MODAL VERBS REVIEW
MODAL VERB MEANING USES EXAMPLES
MUST deber 1. general laws (signs) ● You must use a mask here.
2. internal obligation(you ● I must visit my grandma
think it is important for
you) ● You must/have to watch this
3. a strong film
recommendation
NOT QUESTION
MUSTN’T no deber prohibition ● You mustn’t drive without
the seatbelt
HAVE TO/HAS TO tener que 1. It is necessary ● I have to visit my grandma.
2. external obligation
DO YOU HAVE TO…? (smaller rules) ● She has to do a project for
DOES HE HAVE 3. MORE COMMON IN Maths.(it’s the teacher who
TO…? QUESTIONS obligues her)
● Do you have to keep the
distance at school?
DON’T HAVE no tener que It is NOT necessary ● You don’t have to/don’t
TO/DOESN’T need to bring your dictionary.
There are some at school.
HAVE TO ○
● She doesn’t need to/have to
NEED TO/ go to class next Monday. It is
DON’T/DOESN’T a holiday.
NEED TO
SHOULD/ debería 1. advice ● You should study harder.
SHOULDN’T no debería 2. light ● You shouldn’t smoke so
recommendation much.
CAN/CAN’T poder /saber Ability ● I can speak 5 languages
no poder/ no permission ● She can’t run 100 km
saber ● I can’t use the phone in class.
COULD/ podía/sabía Ability in the past ● When I was a child, I could
COULDN’T no podía/ no ride a bike.
sabía
MUST debe 100% SURE ● This must be John.
MAY puede que ● This may be John.
podría… 50% possibility ● This might be John. I’m not
MIGHT sure.
MAY NOT puede que no 25%possibility ● This can’t be John. He is in
MIGHT NOT no podría… Madrid now.
CAN’T 0% impossible
, MODAL VERBS PAST AND FUTURE
present: am/is/are ser capaz de I am able to read and listen to music at the
able to same time.
Puedo, soy capaz de leer…
past: was/were able podía, pude/era She wasn’t able to find my web.
BE ABLE TO to capaz de Ella no pudo/fue capaz de…
ability
future:will be able to podré Will you be able to come to my party next
make an effort to seré capaz de week?
get something ¿Podrás venir a mi fiesta…?
present: must/have to deber ● I must help my mother, she is ill.
● Does he have to use my phone?(IN
QUESTION: HAVE TO IS MORE
COMMON)
MUST past: had to debí/tuve que He had to solve the problem by himself.
obligation
future:will have to deberé /tendré If you don’t finish your homework, you will
que have to do it this weekend.
1. Rewrite the sentences using a modal of obligation, prohibition, recommendation.
1. It is necessary to look in both directions before crossing the street.
You
2. I think learning French is going to be important for you.
You
3. Going to the bathroom is not allowed.
You
4. It is not necessary to wear a uniform.
You
5. It is really important that you get some sleep. You’ve been working for hours.
You
6. It is completely forbidden(PROHIBITED) to eat in this restaurant without the Covid
passport.
You
7. Why don't you forget about it? This is my recommendation.
You…
8. You will really enjoy this film!Watch it!
MODAL VERB MEANING USES EXAMPLES
MUST deber 1. general laws (signs) ● You must use a mask here.
2. internal obligation(you ● I must visit my grandma
think it is important for
you) ● You must/have to watch this
3. a strong film
recommendation
NOT QUESTION
MUSTN’T no deber prohibition ● You mustn’t drive without
the seatbelt
HAVE TO/HAS TO tener que 1. It is necessary ● I have to visit my grandma.
2. external obligation
DO YOU HAVE TO…? (smaller rules) ● She has to do a project for
DOES HE HAVE 3. MORE COMMON IN Maths.(it’s the teacher who
TO…? QUESTIONS obligues her)
● Do you have to keep the
distance at school?
DON’T HAVE no tener que It is NOT necessary ● You don’t have to/don’t
TO/DOESN’T need to bring your dictionary.
There are some at school.
HAVE TO ○
● She doesn’t need to/have to
NEED TO/ go to class next Monday. It is
DON’T/DOESN’T a holiday.
NEED TO
SHOULD/ debería 1. advice ● You should study harder.
SHOULDN’T no debería 2. light ● You shouldn’t smoke so
recommendation much.
CAN/CAN’T poder /saber Ability ● I can speak 5 languages
no poder/ no permission ● She can’t run 100 km
saber ● I can’t use the phone in class.
COULD/ podía/sabía Ability in the past ● When I was a child, I could
COULDN’T no podía/ no ride a bike.
sabía
MUST debe 100% SURE ● This must be John.
MAY puede que ● This may be John.
podría… 50% possibility ● This might be John. I’m not
MIGHT sure.
MAY NOT puede que no 25%possibility ● This can’t be John. He is in
MIGHT NOT no podría… Madrid now.
CAN’T 0% impossible
, MODAL VERBS PAST AND FUTURE
present: am/is/are ser capaz de I am able to read and listen to music at the
able to same time.
Puedo, soy capaz de leer…
past: was/were able podía, pude/era She wasn’t able to find my web.
BE ABLE TO to capaz de Ella no pudo/fue capaz de…
ability
future:will be able to podré Will you be able to come to my party next
make an effort to seré capaz de week?
get something ¿Podrás venir a mi fiesta…?
present: must/have to deber ● I must help my mother, she is ill.
● Does he have to use my phone?(IN
QUESTION: HAVE TO IS MORE
COMMON)
MUST past: had to debí/tuve que He had to solve the problem by himself.
obligation
future:will have to deberé /tendré If you don’t finish your homework, you will
que have to do it this weekend.
1. Rewrite the sentences using a modal of obligation, prohibition, recommendation.
1. It is necessary to look in both directions before crossing the street.
You
2. I think learning French is going to be important for you.
You
3. Going to the bathroom is not allowed.
You
4. It is not necessary to wear a uniform.
You
5. It is really important that you get some sleep. You’ve been working for hours.
You
6. It is completely forbidden(PROHIBITED) to eat in this restaurant without the Covid
passport.
You
7. Why don't you forget about it? This is my recommendation.
You…
8. You will really enjoy this film!Watch it!
