Un modal verb, tambin llamado modal auxiliary verb o modal auxiliary, se usa para expresar el modo de una frase:
posibilidad /probabilidad (likelihood), capacidad/aptitud (ability), permiso (permission) y obligacin (obligation). En espaol, por ejemplo, no necesitamos estos verbos modales o auxiliares porque tenemos tiempos verbales o modos especficos para expresar estas misma ideas (el condicional, el subjuntivo, el imperativo). Hay 10 modal verbs en ingls. Estos verbos funcionan de manera distinta a los verbos normales y son usados delante de otros verbos, en coletillas interrogativas (tags) y respuestas cortas. Los modal verbs son verbos auxiliares y son los rebeldes sin causa. se saltan algunas normas: 1. no cogen la -S en la tercera persona del singular del presente simple; 2. normalmente usan NOT para la forma negativa; 3. muchos de ellos no existen en el pasado o en el futuro. Los 10 modal verbs son:
May Might Can Could Will Would Shall Should Ought to* Must
* Ought to es un verbo muy formal. Normalmente se prefiere el uso de Shall o Should en su lugar.
Veamos las reglas gramaticales aplicadas a los modals y as entender porqu son tan especiales: Los modal verbs no siguen las normas de los verbos normales. No tienen pasado ni futuro y no toman la -s de la tercera persona del singular en le presente simple. She can sing She cans sing.
Cuando hablamos del pasado o del futuro, se usa otro verbo con un significado similar al del modal. Por ejemplo, She must leave se dira she had to leave en el pasado y she will have to leave en el futuro. Tambin es posible usar have despus del modal para cambiar el tiempo vierbal. As pues, I should eat some lunch se dira I should have eaten some lunch. Fjate que en este caso, el verbo principal se usa en el past participle. Can y could actan como pareja, y una frase que use can en el presente, usar could en el pasado. I cant find my wallet > I couldnt find my wallet.
Para hacer la forma negativa, siempre hay que aadir NOT al modal. I shouldnt eat chocolate I dont should eat chocolate.
Tambin, todos los modales van seguidos del infinitivo del verbo principal sin to. (a excepcin del modal ought, que requiere to). I could dance I could to dance.
Como ya he dicho ms arriba, los modales tambin se pueden usar para formular coletillas interrogativas (el tpico , no? al final de una frase) conocidas como question tags en ingls. Tambin se usan para dar respuestas cortas a las coletillas interrogativas. En este caso, usamos el mismo modal.
Echa un vistazo a estos ejemplos: Examples: You cant pass me the salt, can you? Yes I can. You wouldnt let me down, would you? No I wouldnt. Cada modal tiene una funcin diferente en una frase. En esta tabla puedes ver la funcin que cada modal puede desempear: Modal May Example Function May I go to the conference? Asking for permission. I may be able to help you with your Future possibility. project tomorrow. We might be interrupting their lunch. Present possibility. They might make us an offer. Future possibility. They can fix the problem. Ability. They cant fix the problem. Inability. Can I have a cup of coffee? Request Can I smoke in here? Asking for permission. Could you help me? Request. Could I take tomorrow off? Asking for permission. We could try unplugging it? Suggestion. I could come to LA next month. Future possibility. I left London, so I could get a job here. Ability in the past. Ill give you a call on Monday. Promise. Ill take these figures with me. Instant decision. Well book your tickets if you like. Offer. We will see an increase in salaries next Certain prediction. year. Would you mind if I opened a window? Asking for permission. Would you make me a coffee? Request. Would you be available at 6pm tonight? Making arrangements. Would you like to go out some time? Invitation. Would you prefer the window seat or the Preferences. aisle? Shall I get the phone? Or will you? Asking what to do. Shall I call a cab? Offer. Shall we say 10pm at Roxys then? Suggestion. You should see a doctor, you dont look Advice. well. We should get a specialist. Recommending action. Salaries should go up next year. Uncertain prediction. You ought to go to the dentist before Advice. you leave. I must leave now to catch my train. Obligation/ Necessity You mustnt ask too many questions. Prohibition.
Might Can
Could
Will
Would
Shall
Should
Ought to Must
Ejemplo de funcin modal Que Puedo ir a la conferencia? Pedir permiso. Puedo ser capaz de ayudarle con su proyecto de futuro. Posibilidad de futuro. Podramos podra interrumpir su almuerzo. Posibilidad presente. Puede ser que nos haga una oferta. Posibilidad de futuro. Pueden puede solucionar el problema. Capacidad. Ellos no pueden solucionar el problema. Incapacidad. Puedo tomar una taza de caf? solicitar Se puede fumar aqu? Pedir permiso. Podra Podra usted ayudarme? Solicitud. Podra tener el da libre maana? Pedir permiso. Podramos intentar desconectarlo? Sugerencia. Yo podra venir a Los Angeles el prximo mes. Posibilidad de futuro. Sal de Londres, as que podra conseguir un trabajo aqu. Capacidad en el pasado. Me voy a dar una llamada el lunes. Promesa. Voy a tomar estas cifras con m. Decisin inmediata. Nos encargaremos de gestionarle sus entradas, si quieres. Oferta. Vamos a ver un aumento en los sueldos el prximo ao. La prediccin de que los dominios. Ojal Le importa si me abri una ventana? Pedir permiso. Me hacen un caf? Solicitud. Estara disponible a las 6 pm esta noche? Hacer los arreglos. Le gusta salir alguna vez? Invitacin. Prefiere el asiento de la ventana o pasillo? Preferencias. Ser Debo conseguir el telfono? O quieres? Preguntar qu hacer. Debo llamar a un taxi? Oferta. Diremos 22:00 en el Roxy, entonces? Sugerencia. En caso de que Usted debe ver a un mdico, que no se ven bien. Consejos. Debemos conseguir un especialista. Recomendacin de la accin. Los salarios deberan subir el ao prximo. Predicciones inciertas. Debe Usted debe ir al dentista antes de salir. Consejos. Tengo que ir ya para coger mi tren. Obligacin / necesidad Usted no debe hacer demasiadas preguntas. Prohibicin.
Consejo Lingstico: Los verbos modales de posibilidad los usamos normalmente para suavizar una frase. Por ejemplo, si tuvieras que decirle a tu jefe que el proyecto no ser acabado a tiempo, entonces usaras el modal may o might ya que son ms ambiguos. Por ejemplo: We may not be able to complete the project on time. En lugar de: We cant finish the project on time. Esto se debe a la tendencia a ser indirectos en ingls. Ser muy directo en ingls se puede tomar como brusco y maleducado.
Y ahora. vamos a practicar con algunos ejercicios. Recuerda que puedes encontrar las soluciones al final del artculo. Activity 1. Put the modal verb in its correct form, combined with the verb in brackets, to make deductions. The first one has been done for you. There is a lot of mail in the mailbox. 1. They cant have got up yet. 2. They______ (be) on holiday. 3. They________ (have) a lot of magazine subscriptions. He has a stain on his suit 1. He______ (have) noticed it. 2. He______ (have) had time to clean it. 3. It_____ (have) just happened.
Activity 2. Put the correct modal verb in the space in its positive or negative form. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. She had a lot of energy, she_______surf all day, dance all night. All noise________be kept to a minimum after 11pm. _______you like me to close the window? You look cold! I_______ take that bag for you, if you like. You really_________see the doctor regarding your ill health. ______I show you to your room? _____ you pass me the butter please? We_______ be able to finish the project on time.
9. _______I take tomorrow off? Its my birthday. 10. You really_______ touch that, you might hurt yourself.
Activity 3. Use modal verbs to follow the instructions of these commands. 1. Ask to take a holiday next month. 2. Ask for the salt. 3. Ask if it is possible for you to switch the light on. 4. State that you possibly have time to help with the move tomorrow. 5. State that it is possible that taxes will increase next year. 6. State that it is possible you are able to pick up someone from the airport. 7. State that there is a slight possibility that sales figures will increase next year. 8. State that you are certain sales figures will increase next year. 9. State that you are able to fix the computer. 10. State that you are unable to fix the DVD player. 11. State that you left your old job to be able to work here. 12. Ask for a glass of wine. 13. Request that someone make you a cup of tea. 14. Offer to call Mr Bartlett now. 15. Invite someone out to dinner. 16. Suggest that you meet at 9pm. 17. Advise someone to see a dentist. 18. State it is necessary that you leave now. 19. State that you are prohibited from speaking, unless spoken to.
Respuestas: Activity 1 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. They cant have got up yet. They must be on holiday. They might have a lot of magazine subscriptions. He mustnt have noticed it. He might not have had time to clean it. It may have just happened.
Activity 2 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. She had a lot of energy; she could surf all day, dance all night. All noise should be kept to a minimum after 11pm. Would you like me to close the window? You look cold! Ill take that bag for you, if you like. You really ought to see the doctor regarding your ill health. Shall I show you to your room?
7. Can you pass me the butter please? 8. We may not be able to finish the project on time. 9. Could I take tomorrow off? Its my birthday. 10. You really shouldnt touch that, you might hurt yourself.
Activity 3 1. Could/May I take a holiday next month? 2. Can/Could you pass me the salt? 3. Would you mind if I switched the light on? 4. I may/might have time to help you with the move tomorrow. 5. There might/may be an increase in taxes next year. 6. I could come and pick you up at the airport. 7. Sales figures should increase next year. 8. Sales figures will increase next year. 9. I can fix the computer. 10. I cant fix the DVD player. 11. I left my old job so that I could work here. 12. Can/Could I have a glass of wine? 13. Would you make me a cup of tea? 14. Shall I call Mr Bartlett now? Ill call Mr Bartlett now if you like? 15. Would you like to come out to dinner with me? 16. Shall we say 9pm? 17. You really should/ ought to see a dentist. 18. I really must leave/be going now. 19. You mustnt speak, unless spoken to.
