MODALS
MODALS
MODALS
May Past unreal We may have passed the math exam, but
have possibility it was in Spanish.
Past unreal
Might You might have sold the car., if you really
small
have needed the Money.
probability
¿CÓMO SE USAN?
Dependiendo de lo que queramos expresar, usaremos unos modales u otros. Vamos a verlos
divididos en función de la intención de cada oración.
OBLIGATION: Para expresar obligación en pasado utilizamos la estructura con ‘had to’, que es
la forma de pasado de ‘must’ y ‘have to’.
NECESSITY: La forma ‘needed to’ seguido de infinitivo se usa para expresar que era necesario
hacer algo.
ADVISABILITY: El modal 'should have' (también ‘ought to have’) se utiliza para mostrar una
queja o para indicar que no se han cumplido tus expectativas.
SPECULATION: Podemos utilizar varios modales para especular sobre eventos en pasado.
MAY / MIGHT / COULD: Utilizamos los modales perfectos ‘may have’, ‘might have’ y
‘could have’ para hacer una suposición sobre algo que tuvo lugar en el pasado,
expresando que es posible que haya ocurrido.
Él puede haber visitado a su familia.
He may have visited his family.
* Utilizamos ‘may not have’ y ‘might not have’ si crees que es posible que algo no
haya ocurrido (I.e. He might not have visisted his family).
CAN’T HAVE / COULD’T HAVE: Utilizamos la forma negativa de can y could para
expresar que estás bastante seguro que algo no tuvo lugar.
MUST HAVE / CAN’T HAVE: El modal 'must have' y ‘can’t have’ se usan para hacer un
comentario sobre el pasado basado en algo evidente.
ADVISABILITY: El modal 'should have' (también ‘ought to have’) se utiliza para expresar lo que
es correcto, aconsejable o moral hacer en una situación en pasado.
OTROS USOS: Podemos utilizar ‘might have’ y ‘could have’ para criticar a alguien por no hacer
algo.
● Es importante que recuerdes las formas de cada uno de los modales simples y modales
perfectos.
● Recuerda que en la mayoría de los casos el significado es el mismo en español y en
inglés, por lo que puedes guiarte para formar tus frases.
● Además, ten en cuenta que usamos el participio de los verbos, que en el caso de ser
verbos irregulares debes conocer su forma para usarlos correctamente.
Advice You should see a doctor. You should have seen a doctor
Possibility It may / can / could / might rain. I guess it may / can / could /
It's cloudy. might have been Lacy on the
phone.
Lack of You don't have to / needn't buy You didn't have to / didn't need
necessity any tomatoes. There are plenty in to buy tomatoes.
the fridge.
She the door. She got her finger stuck and hurt it badly. Should have
slammed / Should not have slammed
She me. I would have picked her up immediately. Should have called /
Should not have called
As their close friends, they us to the wedding, instead they decided to only
invite family. (Could have invited/ Could not have invited).
I can’t find my wallet anywhere. I in in the car. I’ll go and check. (Could
have left / Could not have left).
We to study more, had we not been in bed with the flu. We wasted a week
of studying. (Would have been able / Would not have been able).
We to arrive on time anyway. (Would have been able / Would have been
able).
They another route. But I’m not sure. (May have taken / May not have
taken).
He getting fired. The mistake he made wasn’t that serious. (May have
avoided / May not have avoided).
You went to Moscow in February? It SHOULD have been cold!
You went to Moscow in February? It SHOULD have been cold!
must
could
can
It MUST not have been the best cake you ever made, but it was still pretty
good.
should
may
can