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Modal verbs and impersonal expressions

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Say what you can, must, want and know how to do, and give rules with hay que and se puede.

Modal verbs + infinitive

poder (can): puedo salir. querer (want): quiero ir. deber (must, should): debo estudiar.
tener que (have to): tengo que hacer los deberes (do not forget que).
saber (know how to): sé nadar = I can swim.

Impersonal expressions

hay que + infinitive = one must: Hay que llevar uniforme.
se puede (you can), no se puede (you can't), se necesita (you need).
No se puede comer en clase.

Polite wishes

quisiera + infinitive = I would like to.
me gustaría + infinitive = I would like to: Me gustaría visitar México.
Worked example

Translate: I have to do my homework.

  1. have to = tener que: tengo que
  2. do = hacer (infinitive)
  3. homework = los deberes

Answer: Tengo que hacer los deberes.

Key idea

Poder, querer, deber, saber + infinitive; tener que + infinitive. Hay que / se puede / se necesita for general rules. Quisiera / me gustaría for wishes.

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