Modal verbs show if we believe something is certain, probable or possible

(or not). We also use modals to talk about ability, asking permission
making requests and offers.

TERMS
• auxiliary verb
Auxiliary verbs help form tenses, voices, and moods. “Have” is auxiliary in Perfect tenses
(has done), “be” is auxiliary in Passive Voice (is done); “do” is auxiliary in questions and
negatives in the present (Do you know? / I don’t know), for example.

• infinitive
The Infinitive is the basic form of the verb, without connection to a subject (singular or
plural), nor a tense (past, present, future). To BE, to DO, to WRITE, are examples of
infinitives. We can use them with or without “TO” > infinitive: TO DO or DO / TO WRITE or
WRITE, etc.

• modal verb
A modal verb is an auxiliary that expresses functions or intentions (modality).

Read these quotes from famous people.

*quotes: citas / frases célebres

“It may have happened, it may “The best and most beautiful things
not have happened, but it could in the world cannot be seen or even
have happened.” touched - they must be felt with the
― Mark Twain heart.” ― Helen Keller

Pudo haber pasado, pudo no haber pasado; pero Las mejoras y más bellas cosas del mundo no pueden
podría haber pasado. verse; deben sentirse con el corazón.

“Waste no more time arguing about “It is not the beauty of a building you
what a good man should be. Be should look at; it’s the construction
one.” ― Marcus Aurelius of the foundation that will stand the
test of time.” ― David Allan Coe
No pierda más tiempo discutiendo sobre como No es la belleza de un edificio lo que debería mirar; es
debería ser un hombre. Sea uno. la construcción de los cimientos lo que pasará la prueba
del tiempo.
Modal Verbs
Look at these examples:

• “It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; it’s the construction of the
foundation that will stand the test of time.”

Should and will are examples of Modal Verbs.

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs, so they cannot stand alone - they always accompany
the main verb. Modals give the main verb a modality; they express ability, possibility,
obligation, and others.

• Look (ver) • Should look (debería ver)

(main verb: LOOK) (modal verb: SHOULD) (main verb: LOOK)

• Stand (soportar / pasar) • Will stand (soportará / pasará)

(main verb: STAND) (modal verb: WILL) (main verb: STAND)

• Modal verbs don’t change with the person:

She reads. (Third person singular) BUT She can read. (no “S” at the end of the verb)

• Modal verbs are always followed by the base form of the verb:

She could write at the age of 3. NOT “She could wrote at the age of 3”.

• Modal verbs don’t have a past or future form:

She can write very well. (present) NOT “She canned write” or “She canned wrote”

• We can use other modal verbs to express Past or Future:

She could write very well (past) She will be able to write very well. (future)

• Modal verbs have a NEGATIVE form:

o She cannot / can’t sing.
o She could not / couldn’t sing.
o She will not be able to sing.

Person Modal verb “NOT” Contraction Main verb (base form – sin conjugar)

She can not (can’t) sing.

He could not (couldn’t) write.

They will not (won’t) read.

 List of Modal Verbs
Below is a list with the most common modal verbs:

Modal Verb- Uses Examples

Negative
form-
Contraction
CAN *Ability / Inability I can/can’t sing. (Yo puedo/no puedo cantar.)
CANNOT
CAN’T *Request Can you call me later? (¿Puede llamarme más tarde?)

*Permission Can I sit here? (¿Puedo sentarme aquí?)

COULD *Ability / Inability He could/couldn’t read at the age of 3. (Él podía/no podía leer a la
COULD NOT / (Past of CAN) edad de 3 años.)
COULDN’T *Polite Request Could you please call me later? (¿Podría llamarme más tarde, por
favor?)
*Polite Permission Could I sit next to you, madam? (¿Podría sentarme a su lado, señora?

MAY *Possibility It may rain tomorrow. (Podría llover mañana.)

MAY NOT
(no contraction) *Formal May I have another cup of coffee, please? (¿Podría tomar otra taza de
permission café, por favor?)
MIGHT *Probability The meeting might be postponed; the CEO is sick. (Puede ser que se
MIGHT NOT posponga la reunión; el director está enfermo.)
MIGHTN’T

MUST *Obligation You must arrive to work on time. (Deben llegar al trabajo en horario.)
MUST NOT
MUSTN’T *Prohibition Workers mustn’t leave the workplace without permission. (Los
empleados no deben dejar su lugar de trabajo sin permiso.)
SHOULD *Suggestion I think we should check everything again. (Creo que deberíamos
SHOULD NOT revisar todo otra vez. - sugerencia)
SHOULDN’T *Advice You should check your posture when using the computer. (Deberías
revisar tu postura al usar la computadora. - consejo)
WOULD *Invitations Would you like to come to the party? (¿Te gustaría venir a la fiesta?)
WOULD NOT *Requests
WOULDN’T *Preferences I would like a cup of tea, please. (Quisiera una taza de té, por favor.)

Past of WILL I tough It would rain yesterday, but it didn’t. (Pensé que llovería/iba a
llover ayer, pero no fue así.)
Questions and Negatives with modal verbs

Modal verbs are auxiliaries; we use them to from the Negative and Interrogative sentences:

Questions:
Question Modal Subject Main Rest of the sentence
word verb (person) verb

What CAN I DO to make you happy?

What can I do to make you happy?
(¿Qué puedo hacer para hacerte feliz?)

Where WOULD you LIKE to go on vacation?

Where would you like to go on
vacation?
(¿A dónde te gustaría ir de vacaciones?)

How SHOULD we DRESS for the networking event?

How should we dress for the
networking event?
(¿Cómo deberíamos vestirnos para el evento?)

When COULD I TAKE a day off this week?

When could I take a day off this week?
(¿Cuándo podría tomarme un franco esta
semana?)

Why MUST employees ARRIVE early?

Why must employees arrive early?
(¿Por qué deben llegar temprano los
empleados?)

Who MIGHT you COME with to the party?

Who might you come with to the
party?
(¿Con quién vendrías a la fiesta?)
 Negatives

Subject Modal Negative - Main Examples

(person) verb Contraction verb

I CAN NOT - DO I cannot / can’t do this; it impossible.

CAN’T
(No puedo hacerlo; es imposible.)

WE WOULD NOT - LIKE We would not / wouldn’t like to go to

WOULDN’T the beach.
(No nos gustaría ir a la playa.)

WE SHOULD NOT - DRESS We should not / shouldn’t dress

SHOULDN’T casually for this event.
(No deberíamos vestirnos de manera informal
para el evento.)
HE COULD NOT - TAKE He could not / couldn’t take a day off
COULDN’T last week; he had to work every day.
(No pudo tomarse un franco esta semana; tuvo
que trabajar todos los días.)
EMPLOYEES MUST NOT - ARRIVE Employees mustn’t arrive late.
MUSTN’T
(Los empleados no deben llegar tarde.)

MARY MIGHT NOT - COME Mary mightn’t come to the party.

MIGHTN’T
(María podría no venir a la fiesta.)

Tenses with Modal Verbs

Modal verbs do not have past or future form; we can use modal phrases to talk
about modality in different tenses:

Modal verb: Similar expression Uses

CAN BE ALLOWED TO Permission
CAN’T NOT BE ALLOWED TO
Present example Past example Future example
We can park here. We were not allowed to park We will be allowed to park
there. here.
Modal verb: Similar expression Uses
CAN BE ABLE TO Ability / inability
CAN’T (NOT) BE ABLE TO
Present example Past example Future example
I can swim. I was able to swim at a young I will be able to swim after my
age. swimming lessons.

Modal verb: Similar expression Uses

MUST HAVE TO Obligation

Present example Past example Future example

You must study. You had to study yesterday. You will have to study
tomorrow.

Further reading and practice for Modal Verbs:

(At the bottom of the webpage, you will find auto-corrected exercises)
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/330-modals-ability.htm

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/330-modals-necessity.htm

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/330-modals-not.htm

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/330-modals-polite.htm

References:
• Murphy, R. (1998). Grammar in Use - Reference and Practice for Intermediate Students
of English. Cambridge, Reino Unido: Cambridge University Press.
Units 25, 29, 30, 31, 32.