Essential English Grammar: Modals, Gerunds, and Adjectives

Infinitives and Gerunds: Usage Rules

The Infinitive (to + Verb)

The infinitive form (to + verb) is typically used:

• After certain adjectives.
• To express purpose or explanation (e.g., to pay attention).
• With certain verbs.

The Gerund (Verb + -ing)

The gerund form (verb + -ing) is typically used:

• After prepositions.
• As the subject of a sentence.
• In fixed phrases.
• After the following verbs:

Verbs followed by the Gerund:

admit, avoid, can't help, can't stand, consider, delay, deny, detest, don't mind, enjoy, feel like, finish, give up, imagine, mention, mind, miss, practise, resent, resist, suggest, understand.

Modal Verbs: Expressing Ability, Obligation, and Possibility

Ability and Possibility

• Can: I can play the piano. (Ability)
• Be able to: Is he able to find any work? (Ability)
• Will be able to: Will you be able to do it before? (Future ability/Possibility - Spanish: podrías)
• Can't: The story can't be true. (Impossibility - Spanish: no puede)
• Can't: You can't smoke here. (Prohibition)
• Could: I could play tennis when I was younger. (Past ability - Spanish: sabía)
• May: It may be quicker to travel by train. (Possibility - Spanish: puede)

Obligation, Necessity, and Advice

• Must: You must be back at 10 o'clock. (Strong obligation - Spanish: debes)
• Must: Look at the snow—It must be cold outside. (Logical deduction - Spanish: debe)
• Have to: You have to be back... (External obligation - Spanish: tienes que)
• Need to: You need to study a lot. (Necessity - Spanish: tienes que)
• Needn't: You needn't have money. (Lack of necessity - Spanish: no es necesario)
• Mustn't: You mustn't drive without a license. (Strong prohibition - Spanish: no debes)
• Don't have to: You don't have to call a taxi. (Lack of necessity - Spanish: no es necesario)
• Should: You should drive more carefully. (Advice - Spanish: deberías)

Perfect Modals (Modal + have + Past Participle)

Perfect modals refer to past actions or deductions about the past.

• Must have: The driver must have lost his way. (Past deduction/certainty - Spanish: debe haber perdido)
• May have: She may have bought a new car. (Past possibility - Spanish: pudo haber)
• Could have: You could have avoided that accident. (Past missed opportunity/ability - Spanish: podría haber esquivado)
• Couldn't have: He couldn't have known about the problem. (Past impossibility - Spanish: no podría haber conocido)
• Should have: He should have asked me first. (Past regret/unfulfilled obligation - Spanish: debía haberme preguntado)
• Shouldn't have: We shouldn't have left so late. (Past regret/mistake - Spanish: no debíamos haber salido)

Key Compound Adjectives and Meanings

Adjective + Noun + -ed Structure

• Bad-tempered: malhumorado (Irritable)
• Cold-hearted: desalmado (Unfeeling)
• Cool-headed: imperturbable (Calm, composed)
• Open-minded: mente abierta (Receptive to new ideas)
• Public-spirited: espíritu cívico (Concerned with the public good)
• Evil-minded: malintencionado (Having bad intentions)
• Highly-educated: con formación superior (Having advanced education)
• Kind-hearted: bondadoso (Generous, sympathetic)
• Level-headed: equilibrado (Sensible, rational)
• Right-headed: equilibrado (Sensible, rational)
• Right-handed: diestro (Using the right hand)
• Short-sighted: corto de vista (Lacking foresight or literally, nearsighted)
• Single-minded: decidido (Focused on one goal)

Adverb/Adjective + Participle Structures

• Badly-behaved: maleducado (Rude)
• Badly-paid: (Low salary)
• Badly-wounded: (Severely injured)
• Well-connected: buena conexión (Having influential contacts)
• Well-done: bien hecho (Cooked thoroughly or executed properly)
• Well-dressed: bien vestido (Wearing smart clothes)
• Well-known: bien conocido (Famous)
• Best-selling: muy vendido (Extremely popular commercially)
• Easy-going: fácil de tratar (Relaxed, tolerant)
• Fast-growing: de rápido crecimiento (Developing quickly)
• Good-looking: bien parecido (Attractive)
• Hard-working: de duro trabajo (Diligent)
• Long-lasting: de larga duración (Durable)
• Never-ending: interminable (Incessant)

Adjectives Followed by Specific Prepositions

Adjectives + about

• Angry (enfadado)
• Anxious (ansioso)
• Certain (incuestionable)
• Curious (curioso)
• Excited (entusiasmado)
• Disappointed (decepcionado)
• Happy
• Sorry
• Worried

Adjectives + at

• Amazed (extrañado)
• Bad
• Good
• Shocked (impactado)
• Surprised (sorprendido)

Adjectives + by

• Amused (entretenido)
• Annoyed (molesto)
• Confused (confundido)
• Embarrassed (avergonzado)
• Frightened (asustado)

Adjectives + for

• Early (temprano)
• Famous
• Late
• Ready (preparado)
• Responsible
• Suitable (apto para)

Adjectives + from

• Different
• Far (lejos)
• Made (hecho)

Adjectives + in

• Dressed (disfrazado)
• Interested

Adjectives + of

• Ashamed (avergonzarse)
• Afraid (preocupado de)
• Aware (al tanto de)
• Capable
• Fond (afecto a)
• Guilty (culpable)
• Independent
• Jealous
• Proud (orgulloso)
• Tired (cansado)
• Typical

Adjectives + on

• Dependent
• Keen (aficionado)

Adjectives + to

• Accustomed
• Addicted
• Introduced (presentar a)
• Kind (condescendiente)
• Married
• Near (cerca de)
• Nice (amable)
• Opposed (oponerse a)
• Polite (respetuoso)
• Related (familiar)
• Rude (grosero)
• Sensitive
• Similar

Adjectives + with

• Ill (enfermo)
• Patient (paciente)
• Pleased (contento)
• Satisfied
• Wrong