Los verbos modales son por ejemplo may, can, must, should, need. Expresan posibilidad, permiso, deseo, etc. para que se realice algo (I may, can, must swim).
Muchos verbos modales no pueden utilizarse en todos los tiempos verbales en inglés. Por eso es necesario que sepamos cuáles son los sustitutos de estos verbos.
Verbo modal |
Sustituto |
Ejemplo |
must |
to have to |
I must swim. = I have to swim. |
must not |
not to be allowed to |
I must not swim. = I am not allowed to swim. |
can |
to be able to |
I can swim. = I am able to swim. |
may |
to be allowed to |
I may swim. = I am allowed to swim. |
need |
to have to |
I need to swim. = I have to swim. |
need not |
not to have to |
I need not swim. = I don't have to swim. |
shall / should / ought to |
to be supposed to / to be expected to / to be to |
I shall / should / ought to swim. = I am supposed to swim. / I am expected to swim. / I am to swim. |
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