Verbos modales

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
We couldn't leave the farm.
should not -> shouldn't
You shouldn't talk like that.
must not -> mustn't
You mustn't talk about Ron like that.
would not -> wouldn't
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
Prohibición
Obligación
Ausencia
de obligación
mustn't
You mustn't run
in the corridor
must
You must be here
on time
needn't
You needn't come
tomorrow
can't
You can't use your
dictionary in the
exam
have (got) to
You have to wear
a uniform
You've got to be
quiet.
don't have to
You don't have to
buy it
may not
You may not use
your mobile phone
here
should
You should bring
your book
haven't got to
I haven't got to
do any homework
shall not
You shall not
leave without
permission
ought to
It's very cold. You
ought to take a
coat
didn't need to
I didn't need to
take the bus
because it was
just across the
road.
Permiso
can
You can use your
book
may
May I use your
car?
could
Could I take
another biscuit?
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
Capacidad
Posibilidad o
probabilidad
Certeza
Deducciones
can
I can speak
French
can
The temperature
in Jaén can reach
40ºC in July
will
Most of you will
have heard of this.
must
You must be
Tom's father.
could
When I was
younger I could
play tennis quite
well.
could
They could be
friends
would
You would agree
that changes
must be done
can't
She can't have left
the party.
be able to
- I'll be able to
finish it on time.
- We were able to
talk to the
headteacher. (We
actually talked to
her)
may
It may rain
should
She should be sad
living in Great
Britain
must have + past
participle
She must have
forgotten
might
It might be true
shall
We shall be
leaving as soon as
we are ready.
can't have + past
participle
She can't have
finished yet
may have + past
participle
She may have
forgotten it
must have + past
participle
I must have left
my credit card in
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
Peticiones
Ofrecimientos
Sugerencias y
consejos
Deseos
can
Can you help me?
can
Can I help you?
should
You should ask
your teacher
would
I would like to
know the answer.
could
Could I interrupt
you?
may
May I help you?
ought to
She ought to be
more careful
would rather
I would rather
have left
will
Will you open the
window, please?
shall
Shall I close the
door?
could
We could go to
the cinema.
would sooner
I'd sooner walk
than go by bus
would you mind if
Would you mind
If I used your car?
will
Will you have a
cup of tea?
should have + past
participle
She ought to have
finished it.
would you mind +
V-ing
Would you mind
bringing some
bread?
would
Would you like a
drink?
shall
Shall we meet
outside the bank?
should
Should I phone for
a taxi for you?
can
You can take a
taxi if you are
tired
might
You might like to
come with us
had better
You'd better leave
now (we might
have a quarrel)
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