Clase de Modals (Nivel Intermedio) – Usos Específicos y Tiempos Verbales

Objetivo General:

●​ Comprender los modals (verbos modales) en inglés y aprender a utilizarlos en

contextos específicos, tanto en presente como en pasado.
●​ Practicar las estructuras gramaticales con modals en diferentes tiempos.

Contenido Teórico:

1. ¿Qué son los modals?

Los modals son verbos auxiliares que expresan capacidad, posibilidad, permiso, obligación,
sugerencias, deducción, y más. Algunos ejemplos son can, could, may, might, must, shall,
should, will, would.

●​ Los modals no se conjugan (porque son auxiliares)

●​ Los modals siempre van seguidos de un verbo en su forma base (infinitivo sin “to”).

Estructura básica:

●​ [Sujeto] + [Modal] + [Verbo (base form)] + [Complemento]

○​ Ejemplo: She can play the piano.
●​ [Modal] + [Sujeto] + [Verbo (base form)] + [Complemento]
○​ Ejemplo: Could you pass me that napkin?

2. Usos Específicos de Cada Modal:

1.​ Can / Could

○​ Can/can’t: Capacidad o habilidad en el presente, permisos informales,
posibilidad.
■​ I can swim. (capacidad)
■​ Can I go to the bathroom? (permiso informal)
■​ She can be here at 5pm. (posibilidad)

You can walk barefoot in the garden with your grandparents.

Can you share your notes?

He can sing in church tomorrow.

You can fail tomorrow if you don't study today.

Can we travel together?

 ○​ Could/Couldn’t: Pasado de "can", sugerencias, posibilidad en presente,
capacidad hipotética, permiso formal.
■​ You could try calling her phone. (sugerencias)
■​ You could pick me up at 5pm instead of 6 ((sugerencias)
■​ She could be at home. (posibilidad)
■​ If she were here, she could speak to me. (capacidad hipotética)
■​ Could I please go to the bathroom? (permiso formal)

​ ​ ​ I could study a master´s degree in Spain.

​ ​ ​ He could write letters to his mother.

​ ​ ​ If I were a writer, I could sell a book.

Could you please put my book in the library?

Could you walk faster?

Could you watch the movie later?

2.​ May / Might = quiza

○​ May: Posibilidad (contexto informal) // más frecuente para brindar un permiso.
■​ Ejemplo: You may leave early today. (permiso)
○​ Might: Posibilidad (contexto formal).
■​ Ejemplo: It might rain tomorrow.

You may be sick tomorrow because you are all wet

You might be sick tomorrow because you are all wet

You might regret it tomorrow, do not do it.

You may regret it tomorrow, do not do it.

He may eat up to two ice creams because he is healthy.

Verb + up to + cantidad

I can run up to 5 miles a day.

He might eat up to two ice creams because he is healthy.

He may fall, be careful.

He might fall, be careful.

 It may rain tomorrow, the sky is cloudy.

you may end up tired, you are running a lot

3.​ Must (deber / tener que)

○​ Must: Obligación fuerte (leyes/moral), deducción lógica (certeza alta).
■​ You must wear a mask. (obligación)
■​ You must finish your homework before eating.
■​ She must be tired, she did a lot of chores today. (deducción)
■​ She must be tired, she just finished running a marathon.
■​ She must be sick, she is never late.

She must show up to class to take her exam.

He must buy lunch for the children who will return from school.

He must finish the task so that the teacher can give him a grade.

4.​ Have to (tener que)

○​ Have to: no es una obligación, sino una actividad en la lista.
■​ I can’t go to the party, I have to walk my dog.
■​ I have to finish this assignment by Tuesday.

​ ​ ​ You have until sunday to do your homework

you must take your medicine at 8pm.

you have to study for your exam tomorrow.

you have to bathe to go to school.

5.​ Should / Ought to

○​ Should: (deberias) Consejo, sugerencia, reproches leves.
■​ You should see the dentist about that toothache.
■​ You should visit the doctor. (sugerencia)
■​ You should have visited her in jail.

You should pay attention to the teacher during class.

You should look at the traffic light before crossing the road.
 you should say hello when you get home.

you should learn to swim.

○​ Ought to: Similar a "should", pero más formal, casi bordeando el deber (must)
■​ You ought to finish your work.
■​ I ought to my mother to finish my degree.

6.​ Will / Would

○​ Will: promesas, decisiones espontáneas.
■​ I will call you later.
■​ I will go to your party tonight.

Don’t wait up for me. I'll be home late.

I'll see you tomorrow afternoon, no matter what.

I have the tickets. we will travel on friday night.

we will buy your dress next week.

I'll finish my homework in the room.

○​ Would: Situaciones hipotéticas, cortesía.

■​ If I were you, I would travel more.
■​ I would invite you, but I believe you are busy.

If it were summer we would go to the beach.

I would accompany you if I weren’t sick.

We would run , but we are not healthy.

7.​ Shall
○​ Usado para sugerencias, decisiones formales en primera persona (singular o
plural) - inglés británico.
■​ Shall we begin the meeting? (sugerencias)
■​ Shall (person) (verb) (complement)
■​ I shall finish this book by myself in my room.
 ■​ We shall stay together in this cold

Shall we sing the song?

Shall we play in the park?

Shall we run on the beach?

3. Modals en Diferentes Tiempos Verbales

Los modals pueden combinarse con distintos tiempos verbales, como el presente, pasado, y
perfecto.

1.​ Presente:
○​ Modal + verbo base.
■​ Ejemplo: She can speak French.
2.​ Pasado (usando perfect infinitive: "have + participio"):
○​ Modal + have + participio pasado (para expresar acciones hipotéticas o
deducciones pasadas).
■​ Ejemplo: You should have called me earlier.
■​ Ejemplo: She must have forgotten the appointment.
3.​ Futuro:
○​ Algunos modals se usan en futuro, como will o shall, pero otros no cambian
(como "must" y "should").
■​ Ejemplo: You will need more time tomorrow.
■​ Ejemplo: She must arrive by 8 PM.

Tenses
Will = aux de tiempo (futuro simple)
Going to= presente continuo/pasado continuo

I was going to buy some shoes with Lucia, why? Do you want to come?
I will buy shoes with Lucia tomorrow = promesa/decision espontanea

Diferencias entre "Will" y "Going to" para el futuro

En inglés, tanto "will" como "going to" se usan para hablar de eventos en el futuro, pero
tienen diferencias en cuanto a intención, predicciones y decisiones espontáneas.

1. "Will":

●​ Decisiones espontáneas o rápidas: Se usa cuando se decide hacer algo en el

momento de hablar, sin haberlo planeado previamente.
 ○​ Ejemplo: I’m thirsty. I will get a glass of water.
●​ Promesas o compromisos:
○​ Ejemplo: I will help you with your homework tomorrow.
●​ Ofrecimientos:
○​ Ejemplo: Don't worry, I will carry your bags for you.
●​ Predicciones basadas en opiniones: Se utiliza cuando una predicción no está basada
en evidencia tangible.
○​ Ejemplo: I think it will rain later.

2. "Going to":

●​ Planes o intenciones: Se usa cuando ya se ha decidido hacer algo antes de hablar, es

decir, cuando se tiene una intención clara o un plan previo.
○​ Ejemplo: I’m going to visit my grandmother this weekend.
●​ Predicciones basadas en evidencia actual: Se usa cuando una predicción se basa en
lo que podemos ver o en evidencia tangible.
○​ Ejemplo: Look at those clouds! It’s going to rain soon. (will de modal =certezas)
○​ She just ran a marathon, she is going to sleep all day long (certeza)
○​ If she runs a marathon, she will sleep all day long. (1st cond = certeza)
○​ I think she will sleep all day after running that marathon. (mi opinion)

Comparativa en una tabla:

Uso Will Going to

Decisiones rápidas I will call her right now. (No se usa para decisiones
espontáneas) decisiones
premeditadas (preacordadas)

I will buy shoes with Lisa. Ej: I am going to buy shoes

(improvisado) tomorrow with Lisa

Promesas I will never forget you. (No se usa comúnmente para

promesas)

Ofrecimientos I will help you with that. (No se usa para

ofrecimientos)
Predicciones basadas en I think she will win the race. (Se prefiere "will")
opiniones

Planes previos o (No se usa para planes) I’m going to study medicine.
intenciones

Predicciones basadas en (No se usa para predicciones Look at the sky! It’s going to
evidencia con evidencia) rain.

Will Going to

Decisiones rápidas Planes previos o

intenciones

Promesas, Ofrecimientos Intenciones

Predicciones basadas en Predicciones basadas en

opiniones evidencia

Otros Modals y Expresiones para el Futuro:

1.​ Shall:
○​ Se usa en inglés británico y formal, especialmente con "I" o "we", para hacer
sugerencias o propuestas.
○​ Ejemplo: Shall we go to the park? (propuesta).
2.​ Present Continuous:
○​ Para planes futuros que ya están organizados o arreglados.
 ○​ Ejemplo: I’m meeting Sarah tomorrow at 3 PM.
3.​ Simple Present:
○​ Usado para hablar de horarios o eventos fijos en el futuro.
○​ Ejemplo: The train leaves at 6 PM.

Ejercicios para practicar:

1.​ Completar oraciones:

○​ Ejercicio: Completa las oraciones con “will” o “going to”.
■​ Look at that car! It is going to crash into the wall.
■​ I’m really hungry. I think I will order pizza.
2.​ Decisiones y planes:
○​ Los estudiantes deben identificar si una oración es una decisión espontánea o
un plan premeditado y completarla con "will" o "(be) going to".
■​ I forgot my homework. I will tell the teacher.
■​ We are going to visit our grandparents next weekend.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Gaps (Modals)

Complete the sentences with an appropriate modal verb (can, should, must,
might, have to).

1.​ You must finish your homework before watching TV.

2.​ They might arrive late because of the traffic.
3.​ She can speak French fluently, but not English.
4.​ I should go to the doctor; I feel really sick.
5.​ You must wear a seatbelt while driving.
6.​ We should leave now if we want to make it on time.
7.​ I can bring some food for the picnic if you want.
8.​ They must/might/have to have a meeting tomorrow at 10 AM.
9.​ He might be at home, but I’m not sure.
10.​ You must apologize to her for what you said. /set/

Exercise 2: Will vs. Going to

Complete the sentences with either will or going to depending on the context (decisions made
on the spot vs. prior plans or predictions with evidence).

1.​ Look at those dark clouds! /klauds/ It is going to rain soon.

2.​ I’m sure he will pass the exam. He’s very smart.
 3.​ I forgot my keys! I will call my roommate to let me in. /kiis/
4.​ Next year, we will travel to Europe. We’ve already booked the tickets. /buukt/
5.​ She will help you with your homework after she finishes her own.
6.​ Watch out! You are going to spill your coffee!
7.​ I think you will love this movie. It’s fantastic!
8.​ They are going to have a meeting tomorrow at 10 AM. It's already scheduled.
9.​ I will get some water. Do you want some?
10.​We are going to move to a new apartment next month.

Exercise 3: Complete the Sentences (Modals and Will/Going To)

Fill in the blanks with the correct modal or future form.

1.​ You can/should/must/ought to ask for help if you don’t understand.

2.​ They should/can/ could / must/ may / might/ have to leave early today to catch their
flight.
3.​ He must/should/could/can may / might/ have to visit his grandmother this weekend.
4.​ She could/can/should/might / is going to call you when she gets home.
5.​ You could/should try that new restaurant; it’s delicious.
6.​ I will/might/could/can drive you to the airport tomorrow if you like.
7.​ We could/would probably finish the project by next week.
8.​ You must/should/could/can/ought to might/may want to bring a coat; it’s going to be
cold.
9.​ They should/have to/must/could/can/might submit the report by Friday.
10.​I think I will /must/might /could take a nap; I’m really tired.