B1 Verb Moods 16 min read Medio

Verbos Modales en Inglés: can, should, must

Domina can, should, must para expresar habilidad, consejo y obligación fuerte con claridad y confianza.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Modal verbs like 'can', 'should', and 'must' change the mood of a sentence without ever changing their own form.

  • Never add -s, -ed, or -ing to a modal verb. Example: 'He can swim' NOT 'He cans swim'.
  • Always follow a modal with the base verb (no 'to'). Example: 'I must go' NOT 'I must to go'.
  • To make a question, just swap the subject and the modal. Example: 'Should I stay?'
👤 (Subject) + 🛠️ (can/should/must) + 🏃‍♂️ (Base Verb)

Overview

¿Alguna vez has sentido que los verbos en inglés dan demasiado trabajo? Tienes que recordar si es he walks o they walk. Te preocupas por el did y el does.
Los verbos modales son tus nuevos mejores amigos. Son el sueño de cualquier perezoso. No cambian para nadie.
Sin -s, sin -ed, sin dramas. Simplemente se quedan ahí y añaden sabor a tus frases. Piénsalos como emojis para tus verbos.
I go es un hecho. I can go es una vibra. Los modales son verbos especiales como can, should y must.
Expresan cosas como habilidad, permiso o necesidad. Son los atajos definitivos en inglés. Si los verbos fueran un videojuego, los modales serían los códigos de trucos.
Hacen que tu habla sea más matizada sin el esfuerzo extra de la conjugación. Probablemente los uses cien veces al día sin darte cuenta.
Can you hear me?
en una llamada de Zoom es un momento modal clásico.
Should I post this selfie?
es otro. Están en todas partes en la vida moderna. Desde los subtítulos de Netflix hasta los chats de grupo de WhatsApp, los modales hacen el trabajo pesado.
Te ayudan a sonar educado, seguro o incluso cauteloso. Dominarlos es como desbloquear un nuevo nivel de fluidez. Se trata menos de memorizar listas y más de sentir el estado de ánimo.

How This Grammar Works

Los verbos modales son verbos auxiliares. No pueden estar solos en una frase. No puedes decir simplemente I can.
Bueno, puedes si alguien pregunta
¿Quién puede ayudar?
, pero normalmente necesitan un compañero. Ese compañero es el verbo de acción principal. Modifican el significado del verbo principal para mostrar diferentes estados de ánimo.
Piénsalos como los filtros de tus fotos de Instagram. La foto (el verbo principal) sigue siendo la misma. El filtro (el modal) cambia cómo la ve la gente.
I eat es solo una declaración de un hecho. I might eat suena a que todavía estás revisando el menú de Uber Eats. I must eat suena a que te mueres de hambre después de una larga sesión de gimnasio.
Estos verbos siguen su propio conjunto de reglas. No se comportan como los verbos normales como play o eat. Son rebeldes.
No usan la palabra to antes del verbo principal. Nunca digas I can to swim. Esa es una gran señal de alerta para los oyentes.
Tampoco tienen forma en -ing. Nunca verás un musting o shoulding en un diccionario. Son fijos y estables, como ese amigo que siempre pide la misma hamburguesa.

Formation Pattern

1
Empieza con tu sujeto. Puede ser I, you, we o incluso my cat.
2
Añade el verbo modal. Elige entre can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would o must.
3
Añade la forma base del verbo principal. Esto significa sin -s, sin -ed y sin -ing.
4
Por ejemplo: She can speak English.
5
Fíjate en que no hay -s en can, aunque sea she.
6
Fíjate en que no hay to antes de speak.
7
Para las negativas, solo añade not después del modal.
8
I cannot (can't) go.
9
You should not (shouldn't) do that.
10
Para las preguntas, intercambia el sujeto y el modal.
11
Can you help me?
12
Should we start the meeting?
13
Nunca uses do, does o did con verbos modales.
14
✗ Do you can help?
15
✓ Can you help?
16
Es realmente así de simple. Los modales son autosuficientes. No necesitan a la familia do para ayudarles a hacer preguntas o negativas. Son los influencers independientes del mundo de la gramática.

When To Use It

  • Usa can para habilidad general.
    I can code in Python.
  • Usa can o may para permiso.
    Can I use your charger?
  • Usa must para una obligación fuerte.
    You must wear a seatbelt.
  • Usa should para dar consejos.
    You should watch that new Netflix show.
  • Usa might o could para posibilidad.
    It might rain later.
  • Usa would para peticiones educadas o situaciones hipotéticas.
  • En los mensajes de texto modernos, can se usa a menudo para todo. Sin embargo, usar may o could te hace sonar mucho más profesional. Imagina que estás escribiendo un correo a un profesor. Can I ask a question? está bien. Could I ask a question? suena a que realmente hiciste la lectura. Si estás jugando online, podrías decir
    We should rush B!
    para dar un consejo a tu equipo. Si eres vlogger de viajes, podrías decir
    You must visit this café!
    para mostrar emoción. Cada modal tiene un trabajo específico, como los personajes de un RPG.

Common Mistakes

  • Añadir to después del modal. Este es el error número 1. Nunca digas I must to study.
  • Añadir -s para la tercera persona. He cans está mal. Siempre es He can.
  • Usar do en las preguntas. Does he can? hará que la gente ladee la cabeza.
  • Intentar usar dos modales juntos. I will can go es un gran error. Usa I will be able to go en su lugar.
  • Olvidar que must es muy fuerte. Usarlo para consejos puede sonar mandón.
  • Mezclar can y could en peticiones educadas. Could siempre es más seguro con extraños.
  • Usar mustn't cuando quieres decir "don't have to". Mustn't significa que está prohibido. Don't have to significa que es opcional.
  • Si le dices a tu amigo "You mustn't come to the party", ¡le estás prohibiendo venir!
  • Si dices "You don't have to come", simplemente estás siendo amable por su apretada agenda.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

  • Must vs Have to: Must suele ser sobre sentimientos personales. Have to es sobre reglas externas.
  • Should vs Ought to: Significan lo mismo. Should es mucho más común.
  • Can vs Be able to: Can es para el presente. Be able to es para el futuro o el pasado.
  • May vs Might: May es ligeramente más probable que might.

Quick FAQ

Q

¿Los verbos modales son siempre iguales? A: Sí, nunca cambian de forma.

Q

¿Puedo usar can para el pasado? A: No, usa could para la habilidad pasada.

Q

¿Es should más fuerte que must? A: No, must es una orden. Should es solo una sugerencia.

Q

¿Necesito to con ought to? A: Sí, ought to es el único que usa to.

Q

¿Cómo los recuerdo todos? A: Piénsalos como cambiadores de humor. Cambian la energía de la frase.

Modal Verb Conjugation (No Change!)

Subject Modal Base Verb Notes
I
can / should / must
work
No 'to'
You
can / should / must
work
Standard form
He / She / It
can / should / must
work
NO '-s' added
We
can / should / must
work
Standard form
They
can / should / must
work
Standard form

Common Contractions

Full Form Contraction Usage
cannot
can't
Very common in speech
should not
shouldn't
Common for advice
must not
mustn't
Used for prohibitions
shall not
shan't
Very rare/British

Meanings

Modal verbs are a special category of auxiliary verbs used to express ability, possibility, permission, advice, or necessity. They function as 'mood setters' for the main verb that follows them.

1

Ability & Permission (Can)

Used to express physical or mental ability, or to ask for/give permission in informal settings.

“I can run a marathon in under four hours.”

“Can I borrow your pen for a second?”

2

Advice & Recommendation (Should)

Used to give suggestions, advice, or to talk about what is ideal or expected.

“You should try the pasta; it's delicious here.”

“We should leave now if we want to catch the train.”

3

Strong Obligation (Must)

Used to express a firm necessity, a rule, or a personal strong feeling that something is required.

“All passengers must wear a seatbelt.”

“I must remember to call my mother tonight.”

4

Logical Deduction (Must)

Used when you are almost 100% sure that something is true based on evidence.

“You've been working all day; you must be exhausted.”

“The lights are off; they must be asleep.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Verbos Modales en Inglés: can, should, must
Modal Significado Ejemplo (Positivo) Ejemplo (Negativo)
can
Habilidad / Permiso / Posibilidad
I `can` speak French.
I `can't` speak French.
should
Consejo / Recomendación / Expectativa
You `should` rest.
You `shouldn't` worry.
must
Obligación Fuerte / Necesidad / Deducción
We `must` leave now.
You `must not` smoke here.
could
Habilidad Pasada / Petición Amable
I `could` sing well then.
`Could` you open the door?
have to
Obligación Externa / Necesidad
I `have to` work late.
I `don't have to` go.
mustn't
Prohibición
You `mustn't` touch that.

Espectro de formalidad

Formal
May I please have some water?

May I please have some water? (Restaurant/Home)

Neutral
Can I have some water, please?

Can I have some water, please? (Restaurant/Home)

Informal
Can I get a water?

Can I get a water? (Restaurant/Home)

Jerga
Gimme a water, yeah?

Gimme a water, yeah? (Restaurant/Home)

Verbos Modales: Can, Should, Must

Verbos Modales

Can

  • Habilidad I can sing.
  • Permiso You can leave.
  • Posibilidad It can be cold.

Should

  • Consejo You should rest.
  • Recomendación We should go.
  • Expectativa They should arrive.

Must

  • Obligación You must study.
  • Necesidad We must hurry.
  • Deducción He must be tired.

`Must Not` vs. `Don't Have To`

Must Not (Mustn't) - Prohibición
Prohibición You mustn't touch that.
Prohibido Students mustn't cheat.
Don't Have To - No Obligación
No Obligación You don't have to come.
No Necesario I don't have to work.

Eligiendo el Modal Correcto (Can, Should, Must)

1

¿Se trata de habilidad o permiso?

YES
Usa `can`
NO
Ve a la siguiente pregunta.
2

¿Es un consejo o una recomendación?

YES
Usa `should`
NO
Ve a la siguiente pregunta.
3

¿Es una obligación fuerte o una certeza lógica?

YES
Usa `must`
NO
Considera otros modales como `have to` o reformula.

Potenciadores de Verbos Modales

💪

Expresar Habilidad

  • • I can run fast.
  • • She can solve this problem.
🗣️

Dar Consejos

  • • You should eat healthy.
  • • He should apologize.
✍️

Declarar Obligación

  • • We must follow rules.
  • • Students must study.
🤝

Peticiones Amables

  • • Can you help me?
  • • Could you close the door?
Regístrate gratis para leer la explicación completa

Ejemplos por nivel

1

I can play the guitar.

2

Can you help me?

3

She can speak English.

4

We can't come to the party.

1

You should eat more vegetables.

2

I must finish my homework.

3

Should we go to the park?

4

You mustn't touch that; it's hot!

1

You should try to arrive ten minutes early.

2

He must be the new manager; he's wearing a suit.

3

You don't have to pay now; you can pay later.

4

Can I suggest a different approach?

1

The government should have acted much sooner.

2

There must have been a misunderstanding at the front desk.

3

You can't have seen Mark; he's in Australia!

4

Must you make so much noise while I'm working?

1

One should always consider the ethical implications of such research.

2

The results can be interpreted in several different ways.

3

It must be noted that this study has several limitations.

4

Should you require further assistance, do not hesitate to contact us.

1

The sheer audacity of the claim must surely give us pause.

2

One cannot but admire her dedication to the cause.

3

The policy should, in theory, alleviate the housing crisis.

4

That he should have failed after such effort is a tragedy.

Fácil de confundir

English Modal Verbs: can, should, must vs Mustn't vs. Don't have to

Learners often think 'mustn't' is the negative of 'must' in terms of necessity, but it actually changes the meaning to prohibition.

English Modal Verbs: can, should, must vs Can vs. May

Both are used for permission, but 'can' is informal and 'may' is formal. Teachers often correct 'Can I...?' with 'I don't know, can you?' to emphasize ability.

English Modal Verbs: can, should, must vs Should vs. Ought to

They mean the same thing, but 'ought to' is much less common and requires 'to'.

Errores comunes

✗

I can to swim.

✓

I can swim.

Never use 'to' after a modal verb.
✗

He cans speak English.

✓

He can speak English.

Modal verbs do not take an 's' in the third person.
✗

I no can go.

✓

I can't go.

Use 'not' or 'n't' after the modal for negatives.
✗

Do you can help?

✓

Can you help?

Don't use 'do' to make questions with modals; just invert the subject and modal.
✗

You should to rest.

✓

You should rest.

Like 'can', 'should' is followed by the base verb.
✗

Must you to go?

✓

Must you go?

Questions with 'must' do not use 'to'.
✗

She shoulds study.

✓

She should study.

No 's' for 'should' in the third person.
✗

You mustn't pay; it's free.

✓

You don't have to pay; it's free.

'Mustn't' means it's forbidden. 'Don't have to' means it's optional.
✗

I musted work yesterday.

✓

I had to work yesterday.

'Must' has no past tense form; use 'had to' instead.
✗

It should be rain tomorrow.

✓

It should rain tomorrow.

Don't add 'be' unless the main verb is 'be'.
✗

I can't help but to wonder.

✓

I can't help but wonder.

The idiom 'can't help but' is followed by the base verb.
✗

He must has forgotten.

✓

He must have forgotten.

After a modal, always use 'have', never 'has', even for 'he/she/it'.
✗

Should I'll see him, I'll tell him.

✓

Should I see him, I'll tell him.

In formal 'should' inversion, do not use 'will'.

Patrones de oraciones

I can ___ but I can't ___.

If you are tired, you should ___.

To be a good student, you must ___.

He isn't answering his phone; he must be ___.

You shouldn't have ___ without ___.

Real World Usage

Job Interview very common

I can work under pressure and I should be able to start next month.

Texting a Friend constant

Can u come tonight? You should definitely be there!

Airport Signs common

Passengers must present their boarding pass.

Doctor's Appointment common

You should take this medicine twice a day.

Social Media (Instagram) very common

You MUST try this new brunch spot! 😍

Ordering Food constant

Can I get the burger without onions?

Work Email very common

We should schedule a meeting to discuss the budget.

Instruction Manuals common

The battery must be charged for 4 hours before use.

Regístrate gratis para ver todos los ejemplos
💡

Modal + Verbo Base = Magia

¡Recuerda esta regla de oro! Después de un verbo modal, el verbo principal siempre va en su forma base. ¡Nada de 'to', '-s' o '-ing'! Así de simple y consistente. Por ejemplo, I can swim (no
I can to swim
).
⚠️

Mustn't vs. `Don't Have To`

¡Estos dos suenan parecidos pero son totalmente opuestos! Mustn't significa 'prohibido' (¡no lo hagas!), mientras que don't have to significa 'no es necesario' (puedes elegir no hacerlo). ¡No los confundas en una entrevista de trabajo! Por ejemplo, "You mustn't cheat vs. You don't have to come if you're busy".
🎯

Usa Could para ser más amable

Mientras que can pide permiso directamente, could añade un toque extra de cortesía. En lugar de
Can I ask a question?
, prueba
Could I ask a question?
– suena más suave y respetuoso, especialmente con colegas nuevos o profesores.
🌍

Must: ¿Británico o Americano?

En inglés británico, must para obligación es a menudo un poco más común que have to en ciertos contextos. El inglés americano tiende a usar más have to para obligaciones generales, reservando must para necesidades más fuertes o formales, o deducciones. Por ejemplo,
You must be quiet
(más común en UK) vs.
You have to be quiet
(más común en US).
💡

Los modales no cambian

¡Una cosa menos de la que preocuparse! A diferencia de los verbos regulares, los verbos modales como can, should y must no cambian su forma según el sujeto. I can, she can, they can – ¡siempre igual! Por ejemplo,
She can speak English
(no
She cans speak English
).

Smart Tips

Stop! Imagine the modal verb is a 'to-eater'. It eats the 'to' before it can reach the main verb.

I must to go. → I must go.

Use 'might want to' or 'should perhaps' instead of just 'should' to sound more professional.

You should change the plan. → You might want to change the plan.

It's probably a logical guess, not an obligation. 'It must be raining' doesn't mean the rain is following a rule!

It must rain. (Rule) → It must be raining. (Guess)

Avoid contractions like 'can't' or 'shouldn't'. Use the full forms 'cannot' and 'should not'.

The results can't be ignored. → The results cannot be ignored.

Pronunciación

/ʃʊd/

The Silent 'L'

In 'should', the 'l' is completely silent. It sounds like 'shood'.

/kən/ vs /kænt/

Can vs. Can't

In American English, 'can' is often reduced to 'kun', while 'can't' has a clear 'a' sound and a sharp 't' (or a glottal stop).

/ˈmʌs.ənt/

Mustn't

The first 't' in 'mustn't' is silent. It sounds like 'muss-unt'.

Polite Requests

Can you ↗ help me?

Rising intonation at the end makes the request sound more polite.

Strong Advice

You ↘ SHOULD go.

Stress on the modal verb 'should' emphasizes the importance of the advice.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Modals are 'Bare' and 'Fixed': they use the Bare infinitive and their form is Fixed (no -s).

Asociación visual

Imagine a 'Modal Shield' around the main verb. The shield blocks the 'to' and the 's' from ever touching the verb.

Rhyme

With can, should, and must, the 'to' you must bust; no 's' at the end, they're a learner's best friend.

Story

A king (Must) gives orders, a wise advisor (Should) gives suggestions, and a skilled knight (Can) shows what he is able to do. They all live in a castle where the word 'to' is forbidden.

Word Web

AbilityAdviceObligationNecessityPermissionDeductionBare Infinitive

Desafío

Write three sentences about your job or hobby: one thing you CAN do, one thing you SHOULD do better, and one thing you MUST do every day.

Notas culturales

British speakers often use 'should' in places where Americans might use 'would' or 'must', especially to sound more polite or indirect.

Americans rarely use 'mustn't' in casual speech, preferring 'can't' or 'not allowed to'. 'Mustn't' can sound very formal or old-fashioned.

Using 'should' instead of 'must' in a business meeting is a common 'hedging' strategy to avoid sounding too bossy to colleagues.

Modal verbs come from Old English 'pre-present' verbs, which were originally past tense forms that took on a present tense meaning.

Inicios de conversación

“

What is one skill you can do really well?

“

What should a tourist see in your hometown?

“

What are some things you must do before you turn 30?

“

If you could change one law in your country, what should it be?

“

What must have happened for the world to end up in its current state?

Temas para diario

Write about three things you can do now that you couldn't do five years ago.
Give advice to someone who is always late for work.
Describe the rules of your favorite sport or game.
Reflect on a major decision you made. Should you have done anything differently?

Errores comunes

Incorrect

Correcto

Incorrect

Correcto

Incorrect

Correcto

Incorrect

Correcto

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Test Yourself

Elige la forma correcta

She ___ speak three languages fluently.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: can
Los verbos modales como 'can' no cambian de forma para los sujetos en tercera persona del singular y van seguidos de la forma base del verbo sin 'to'.
Encuentra y corrige el error Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

You shouldn't to worry about the exam.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: You shouldn't worry about the exam.
Los verbos modales siempre van seguidos directamente de la forma base del verbo principal, sin 'to'.
¿Qué frase es correcta? Opción múltiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We must submit the report tomorrow.
Los verbos modales van seguidos de la forma base del verbo principal, y no llevan una terminación '-s'.
Escribe la frase correcta en inglés Traducción

Translate into English: 'No debes usar tu teléfono durante el examen.'

Answer starts with: ["Y...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["You must not use your phone during the exam.","You mustn't use your phone during the exam."]
'Must not' expresa una prohibición, que es 'no debes' en español. 'Don't have to' significaría que no es necesario, lo cual es incorrecto aquí.

Score: /4

Ejercicios de practica

8 exercises
Choose the correct modal for giving a suggestion. Opción múltiple

You ___ see the new Batman movie; it's great!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: should
'Should' is used for recommendations and advice.
Fill in the blank with the correct form (do not add 'to').

She can ___ (speak) three languages fluently.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: speak
Modals are followed by the base verb without 'to'.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

He musts finish his report by tomorrow.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: musts
Modal verbs never take an 's', even for 'he' or 'she'.
Change the sentence to a question. Sentence Transformation

I should call him. -> ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Should I call him?
Invert the subject and the modal to form a question.
Match the modal to its function. Match Pairs

1. Can, 2. Should, 3. Must

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Ability, 2-Advice, 3-Obligation
These are the primary functions of these three modals.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Is that the doorbell? B: Yes, it ___ be the pizza delivery guy.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: must
Use 'must' for logical deductions when you are very sure.
Which sentence is grammatically CORRECT? Grammar Sorting

Select the right one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We must leave now.
This follows the Subject + Modal + Base Verb rule.
True or False? True False Rule

The past tense of 'must' is 'musted'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
The past tense of 'must' is 'had to'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

11 exercises
Elige la forma correcta Completar huecos

They ___ finish their project by Friday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: must
Encuentra y corrige el error Error Correction

He can to swim very well.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He can swim very well.
¿Qué frase es correcta? Opción múltiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She should study more.
Escribe la frase correcta en inglés Traducción

Translate into English: 'Debes estudiar para el examen.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["You must study for the exam.","You should study for the exam.","You have to study for the exam."]
Ordena las palabras Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: You must not talk loudly.
Une cada modal con su uso típico Match Pairs

Match the modals with their primary function:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Elige la forma correcta Completar huecos

We ___ respect other cultures when traveling.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: should
Encuentra y corrige el error Error Correction

She must to be tired after that long flight.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She must be tired after that long flight.
¿Qué frase es correcta? Opción múltiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I can't go out tonight.
Escribe la frase correcta en inglés Traducción

Translate into English: '¿Puedes ayudarme con mi tarea?'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["Can you help me with my homework?","Could you help me with my homework?"]
Ordena las palabras Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: You must always have your ID.

Score: /11

Preguntas frecuentes (8)

Yes, in informal situations. For example, `Can I use your phone?` is perfectly fine with friends. In formal settings, use `May I...` instead.

They mean the same thing. `Cannot` is the formal, written version, and `can't` is the everyday spoken version. Note that `cannot` is always one word.

Yes, much stronger. `Should` is a suggestion (you have a choice), while `must` is an obligation (you have no choice).

No. Modals cannot be used together. To express future ability, use `I will be able to`.

This is a common mistake made by native speakers because `should've` sounds like `should of`. It is always grammatically incorrect to write `should of`.

Use it for things that are strictly forbidden, like `You mustn't park here`. It is more common in British English than American English.

Yes! You can say `He should be here soon` if you expect him to arrive based on a schedule.

No. There is no such word as `canning`, `shoulding`, or `musting` in English grammar.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

poder / deber / tener que

Spanish modals are followed by an infinitive (with no 'to' equivalent), but they conjugate fully unlike English modals.

French moderate

pouvoir / devoir

French uses the conditional tense of 'devoir' (devrais) to express 'should', whereas English has a dedicated word.

German high

können / sollen / müssen

German modals still conjugate for person (ich kann, du kannst), while English ones are fixed.

Japanese low

~reru / ~nakereba naranai

Obligation in Japanese is often expressed as a double negative ('if you don't do it, it won't become').

Arabic partial

yumkin / yajib

The 'modal' part doesn't change, but the following verb must conjugate for the subject.

Chinese moderate

néng (能) / yīnggāi (应该) / bìxū (必须)

Chinese doesn't have the 'no-to' or 'no-s' problem because Chinese verbs never change form anyway.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Can: Expresar habilidad (Can)

Continue With

B1 Requires

Voz Pasiva con Verbos Modales (puede ser hecho)

Overview ¿Alguna vez te has preguntado por qué tu app favorita dice `Your order can be tracked` en lugar de `We are trac...
B1 Requires

Primer Condicional: Usando Modales (can, might, should)

### Overview El **First Conditional** (primer condicional) es, sin duda, una de las estructuras más potentes y utilizad...
B1 Requires

Voz Pasiva con Modales: Se Puede Hacer

¿Alguna vez has notado que a veces la persona que hace la acción simplemente no es tan importante? Estás haciendo scroll...
B1 Builds On

Posibilidad en Inglés: May y Might

Overview ¿Alguna vez has mirado la batería de tu teléfono y has pensado: "This might die before I get home"? ¿O has cons...
A2 Requires

Must Not vs. Need Not (Prohibición vs. Opción)

### Overview Dominar los verbos modales en inglés es, sin duda, uno de los pasos más gratificantes en tu camino hacia l...
C1 Requires

Pasiva con Modales: Haciendo que las cosas se hagan

La construcción de la voz pasiva con verbos modales, conocida en inglés como **passive with modals**, es una herramienta...
C1 Requires

Estilo Indirecto con Modales y Reporte Pasivo (C1)

Overview ¿Alguna vez te has preguntado por qué alguien dice `It's rumored that he might have ghosted her` en lugar de s...

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Related Grammar Rules

B1

Primer Condicional: Unless = If Not

### Overview En el camino hacia la fluidez en inglés, llegar al nivel B1 significa que ya no solo quieres que te entien...
B1

Condicional Cero: Hábitos y Rutinas

### Overview El `Zero Conditional` (condicional cero) es una de las estructuras más agradecidas para nosotros, los hisp...
B1

Can: Expresar habilidad (Can)

Overview ¿Puedes hacer un mortal hacia atrás? ¿O tal vez solo hornear un pan de masa madre decente? De cualquier manera...
B2

Condicionales mixtos: Acción pasada, resultado presente (Type 2)

### Overview Los condicionales mixtos (Mixed Conditionals) representan un escalón avanzado en tu dominio del inglés. Co...
B2

Suppose & Supposing: El juego del 'Qué Pasaría Si'

### Overview En el camino hacia la fluidez en inglés, llegar al nivel B2 significa dejar de simplemente "sobrevivir" a...
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