REPHRASING OF MODAL VERBS

Como hay muchas posibilidades, intentaremos dar al menos un ejemplo de transformación con cada una de
las funciones que hemos visto de los modales.

MODALS + SIMPLE INFINITIVES

- ABILITY:
George is very good at tennis. George can play tennis very well.
George used to be very good at tennis. George could play tennis very well.
(be able to para otros tiempos)

- PERMISSION:
Is it permitted to students to use their mobile phone at school?
Are students allowed to use their mobile phones at school? (allowed to puede aparecer en otros tiempos)
Can students use their mobile phones at school?

- POSSIBILITY:
It is possible that Mary comes to the party. Mary may/could/might come to the party.
Maybe/Perhaps Mary comes to the party. (same result)

- CERTAINTY:
I’m sure Sheila doesn’t have a cat. She’s allergic. Sheila can’t have a cat. She’s allergic.
It is sure that driver is drunk. Look how he is driving. That driver must be drunk. Look how…

- ADVICE:
I advice you to tip that waiter/ If I were you, I would tip that waiter (tip=dar propina)
You’d better tip that waiter.
You should tip that waiter.
You ought to tip that waiter.
Este apartado incluye “lo que se debe hacer” y hay una expresión bastante usada:
We should change this old furniture.
It’s time we changed this old furniture. = “ya va siendo hora de que cambiemos…”

- NECESSITY (or the absence of it)

It isn’t necessary for you to pay for this. You needn’t pay for this

- OBLIGATION (or the absence of it)

It is compulsory for drivers to stop at a red light. Drivers have to/ must stop at a red light.

- PROHIBITION
It is prohibited /forbidden to smoke in public places. You mustn’t smoke in public places.

MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES

- CERTAINTY ABOUT THE PAST

It’s impossible that Tom said that. He is very polite. Tom can’t have said that. He’s very polite.
I am convinced that Helen wrote that letter. It’s her handwriting Helen must have written that letter. It’s…

- POSSIBILITY IN THE PAST

It is possible that/perhaps/maybe Bob missed the bus. He’s quite unpunctual.
Bob may/might/could have missed the bus. He’s quite unpunctual.

- A WISH THAT SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT IN THE PAST

I wish I hadn’t been so rude to John. I shouldn’t have been so rude to John.
(Ojalá no hubiera sido tan grosero…)
I regret to have been so rude to John same result
(Lamento…)