Modal verbs

Can / Could

My father can speak Italian.

I can't ride a bike.

John could read and write before he was four.

Anna couldn't swim when she was a child.

• We use can to ask for permission to do something in informal contexts:

• - Can I open the window, please?

  -Yes, you can! go ahead!

• -Mom, can we go to McDonald's this weekend?

  -No, we can't we are going to your uncle's house

• Excuse me, could I close the window?

• Could you tell me what time is it?

-May I borrow your pen?

-Yes, you may. Here it is!

• Se utiliza para expresar algo que deberíamos hacer, esperar, etc. en un tiempo futuro. Su traducción dependerá mucho del contexto y del verbo. 

• You will find it. Lo encontrarás.

• We will listen to the next time.Vamos a escuchar la siguiente vez.

• Will you marry me?¿Te casarías conmigo?

Might / May: can be used interchangeably to talk about possibility. May is often more possible than might.

It might rain later today, so I’m going to take my umbrella.

- Oh, no! My car won’t start. What’s wrong with it?

- It may be out of gas.

• Se traduce de múltiples formas para disponer o comentar sobre una conducta recurrente en el pasado, y pedir que alguien realice una acción.

• Would you please close our windows?¿Podrías por favor cerrar nuestras ventanas?

• When I was in Spain, I would speak Spanish. Cuando estaba en España, hablaba español.

• I would like you to know the truth. Me gustaría que supieras la verdad.

I can help you if you want me to.

It can't be snowing! It's March!

- Where did Rob and Kim go on holiday?

- They could have flown to Poland.

• Should/ ought to are used to give advice or an opinion about what we think is right or wrong. Ought to has the same meaning as should, although it is more formal and not as common.

  - You ought to go to a therapist. - You ought not to be so strict with your daughter

  - I think schools shouldn’t offer soft drinks to their students. - You look tired. You should go to bed.

• You should do something = it is a good thing to do or the right thing to do.

• You shouldn’t do something = it isn’t a good thing to do:

  You shouldn’t believe everything you read in newspapers.

I’d better do something = it is advisable to do it. If I don’t do it, there will be a problem or a danger:

-We’d better stop for petrol soon. The tank is almost empty.

The negative is I’d better not

We use "must" and "have to" to talk about things that are necessary.

I must phone my brother to congratulate him on his new job.

I have to finish this project before its due date.

​

​

We often use "must" to describe obligations we give ourselves, but "have to" is more common to describe obligations other people, laws or authorities put on us.

I really must clean my desk, I can't find anything. (it is my decision)

My boss says I have to clean my desk. (Someone else's decision)

WE DON'T USE MUST WITH QUESTIONS-WE USE HAVE TO

We use "mustn't" to talk about things that are prohibited.

You mustn't ask questions during the presentation.

We use "don't have to" to say that something is not necessary.

I don't have to wear a uniform at the weekends.

It's a necessity.

It's a necessity.

needn't = don't need to

• If need follows by "verb" (wear), we add "to" after need.

​

​

​