MODAL VERBS Los usos más importantes de estos verbos son: Permiso> can/can´t : Can I open the window? / You can leave the room. may/may not: May I stay longer? / You may not play now. Habilidad> can/can´t: She can swim. could/couldn´t: My father could drive at the age of ten. be able to : I won´t be able to go tomorrow. (Para completar los tiempos de can) Posibilidad> can: She can come to the party. may: We may visit our grandparents on Saturday. might: They might not invite us to the party. Imposibilidad> can´t: I can´t go to the party tonight. I´m not feeling well. couldn´t: The light was too bright. I couldn´t open my eyes. Prohibición> mustn´t: You mustn´t smoke in hospitals. Obligación> must: You must go to school. have to, had to, will have to, etc.: You have to drive on the right in Spain. Ausencia de obligación> have to(negativa): You don´t have to buy anything. There´s a lot of food in the fridge. needn´t:You needn´t come back tomorrow. Deducción> must:They must be happy. They´ve won the lottery. can´t: Those can´t be my keys. I´ve got them here. Especulación> could: This book could be Peter´s. He was reading it before. may: She may be still asleep because the room is dark. might: They might have broken the window while I was having a shower. Consejo> should/ought to/had better(´d better):You should/ought to/had better do more physical exercise. Ofrecer ayuda> will:I will carry those bags for you. shall: Shall I open the window? Sugerencias> could: We could have a drink in a pub. shall: What shall we do tonight? Atrevimiento> dare (atreverse a): Dare he tell them what he knows? Peticiones> can: Can I have some more coffee, please? could (polite):Could you tell me the time, please? will: Will you lend me your pen, please? may: May I have your opinion? would: Would you pass me the salt, please? Hábitos y estados en el pasado> used to: I used to eat a lot of soup when I was at school. The weather used to be colder in the past. would: In the summer we would go to the beach every day. ( only with movement verbs) Necesidad> need: Need we go now? I need to find a solution to reduce piracy. Estar acostumbrado a> be used to +ing/sustantivo: I´m used to going to be late. I´m used to difficulties. Acostumbrarse a> get used to +-ing/sustantivo: I can´t get used to the rain. I´ll get used to having lunch earlier in USA. Críticas por algo pasado> could: You could have told us befote. should/ought to: You should have been quiet. Certeza o conclusion lógica acerca del pasado> must + have + past participle: Artists must have lost a lot of Money through piracy. Imposibilidad de que algo ocurriera en el pasado > can´t +have + past participle: They can´t have put him in prisión, I say him the other day. Posibilidad en el pasado> might/may/could+ have+ past participle: She might/may/could have sent me a virus by accident.