Modal Verbs en Inglés: Obligación, Posibilidad, Habilidad y Modales Perfectos con Ejemplos

Obligation, lack of obligation, advice and prohibition

Use

Example

Must

Have to

Obligation

You must decide now.

I have to submit the application form today.

She has to practise the violin.

Not have to

Needn't

Lack of obligation

You don't have to come/needn't come.

He doesn't have to come/needn't come.

Should/shouldn't

Ought to/ought not to

Advice

She should send/ought to send her songs to a producer.

You shouldn't complain/ought not to complain all the time.

Mustn't

Can't

Prohibition

You mustn't ride a motorbike without a helmet.

You can't park here.

Possibility and certainty

Use

Example

May

Might

Could

Possibility

The phone is ringing. It may/might/could be my sister.

If we don't hurry up, we may not/might not arrive on time.

Must

Certainty something is true

She must be a musician. She knows a lot about music.

Can't

Certainty something is not true

He can't be a professional singer. He sings really badly.

Ability

Use

Example

Can

Ability in the present

I can play the guitar.

She can't sing very well.

Could

Ability in the past

Mario could play the violin when he was only four.

I couldn't ride a bike when I was five.

Be able to

Ability in other tenses

Sergio will be able to play the drums.

She hasn't been able to finish on time.

Modal perfects

Use

Example

May have + past participle

Might have + past participle

Possibility in the past

She may have won the competition. She was very good.

They might have called but I wasn't at home.

Must have + past participle

Can't have + past participle

Certainty in the past

The concert must have finished late. They look tired.

He can't have practised for the audition. He was with me all day.

Should/shouldn't have + past participle

Criticism of past actions or regret

You should have left earlier.

I shouldn't have missed my training.