Basic modals
Los verbos modales (can, could, should, must, may, might) añaden una actitud al verbo: capacidad, permiso, consejo, obligación o posibilidad. Elegir un modal es elegir un significado. Aquí trabajas los modales básicos por su significado.
Aprendizaje rápido
Los modales añaden una actitud al verbo: capacidad, permiso, consejo, obligación o posibilidad. Elegir uno es elegir un significado.
Recuerda
- can y could para capacidad y permiso.
- should para consejo; must y have to para obligación.
- may y might para una posibilidad de la que el hablante no está seguro.
Ejemplos
- 1Emma can speak three foreign languages fluently and plays the violin.
- 2Could you please close the classroom door so we can hear the audio?
Error común que evitar
must not y don't have to no son variantes, son opuestos: uno prohíbe, el otro libera.
Profundiza
La regla
What modals do
Modal auxiliary verbs modify the meaning of the main verb by expressing ability, possibility, permission, advice, or obligation. The fundamental modal verbs at Level A2 are can, could, should, must, and the semi-modal have to.
Rules every modal follows
Universal Structural Rules for Modals:
(1) Always followed directly by the bare base verb without to (I can swim, NOT I can to swim).
(2) Never add third-person singular -s (he can, she must, NOT he cans).
(3) Invert directly with the subject to form questions without do or does (Can you help me?, Should I call him?).
(4) Negatives add not directly or contract with n't (cannot / can't, shouldn't, mustn't).
Can and could
Functions: Can: Ability ("I can speak Spanish") and permission or requests ("Can I open the window?"). Could: Past ability ("When I was young, I could run fast") or polite requests ("Could you pass the salt, please?").
Should, must and have to
Should: Advice and recommendations.
- You look exhausted; you should sleep
Must: Strong personal obligation or strict official rules.
- Passengers must wear seatbelts
Have to: External necessity or legal obligation.
- In the UK, motorists have to drive on the left
Anatomía de la frase
Frases de esta lección, separadas en sus partes en el orden que exige el inglés.
SujetoEmmaVerbo auxiliarcanVerbospeakObjetothree foreign languagesModofluentlyOraciónand plays the violin.
SujetoAll motor vehicle passengersVerbo auxiliarmustVerbofastenObjetotheir seatbeltsTiempobefore departure.
SujetoVisitorsVerbo auxiliarmustNegaciónnotVerbotakeObjetophotographsLugarinside the historical church sanctuary.
Guía visual
How to read this A2 topic
At A2, the challenge is choosing between similar time frames, pronouns, and quantity patterns.
1. Look for the time clue
Yesterday, now, every day, already, and since often decide the tense.
I watched it yesterday.
2. Choose the pattern first
Pick the whole grammar structure before choosing the final word.
I am going to study.
3. Check word position
Adverbs, objects, and pronouns must sit in natural English order.
I know him well.
Modal verbs
Modals are followed by the base verb. They do not take third-person -s.
| Meaning | Present / future | Past or perfect reference | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ability | can | could / was able to | She can swim. |
| obligation | must / have to | had to | We must leave. |
| advice | should | should have + participle | You should rest. |
| deduction | must / might / can't | must have / might have / can't have | He must be tired. |
Contrasts that often decide the answer
Event or background
Simple forms move events forward; continuous forms show an action in progress.
I left while she was talking.
Fact or stance
Modals, hedges, and reporting structures show how certain or responsible the speaker sounds.
This may indicate a problem.
Clause or compressed phrase
Advanced writing often compresses full clauses into participle, noun, or prepositional phrases.
Having reviewed the data, we revised the plan.
Ejemplos
- 1Emma can speak three foreign languages fluently and plays the violin.
- 2Could you please close the classroom door so we can hear the audio?
- 3You look very tired after the long drive; you should rest for an hour.
- 4All motor vehicle passengers must fasten their seatbelts before departure.
- 5I have to wake up at six o'clock every morning to catch the commuter train.
- 6We cannot process your passport application without your physical signature.
- 7Can I borrow your English dictionary for ten minutes during the exercise?
- 8Visitors must not take photographs inside the historical church sanctuary.
- 9You don't have to wash the dishes tonight because I washed them earlier.
- 10Should we take a warm jacket with us in case the evening turns chilly?
Excepciones
Formal Orthography: Cannot is written as one single undivided word in standard English (cannot, never can not). Critical Contrast between Mustn't and Don't have to: Must not (mustn't) expresses strict prohibition: doing the action is forbidden or dangerous ("You mustn't touch that wire"). Don't have to expresses absence of obligation: the action is optional and unnecessary ("Tomorrow is Sunday, so you don't have to get up early").
Errores frecuentes
Inserting to after modal verbs
Error
You should to drink more water.
Correcto
You should drink more water.
Modals are followed by bare infinitives.
Adding third-person -s to modals
Error
He cans swim very fast.
Correcto
He can swim very fast.
Modals never take -s.
Confusing mustn't and don't have to
Error
You mustn't come if you are sick.
Correcto
You don't have to come if you are sick.
Meaning it is optional.
Repaso
Lo esencial de la lección en una tarjeta, antes de ponerte a prueba.
Recuerda
- can y could para capacidad y permiso.
- should para consejo; must y have to para obligación.
- may y might para una posibilidad de la que el hablante no está seguro.
Errores frecuentes
Error: You should to drink more water.
Correcto: You should drink more water.Error: He cans swim very fast.
Correcto: He can swim very fast.Error: You mustn't come if you are sick.
Correcto: You don't have to come if you are sick.
Ponte a prueba
Agrupa las tarjetas por significado y no por forma, y luego practica este tema.
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