MODAL VERBS

MODAL VERBS

1. OBLIGATION

   • Advice
     • Should/Shouldn’t
       • Recommendations too
     • Ought to/ Ought not to
       • FORMAL
   • Prohibition
     • Mustn’t
   • Lack of obligation
     • Needn’t
       • No hace falta
     • Don’t have to
   • Obligation
     • Must
       • Rules/ Personal obligation
         • No consequences
     • Have to
       • External obligation
         • Consequences
     • Need to
       • Necesidad

2. ABILITY

   • Can
     • Present
     • General ability
   • Could
     • Past
     • General ability
   • Be able to
     • Any verb tense
     • Specific ability in a moment

3. PROBABILITY/POSSIBILITY

   • May
     • 25%
   • Might
     • 25%
   • Will
     • 50%

4. CERTAINTY

   • Can’t
   • Must
   • Might/May/Could

5. SUGGESTION

   • Can
   • Could
     • FORMAL

6. REQUEST

   • Can
   • May
     • FORMAL