es aquel que se usa en combinación con un verbo principal

para expresar obligación, prohibición, capacidad o habilidad para realizar
alguna tarea, para hacer recomendaciones, etc.

Ex. Ralph can speak three languages.

You know you shouldn´t smoke, so why do you do it?

¡TOMA NOTA!

Son verbos incompletos, es decir, les faltan tiempos verbales. No tienen

participio ni infinitivo. Al faltarles tiempos, utilizan otros verbos para
completar su conjugación. Así, “can” se completa con “be able to” ,
“must” con “have to”, etc.
No llevan -s en la tercera persona del singular del presente simple,
excepto el verbo “have (got)” y “be able to”.
Todos van seguidos de un verbo en infinitivo sin “to” , excepto “ought to”,
“have to”, “be able to” y “used to”.
Como no necesitan verbo auxiliar, construyen la interrogativa invirtiendo
el orden del sujeto y el verbo, y la negativa añadiendo “not”.
Nunca uses “do, does, o did” en las preguntas en las que ya estén otros
verbos modales como “can, must, etc..

1. OBLIGACIÓN

 Must (deber, tener que): “you must train very hard if you want to
be a successful athlete”.
 Have to (tener que): “I have to get up at six every morning except
Sundays”.

NOTA: “must” se utiliza para dar órdenes, mandatos, obligaciones. Si

el que habla desea suavizar esta autoridad, se suele usar “have to”.
“Have to y must” se complementan porque tienen un significado
similar. Por ello se utiliza “have to” en todos los tiempos que faltan a
“must” (por ejemplo, “had to” es el pasado de” must” y “will have to”
sería el futuro de “must”).

2. PROHIBICIÓN

 Mustn´t (no deber): “ You mustn´t make a noise during the exam”.
 Aren´t/weren´t allowed to (no estar permitido/no estaba permitido):
“Teachers aren´t allowed to smoke inside the school”.
 Can´t/couldn´t (no poder/ no podíamos): “You can´t take photos
using a flash in this museum”.
NOTA: “Mustn´t” es el modal más usual para indicar prohibición.

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 3. NECESIDAD

 Need (necesitar): “We need to buy some butteries for the

camera”.

4. PERMISO (pedir y dar permiso)

 Can (poder): “I hate that song! Can I put something different on?”
“Yes, you can.”
 May (poder): “May I use your computer ? Yes, you may”.
 Could (podría): “Could I use your computer?
 Are/were allowed to (permitir): “My sister is allowed to use a
dictionary in her translation exams at university. Incredible!”.

NOTA: “Can, could y may” son los modales más comunes para pedir
y dar permiso. “Can y could” se utiliza en un contexto informal y
“May” se utiliza en un contexto formal.

5. AUSENCIA DE OBLIGACIÓN O DE NECESIDAD

 Needn´t (no necesitar): “You needn´t give me back my camera

until I go on holiday next month.”
 Don´t have to/didn´t have to (no es necesario que ):”Jimmy doesn
´t have to retake any exams; he passed them all first time.
NOTA: En este sentido “don´t have to” tiene un sentido más fuerte
que “needn´t”.
En este contexto “have to” necesita el auxiliar ”DO” para interrogar y
negar (you don´t have to……/do you have to ….?)

6. RECOMENDACIONES, SUGERENCIAS, CONSEJOS, OPINIONES

 Should (debería):”Brian should buy a new computer”

 Ought to (debería): “Bob ought to be more careful when he is driving:
he is a real danger to pedestrians.
 Could (podrías):” You could ask your parents to lend you some
money if you haven´t got enough.
NOTA: “Should” es el modal más común para indicar una
recomendación. Es prácticamente idéntico a “ought to” , pero este verbo
no es tan frecuente como should.

7. HABILIDAD, CAPACIDAD Y CONOCIMIENTO (PRESENTE)

 Can (saber):” Marty can play the guitar better than anyone I know”.

NOTA: El verbo que puede sustituir a “can” en este uso es “know how to” (do
you know how to cook good Mexican food?)

8. HABILIDAD, CAPACIDAD Y CONOCIMIENTO (PASADO)

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  Could (sabía): “She was a gifted child and could read when she was
only three years old.
 was/were able to (fue capaz de,pudo ): “I was abroad on holiday at
the time of the general Election but I was able to vote by post.”
NOTA: Cuando nos referimos a una habilidad que se tuvo en una
ocasión concreta del pasado se utiliza “was able to”.

9. AUSENCIA DE HABILIDAD O CAPACIDAD EN EL PRESENTE

 Can´t (no sabe):”My father can´t drive but my grandmother can.

10. AUSENCIA DE HABILIDAD O CAPACIDAD EN EL PASADO

 Couldn´t ( no sabía/no podía):”Did you know that Einstein couldn´t speak

fluently until he was nine?
 Wasn´t/weren´t able to “no fue capaz de/no pudo); “Despite playing well,
they weren´t able to score the goals they needed to qualify”.

11. POSIBILIDAD/INCERTIDUMBRE

 Se utiliza “might, may o could” + infinitivo para hablar de posibilidad en el

futuro o de posibilidad referida a actividades presentes.
 May (puede que, tal vez): “Some students may fail the exam”.
 Might (pudiera ser que): “They might go to the opera, but they prefer rock
concerts.
 Could (podría): “He could be at a friend´s house”.
NOTA: “Could” es menos frecuente que “may y might”
“Might” es una posibilidad más incierta que “May”

 Se emplea may, might o could + be+ Ving para hablar de actividades

que pueden estar ocurriendo en el momento de hablar (Joe might be
doing his homework or he could be watching the football on tv.

12. DEDUCCIONES

Una deducción consiste en llegar a una conclusión a través de una

interpretación lógica que se apoya en algún tipo de evidencia. Algunas
veces la conclusión es muy probable (estamos seguros de ella o casi
seguros) y otras veces, más que ser una conclusión probable, se trata de
una conclusión posible (no estamos muy seguros de ella).
 Must + V infin. (debe ): para referirnos a conclusiones probables
expresadas en forma afirmativa de las que estamos seguros o casi
seguros. Ex.”Pamela isn´t a t home and I know she works a lot. She
must be at work.
 Can´t + V infinit (no puede): para referirnos a conclusiones probables
expresadas en forma negativa de las que estamos seguros o casi

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 seguros. Ex.”Teresa can´t like dancing very much. She hardly ever
dances when I see her at the disco.
 Must/can´t+ be+ Ving : para expresar conclusiones probables de las
que estamos seguros o casi seguros y que se refieren a hechos que
están ocurriendo en el momento de hablar.Ex: “Chris is very quiet, isn
´t he? Yes, he must be thinking about something.

13. HACER OFRECIMIENTOS

 Can: “Can I help you” (¿Te puedo ayudar?) INFORMAL

 Will: “Never mind, I will pick you up tomorrow morning. (No te preocupes,
te recogeré mañana por la mañana). FORMAL
 Would: “Would you like anything from the shop? (¿Querrías algo de la
tienda?) FORMAL

14. PEDIR A OTRA PERSONA QUE HAGA ALGO

 Can/could. Ex. “Can/could you close the door?” INFORMAL

 Will/would. Ex. Would/will you close the door, please? FORMAL

15. EXPRESAR HÁBITOS Y RUTINAS EN EL PASADO

 Would: “When I was a child we´d go to Scotland every summer”

( Cuando era un niño íbamos a Escocia todos los veranos).
 Used to: “She used to play with me in the playground when we were at
school. (Jugaba conmigo en el patio cuando estábamos en el colegio).

16. OFRECERSE UNO MISMO PARA HACER ALGO

 Shall: “shall I carry your bags?(¿Te llevo las bolsas?) FORMAL
 Can: “Can I carry your bags? (¿Puedo llevarte las bolsas?) INFORMAL
NOTA: “Shall” se utiliza sólo con la primera persona (I/we).

MODALES PERFECTOS

Se forman añadiendo al modal un infinitivo perfecto, cuya estructura es “have +

Vparticipio -ed, si es regular o la tercera columna de los verbos irregulares. Se
usan para referirnos a acciones pasadas.

 Needn´t + have +Vparticipio (no necesitaba haber/ no tenía que

haber…): para señalar que una persona hizo algo aunque esto no
hubiera sido necesario.Ex: “She needn´t have taken a taxi. I would have
picked her up if she had phoned me.
 Should/ought to + have + Vparticipio (debería haber …): para indicar
que una acción fue poco sensata o que no se siguió un consejo en el
pasado.Ex: “He should have locked the door.
 May/might/could + have + V participio (puede/podría haber …): para
hablar a cerca de hechos que posiblemente ocurrieron en el pasado,

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 pero no tenemos certeza absoluta. Si usamos “might”, la suposición es
incluso más remota. Ex: She may have made a mistake
 Must + have + Vparticipio (debe haber…): Para expresar una
conclusión probable expresada en forma afirmativa y que se refiere a
un hecho del pasado.Ex: Ferry said he woul phone me but he didn´t. He
must have forgotten.
 Can´t + have + Vparticipio (no puede haber…): Para expresar una
conclusión probable expresada en forma negativa de la que estamos
seguros o casi seguros y que se refiere a un hecho del pasado.EX: I
saw Carolina in the street today. She can´t have gone on holiday yet.

EXERCISES
1. CIRCLE THE CORRECT ANSWER.

a. You (may/must) eat three nutritious meals a day if you want to be

healthy.

b. We in France this summer. (Would/ could) we spend a few days

with you?

c. You (shouldn´t/should) be respectful of the elderly.

d. If you want to have dinner at the restaurant, you (are ableto/ ought
to) book a table in advance.

e. In order to be accepted to university, you (might/have to) have

good marks in your exams.

2. FILL IN THE CORRECT FORM OF THE MODALS FROM

THE LIST BELOW. THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE
CORRECT ANSWER.

Should/ought to/ must/ can/ might/ musn´t/ may

The computer is a wonderful invention, however you ought to use it carefully. In

order to avoid losing documents, you can always save everthing you type. In
addition, you might print out a copy of all important documents. One of the
greatest fears of computer users is a virus. There are certain dates on which
you musn’t turn on your computer for fear of infection. Your computer Should
get a virus if you insert used diskettes, so you must try to avoid doing so.
Moreover, you may want to buy an anti-virus program.

3. CHOOSE THE MOST APPROPIATE SENTENCE.

1. We could have bought the house for less money.

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a. We really should. B. It is a pitty we didn´t

2. I advised him to spend more time on his studies. Now he is sorry he didn´t
listen.
a. He should study more. B. He should have studied more.

3. David would have booked you a ticket.

a. Why didn´t you ask him to? B. Why don´t you ask him to?

4. I am an only child. I am sorry my parents had no more children.

a. My parents should have had more children. B. My parents must have had
more children

5. He didn´t come to our meeting yesterday.

a. He must have had another meeting b. He must have another meeting

4. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORDS.

a. This is top secret. You (mustn´t/don´t have to) tell anybody.

b. Look at those clouds. I think it (must/might) rain soon.

c. Do you have toothache? Don´t you think you (should/have to) go

to the dentist?

d. I would like to talk to you . (May/Would) I call you at home?

e. When she was younger, she (can/could) run much faster.

f. It was very difficult, but Danny (might/ was able to) get a ticket for
the football match

5. CHOOSE THE MOST APPROPIATE SENTENCE TO

FOLLOW EACH EXAMPLE

1. We could have gone to see a film.

a. What a pity we didn´t go b. Why don´t we go?

2. I should have studied for the exam

a. I knew all the answers b. I didn´t know any of the
answers

3. He still hasn´t arrived

a. He must take the wrong turning b. He must have taken the wrong
turning

4. You could have helped her when she asked you to.
a. Why don´t you? b.. Why didn´t you?

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5. Believe me, I would have visited her
a. I just didn´t have the time b. I just won´t have the time

6. CHOOSE THE CORRECT OPTION.

A. When David was three years old he could write his own name.
1. must 2. could 3. is able to

B. In my opinion, Sheila should apologise for her rude behaviour.

1. should 2. have to 3. can

C: Pupils musn’t smoke in the school grounds. It is forbidden.

1. couldn´t 2. needn´t 3. musn´t

D. The bus can be late because of the heavy rain.

1. should 2. might 3. can

E. I´m sorry, I can’t help you. I don´t know anything about cars.
1. shouldn´t 2. can´t 3. needn´t

7. FILL IN THE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE FORM OF “SHOULD

HAVE, MUST HAVE OR COULD HAVE” TOGETHER WITH
THE VERB IN BRACKETS

Jim Kelly loves camping.He remembers an early camping experience. “We

packed up to leave at 5.00. We must have to stay(stay) longer because it
was so cold. We picked up all the litter carefully, but we should pay(pay)
more attention to our fire. We couldn’t leave(leave) the forest without
checking that the fire was out. We must be notice(notice) that the fire was
still burning.
One of the campers looked back and saw leaves burning near the campfire.
The wind shouldn’t blow (blow) the leaves onto the fire. We rushed back
and threw water onto the flames. We were lucky that we saw the burning
leaves. It could easily cause(easily cause) a disaster.”

8. CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER:

1. It was wrong of Dan not to warn us about the danger.

Dan could have/must have warned us.

2. There was absolutely no reason for them to come late.

They shouldn´t have/should have come on time.

3. I´m sure that I told you what happened.

I might have/must have told you what happened.

4. It´s possible that she left her sweater on the bus.

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 She must have/may have left her sweater on the bus.

5. Someone may have told him the bad news.

He ought to have/might have heard the bad news.

9. CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER.

1. Ron doesn´t feel well. He ___________ see a doctor.

a. should b. had to c. ought to

2. When the children were young, they ________ speak English.

Unfortunately, they don´t remember any of it.
a. must b. could c. might

3. It ________ rain tomorrow. Take umbrellas and raincoats with you on

your trip.
a. can´t b. may c. must

4. I ______ speak four languages. My parents taught me all four.

a. can b. need c. should

5. Although I broke my finger, I __________sign my name.

a. was able to b. have to c. couldn´t

6. You ________ review the work done in class or you will forget it.
a. should b. may c. needn´t

7. you __________eat so quickly. You will get a stomach-ache.

a. can´t b. doesn´t have to c. shouldn´t

8. As a child, he _________ dance like a professional.

a. can b. could c. is able to

10. FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH MUST, MUSTN´T, HAD

TO, NEEDN´T.

a. You mustn’t throw things out of the car window.

b. You needn’t hurry; we have got plenty of time

c. The doctor says she needn’t stop smoking

d. He forgot his hat, so he must run back home to get it.

e. You must go shopping right now; You can go later.

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f. The matter is very important; you must allow me to see the
manager right away.