Verbos Modales en Inglés Lista con Ejemplos

Modal Uso Ejemplo

Will

Futuro

I will take the IELTS exam.

Would

Situación imaginaria

Preferencia

Solicite

You would look good in blue.

I would like to go to the cinema.

Would you like some tea?

Should

Buena idea

You should go to the Doctor.

Must

Obligación

Especulación

You must do your homework.

You must be crazy.

May/Might

Posibilidad

I may go to the shop.

Have to

Obligación

You have to do your homework.

Can

Habilidad

Permiso

I can play the piano.

Can I go to the disco?

Could

Habilidad del pasado

Oferta

I could run fast.

Could I help you?

Ejemplos y significado de los verbos modales

Los verbos modales añaden más significado al verbo principal.

I might go to the cinema later. (adds possibility)

No es necesario conjugar la tercera persona de un verbo modal.

He might go to the cinema later. (not mights

Los verbos modales más comunes

Will

Usamos will en las siguientes situaciones:

Promesa

I will do the washing later.

I will marry you.

Decisión inmediata

I will help you.

I will buy some milk.

Predicciónes Certeras 

We will use robots more in the future.

Liverpool will be champions this year.

Como puede ver, will se utiliza generalmente para situaciones futuras.

Would

Situación imaginaria

I would go to Bali if I had the money.

I would have felt better if I hadn’t eaten all that chocolate.

Eventos regulares en el pasado

I would play football for hours when I was a child.

I would go to the seaside every summer.

Futuro del discurso reportado

Jane said she would meet her mother.

He said he would write the report.

Should

Una buena idea / consejo

You should go to the doctor.

You should see that movie.

Cuando algo no está bien

They should be here by now.

The screw should be here somewhere.

Predicción incierta

I have done everything so it should work.

The train should arrive in 5 hours.

Must

Necesidad/Obligación

You must practice speaking English.

You must clean your house.

Deducción/entendimiento lógico/especulación

You have been walking all day. You must be tired. 

It is very hot in here. You must be thirsty.

Have to

Obligación/Necesidad

I have to wear glasses to read the newspaper.

I have to go to work every day.

May

Posibilidad

I may go to church this Sunday.

I may be late this evening.

Pedir permiso (Educado)

May I use the bathroom?

May I have some milk?

Might

Posibilidad

I might go to church this Sunday.

I might be late this evening.

Can

Posibilidad/Autorización

We can eat ice cream after dinner.

We can have a dog next year.

Habilidad

I can speak four languages.

I can play the guitar.

Permiso

Can I use the bathroom?

Can I go visit Thailand now?

Ofertas

Can I help you with your homework?

Can I do anything to help you?

Could

Posibilidad/Sugerencia

We could go for a walk after dinner.

We could spend that money on a new dishwasher.

Habilidad en el pasado

I could play the piano when I was a child.

You could buy a lot with 1 pound when I was a child. 

Solicita

Could you pass me the water?

Could I use your phone, please?

Verbos modales en negativo

Algunos verbos modales negativos no tienen un significado directamente opuesto.

Mustn’t

Lo opuesto a Must. Es necesario que no hagas eso.

You mustn’t walk on the grass.

You mustn’t smoke in here.

Don’t have to

No es necesario, pero puedes si quieres.

You don’t have to do your homework. (pero puedes si quieres)

You don’t have to study grammar.(pero ayuda si lo haces)

Verbos modales menos comunes

Had better

Buena Idea/Advisable

I‘d better go home before it starts raining.

I had better not buy that coat.

Shall

Oferta 

Shall I help you with your coat?

Shall I make you a cup of tea?

Sugerencia

Shall we go?

Ought to

Consejo

You ought to know better!

Deducción

$50 dollars ought to be enough.

Needn’t

No es necesario

You needn’t do your homework.