Verbos modales http://webs.ono.com/lallena/modalverbs.html Los verbos modales realizan una función similar a la de los verbos auxiliares. Dan información adicional sobre el verbo que los sigue y se utilizan para indicar posibilidad, probabilidad, certeza, deducción, capacidad, consejo, obligación, prohibición, permiso, hacer peticiones, ofrecimientos, sugerencias, etc. Son verbos modales:,, may, might, must, ought to, shall,, will y would. Los verbos modales tienen algunas características que los diferencian de los verbos normales: 1. Los modales van seguidos siempre de un verbo en infinitivo: She must leave in a few minutes. I think it will look rather nice. Things might have been so different. People may be watching. She ought to go straight back to England. My sister 't drive yet. You be right. Shall we go out for a meal tonight? You study harder. Would you finish this for me? 2. Los modales sólo tienen una forma. No añaden '-s' a la tercera persona del singular del presente y no tienen formas acabadas en '- ing' o en '-ed'. Tampoco tienen infinitivo. There's nothing I do about it. I'm sure he do it. 1
3. Los verbos modales no necesitan el auxiliar DO para la forma negativa ni para las preguntas. Para la forma negativa de un modal simplemente añadimos NOT o una palabra negativa inmediatamente detrás del modal. You must not worry. I never remember his name. 'Can + not' se escribe siembre como una palabra, 'not'. I not go back. = I 't go back. En inglés hablado o escrito informal 'not' se contrae en '-n't' y se añade al modal: not -> n't We n't leave the farm. not -> n't You n't talk like that. must not -> mustn't You mustn't talk about Ron like that. would not -> wouldn't I wouldn't do it if I were you. Las siguientes formas contractas son irregulares: shall not -> shan't will not -> won't not -> 't I shan't let you go. Won't you change your mind? We 't stop now. 'Might not' y 'ought not' se contraen a veces en 'mightn't' y 'oughtn't'. Sin embargo, es muy raro que 'may not' aparezca como 'mayn't' en inglés moderno. Para hacer una pregunta, se pone el modal delante del sujeto. Could you give me an example? Will you be coming in later? Shall I shut the door? 4. La mayoría de los verbos modales no se pueden utilizar en tiempos de pasado o futuro. Por ejemplo, no podemos decir *She will 2
come with me. Tampoco es correcto *We musted study a lot. Cuando nos referimos al pasado, utilizamos un modal seguido de 'have' y un participio pasado: They may have seen the film - Puede que hayan visto la película 5. Los modales no indi normalmente el tiempo en que ocurre algo. Sin embargo, 'shall' y 'will' indi a menudo un hecho o una situación futura. I shall do what you suggested. He will not return for many hours. 6. En inglés hablado y en inglés escrito informal, 'shall' y 'will' se utilizan en forma contracta como 'll. 'Would' se contrae en 'd. I'll see you tomorrow. I hope you'll agree. Mary said she'd love to stay. 'Shall', 'will' y 'would' no se contraen cuando van al final de una oración. Paul said he would come, and I hope he will. ATENCIÓN: La forma contracta del auxiliar 'had' es también 'd. I'd heard it many times. = I had heard it many times. 7. 'Could' se utiliza como pasado de '' para expresar habilidad. 'Would' se utiliza en estilo indirecto como reporting verb de 'will' para expresar futuro. When I was young, I run for miles. I will see my mother tomorrow --> He said that he would see his mother the next day. 3
8. Nunca se usan dos modales juntos. Por ejemplo, no se puede decir *"He will come". En su lugar se puede utilizar BE ABLE TO: "He will be able to come". De la misma forma, tampoco podemos decir *"I will must go". Pero podemos utilizar HAVE TO: "I will have to go". 9. Los modales se pueden utilizar en question tags: You won't tell her, will you? She drive, 't she? Prohibición / Obligación / Ausencia de obligación / Permiso Prohibición Obligación Ausencia de obligación Permiso mustn't You mustn't run in the corridor must You must be here on time needn't You needn't come tomorrow You use your book 't You 't use your dictionary in the exam have (got) to You have to wear a uniform You've got to be quiet. don't have to You don't have to buy it may May I use your car? may not You may not use your mobile phone here You bring your book haven't got to I haven't got to do any homework Could I take another biscuit? shall not You shall not leave without permission ought to It's very cold. You ought to take a coat didn't need to I didn't need to take the bus because it was just across the road. needn't have + past You needn't have come (You came although it wasn't necessary) 4
Habilidad o capacidad / Posibilidad o probabilidad / Certeza / Deducciones Habilidad o Capacidad Posibilidad o probabilidad Certeza Deducciones I speak French The temperature in Jaén reach 40ºC in July will Most of you will have heard of this. must You must be Tom's father. When I was younger I play tennis quite well. They be friends would You would agree that changes must be done 't She 't have left the party. be able to - I'll be able to finish it on time. - We were able to talk to the headteacher. (We actually talked to her) may It may rain She be sad living in Great Britain must have + past She must have forgotten might It might be true shall We shall be leaving as soon as we are ready. 't have + past She 't have finished yet may have + past She may have forgotten it must have + past I must have left my credit card in the bookshop (I'm sure I did) might have + past They might have arrived have + past He have killed her 5
Peticiones / Ofrecimientos / Sugerencias y consejos / Deseos Peticiones Ofrecimientos Sugerencias y consejos Deseos Can you help me? Can I help you? You ask your teacher would I would like to know the answer. Could I interrupt you? may May I help you? ought to She ought to be more careful would rather I would rather have left will Will you open the window, please? shall Shall I close the door? We go to the cinema. would sooner I'd sooner walk than go by bus would you mind if Would you mind If I used your car? will Will you have a cup of tea? have + past She ought to have finished it. would you mind + V-ing Would you mind bringing some bread? would Would you like a drink? shall Shall we meet outside the bank? Should I phone for a taxi for you? You take a taxi if you are tired might You might like to come with us had better You'd better leave now (we might have a quarrel) 6