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- Can, want and must: modal verbs
Can, want and must: modal verbs
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Say what you can, want to and have to do. These verbs are followed by an infinitive.
Key verbs
Verb + infinitive
¿Puedo ir al baño? = Can I go to the toilet?
Quiero ir a España. = I want to go to Spain.
Tengo que hacer los deberes. = I have to do my homework.
Debo + infinitive = I must / I should: Debo estudiar más.
Quiero ir a España. = I want to go to Spain.
Tengo que hacer los deberes. = I have to do my homework.
Debo + infinitive = I must / I should: Debo estudiar más.
Hay que and negatives
Hay que + infinitive = you have to / one must: Hay que llevar uniforme. It never changes.
Negative: no goes before the first verb: No puedo salir. = I can't go out.
No se puede + infinitive = you can't / it is not allowed: No se puede usar el móvil en clase.
Negative: no goes before the first verb: No puedo salir. = I can't go out.
No se puede + infinitive = you can't / it is not allowed: No se puede usar el móvil en clase.
Translate: I want to go to the cinema but I have to do my homework.
- I want to go: quiero ir.
- to the cinema: al cine.
- but I have to do my homework: pero tengo que hacer los deberes.
Answer: Quiero ir al cine pero tengo que hacer los deberes.
Poder (puedo), querer (quiero), tener que (tengo que) and deber (debo) + infinitive. Hay que + infinitive = you have to. No puedo + infinitive = I can't.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
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