CAN
a)
posibilidad
You can go if you want
You can go if you want
b)
habilidad
I can play the guitar
I can play the guitar
c)
permiso
Can I go to the toilet?
Can I go to the toilet?
d)
deducción (negativa)
That exercise cannot be right
That exercise cannot be right
e)
“be able to” (en tiempos verbales que no se puede utilizar "can")
I will not be able to play football for three weeks
I will not be able to play football for three weeks
COULD
a)
habilidad en pasado
She could swim faster when she was young
She could swim faster when she was young
b)
peticiones educadas
Could you open the door, please?
Could you open the door, please?
c)
imposibilidad en pasado
They could not win the match yesterday
They could not win the match yesterday
d)
especulación
There is a book on the floor, it could be yours.
There is a book on the floor, it could be yours.
e)
sugerencias
You could study more and work harder
You could study more and work harder
f)
en “reported speech”
He told us he could come with us
He told us he could come with us
g)
críticas
you could have washed the dishes!
you could have washed the dishes!
BE ABLE TO
(ser capaz de algo) = una acción que
finalmente se puede hacer como resultado de algo. (sustituye a "can" en los tiempos verbales en los que no se utiliza)
I was able to travel around the world because I won the lottery
I was able to travel around the world because I won the lottery
MAY
a)
petición
May I start the exam?
May I start the exam?
b)
permiso
May I use your dictionary?
May I use your dictionary?
c)
posibilidad
We may have an exam tomorrow
We may have an exam tomorrow
d)
especulación
It may be the solution to your problem
It may be the solution to your problem
MIGHT
a)
posibilidad
He thinks we might fail
He thinks we might fail
b)
especulación
The engine might be broken
The engine might be broken
MUST
a)
obligación
You must arrive early
You must arrive early
b)
prohibición (en negativa)
Children must not drink alcohol
Children must not drink alcohol
c)
deducción (en afirmativa)
He is not here, he must have left
He is not here, he must have left
HAVE TO
a)
obligación
In our hotel you have to leave the room before twelve o'clock
In our hotel you have to leave the room before twelve o'clock
b)
(negativa) ausencia de
obligación
You do not have to send the composition by mail
You do not have to send the composition by mail
NEED
a)
necesidad
I need some money to pay the bill
I need some money to pay the bill
b)
(negativa) ausencia de
obligación
You need not come with us
You need not come with us
SHOULD / OUGHT TO
a)
consejos
You should speak with her if she is angry
You should speak with her if she is angry
b)
obligaciones morales
the money is yours, he should give it to you
the money is yours, he should give it to you
c)
crítica en acciones pasadas
You should have spoken less and worked more in class
You should have spoken less and worked more in class
WILL (FUTURO SIMPLE)
I will go to the museum next Thursday
I will go to the museum next Thursday
SHALL
a)
ofrecimientos
Shall I buy it for you?
Shall I buy it for you?
b)
sugerencias
Shall we have lunck at the italian restaurant?
Shall we have lunck at the italian restaurant?
c)
tomar decisiones
I shall call my parents tomorrow
I shall call my parents tomorrow
WOULD
a)
peticiones educadas
Would you give me that box?
Would you give me that box?
b)
ofrecimientos
Would you like to go out with me?
Would you like to go out with me?
USED TO / WOULD
a)
rutinas en pasado
We used to swim in the river when we were children
We used to swim in the river when we were children
b)
situaciones pasadas
I used to be a football player before I became a teacher
I used to be a football player before I became a teacher
c)
hábitos pasados (no estados)
We used to do our homework, but now we don't
We used to do our homework, but now we don't