lunes, 27 de abril de 2020

MODAL VERBS.


MODAL VERBS.

MODAL
FUNCTION
Example
CAN
(poder-saber)
To show ability
I can play the piano.
Can you speak Chinese? Yes, I can / No, I can’t.
To suggest a possibility or give an option
We can watch a film!
To ask for or to give permission
Can I borrow your car? Yes, you can, / No, you can’t.
CAN’T
(no poder-no saber)
To show lack of ability
He can’t drive.
To show impossibility
We can’t go out during the quarantine.
COULD
(podía-sabía)
To show ability in the past
I could ride a bike when I was five years old.

To show possibility in the past
Could he see his parents last month?  Yes, he could. /No, he couldn’t.
COULDN’T
(no podía-no sabía)
To show lack of ability in the past
My brother couldn’t play the guitar at five.
To show impossibility in the past
We coulndn’t travel to Germany last year. We had to work.
SHOULD
SHOULDN’T
(debería-no debería)
To give advice
You should study every day.
You shouldn’t smoke.

MUST
(deber)
To express obligation
You must obey your parents.
MUSTN’T
(no deber)
To express prohibition
They mustn’t feed the monkeys in the zoo.
HAVE  TO
(tener que)
To express present obligation
You have to do your homework every day.
To express past obligation
We had to study a lot when we were young.
DON’T HAVE TO
DOESN’T HAVE TO
(no es necesario)
To express lack of obligation or necessity
You don’t have to make your bed in a hotel.