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Modals and Auxiliary Verbs

- can, could, may, might, must, will, would, shall, should, ought to, had better, had to, be, do, have, be able to, used to

Dictionary definition -
1) A closed-class verb that forms part of a verb phrase with a main verb.
2) Verbs that proceed other verbs to express tense.

Modals are verbs that usually don't have to be used with the infinitive, so they don't have to have the word, to, after them. For example, you could say, "I can run fast". You don't have to say, "I can to run fast".
They are verbs that go in front of other verbs to give more meaning to the sentence, but can't make up a complete sentence without the help of a regular verb. For example, "I can," is not a complete sentence.

Can - Poder: I can run fast.
Could -
1) Podia - I could run fast when I was a kid.
2) Conditional - I could run faster if I was thinner.

May -
1) Podria, talvez - I may go to Europe.
2) Dar permission - Yes, you may borrow my car

Might - Podria, talvez - I might go to Europe.

Must - Necesita, deberia - You must be there before eight o'clock!

Will - Estare - I will be there tomorrow. I'll be there tomorrow.

Would -
1) Conditional - I would go to Europe if my girlfriend went with me.
2) A habit in the past - When I was a child, I would play basketball all day long.

Shall -
1) Deberia - Shall I go with you?
2) Estare - I shall be there tomorrow.

* This verb is only used in England.

Should - Deberia
1) Opinion - I think you should go to Europe.
2) Strong probability - Don't worry, it should work.

Ought to - Deberia estar: Strong meaning. You ought to stop smoking.

Had better - Deberia estar: Very strong meaning. You had better pay your rent tomorrow!

To Be - Deberia estar
1) I am happy. You are happy. She is happy.
2) You are to be here tomorrow at six.
3) You were supposed to be here at six.

Do - (No hay una palabra como "do" in Espanol)
1) Do you want an apple?
2) Yes, I do want an apple!

Have to - Tener que: I have to be there at seven.

Had to - Tenia que: Yesterday I had to go to the post office.

Like - Gusta: I like apples.

Be able to - Tener capaz de: Tomorrow I will be able to buy that coat.

Used to - Estaba acostombrado: When I was a child, I used to go to my grandmothers'
house every day after school.

1) My pen is broken, ______ I borrow yours please?

2) You look really sick, you ______ go to the doctor.

3) I like cinnamon, I think you ______ put cinnamon in the oatmeal.

4) It's six o'clock, he said he would be here at five thirty, oh wait, the doorbell's

ringing, that ______ be him.

5) I don't know why the radio isn't working, It _____ be because the batteries are
dead.

6) I don't know why the radio doesn't work, it worked yesterday and I put new batteries

in it. It _______ be working.

7) She ________ have gone to Vina Del Mar, I don't know, you should call her.

8) I don't know what happened to John, he went to the store an hour ago, he

_________ have come back by now.

9) Remember when we lived in Pichilemu? We ________ go surfing every day.

10) If you don't pay that ticket you will go to jail. You ________ pay that ticket!

Rank these sentences in terms of politeness.

1)
a) May I borrow your car?
b) Could I borrow your car?
c) Can I borrow your car?

Rank these sentences in order of importance.

2)
a) You don't have to do that.
b) You must not do that.
c) You should not do that.

3)
a) You should see a doctor about that cut on you arm.
b) You had better see a doctor about that cut on your arm.
c) You have to see a doctor about that cut on your arm.

4)
a) You had better go to work tomorrow.
b) You ought to go to work tomorrow.
c) You're supposed to go to work tomorrow.
d) You must go to work tomorrow.

5) Rank the following sentences in terms of which is most probable
a) I shall be at your house by six o'clock.
b) I should be at your house by six o'clock.
c) I am supposed to be at your house by six o'clock.

6) Where's John. Rank the most certain.
a) He could have gone home.
b) He might have gone home.
c) He must have gone home.
d) He went home.

7) Rank these in terms of importance.
a) Each soldier is to have a gun.
b) Each soldier should have a gun.
c) Each soldier has got to have a gun.

8) Rank these sentences in terms of advisability.
a) If you need money, you could get a job.
b) If you need money, you ought to get a job.