Mastering English Modal Verbs and Functions
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English Grammar: Understanding Modal Verbs
I. Core Modal Verbs and Their Functions
A. Single Concept Modals
- WILL: Future (Futuro)
- MIGHT: Small Probability (Pequeña probabilidad)
- SHOULD: Recommendation (Recomendación)
- OUGHT TO: Formal Recommendation (Recomendación formal)
- HAD BETTER: Warning (Advertencia)
B. Double Concept Modals
- MAY: Permission (Dar permiso)
- MAY: High Probability (Buena probabilidad de que pase algo)
- MUST: Responsibility (Responsabilidad)
- MUST: Assumption/Logical Deduction (Una suposición)
- WOULD: Past Habit (Used to) (Pasado acostumbrado)
- WOULD: Present Unreal Condition (Presente irreal)
- SHALL: Polite Offer/Suggestion (Oferta de expresión educada)
- SHALL: Contractual Obligation (Obligación contractual)
- COULD: Unreal Ability (Habilidad irreal)
- COULD: Past Ability (Capacidad pasada)
- CAN: Present Ability (Capacidad presente)
- CAN: Permission (Permiso)
II. Summary of Modal Functions
| Modal Verb | Ability | Possibility / Deduction | Permission | Obligation / Advice | Offers / Suggestions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Can | Yes | Yes | |||
| Can’t | Yes | Yes (Impossibility) | Yes (Refusal) | ||
| Might | Yes | ||||
| Could | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| May | Yes | Yes | |||
| Must | Yes (Strong Deduction) | Yes | |||
| Have to | Yes | ||||
| Shall | Yes | Yes | |||
| Should / Ought to | Yes | ||||
| Had better | Yes (Strong Advice/Warning) | ||||
| Would | Yes |
III. Modal Verbs in the Past Tense
Structure: MODAL + HAVE + VERB IN PAST PARTICIPLE (P.P.)
- MUST HAVE + P.P.: Logical Conclusion about a Past Event (Conclusión lógica sobre un acontecimiento pasado)
- MAY / MIGHT HAVE + P.P.: Deduction about a Past Event (Deducción de un acontecimiento pasado)
- COULD HAVE + P.P.: Unfulfilled Possibility (Posibilidad de hacer algo, no realizada)
- COULDN’T HAVE + P.P.: Certainty of Impossibility (Certeza de que algo no podría haber ocurrido)
- WOULD HAVE + P.P.: Unrealized Desire/Condition (Deseo de hacer algo, pero imposibilidad de hacerlo por causas externas)
- SHOULD / OUGHT TO HAVE + P.P.: Regret or Lament (Lamento sobre algo que debería haberse hecho)
- SHOULDN’T HAVE + P.P.: Critique or Disapproval (Crítica sobre algo que no debería haber sucedido)
- NEEDN’T HAVE + P.P.: Unnecessary Action Performed (Algo que no era necesario hacer)
IV. Modal-Like Verbs (Semi-Modals)
- Like to: Enjoyment/Preference (Disfruto)
- Want to: Desire (Desear)
- Need to: Necessity (Necesidad)
- Have to: Obligation (Obligación)
- Have got to: Obligation (Tener que)
- Look forward to: Anticipation of a Future Plan (Plan de futuro)
V. Vocabulary Notes
(This section is reserved for related vocabulary expansion.)