MODAL OF DEDUCTION

    

Los verbos modales must, can´t, might/may/could se utilizan para expresar certeza, probabilidad o imposibilidad.

POSIBILIDADES:

Utilizamos estos modales could, might, may para expresar que algo es posible en un futuro, aunque no estamos seguros de que ocurra.

NOTA: El verbo siempre va en su forma base.

•  It could rain tomorrow.
• She might come back later.
•  We may go to Ibiza next year
• I might play tennis tomorrow though it depends on how I feel.
•  My friend could be about 32 I think.

IMPOSIBILIDAD:

Utilizamos el modal can't/cannot, couldn't/could not, es decir, can en la forma negativa, para expresar la imposibilidad, ya sea en el presente o en el pasado.

• Good books can't be short.
•  Marla couldn't be on time for the class.
•  My roommate can't be at the church, he's not a religious man.

REAL O PROBABLE:

Usamos el modal must y should para mostrar que estamos seguros de algo y que tenemos razones para creerlo así.

• She has been working all day, she must be tired.
• You must have heard the bad news about the accident.
• She finishes work not so she should arrive here any moment.
• The store must be closed at this time.
•  It's nearly midnight. They should have arrived by now.

TAG QUESTIONS

Para formar esta pregunta corta se utiliza el auxiliar de la frase principal y su sujeto pero de signo contrario. Si no tuviera auxiliar entonces utilizaríamos el auxiliar “to do”.

Si la oración es afirmativa, la pregunta coletilla es negativa y viceversa.

Oraciones Afirmativas (El verbo auxiliar en el "tag" es negativo.)	Oraciones Negativas (El verbo auxiliar en el "tag" es afirmativo.)
To be
You're a teacher, aren't you?	You aren't a teacher, are you?
He's tired, isn't he?	He isn't tired, is he?
Tiempo Presente
You speak English, don't you?	You don't speak English, do you?
He swims, doesn't he?	He doesn't swim, does he?
Tiempo Pasado
He went to school, didn't he?	He didn't go to school, did he?
Presente Perfecto
You have finished, haven't you?	You haven't finished, have you?
He has left, hasn't he?	He hasn't left, has he?
Futuro
She will cook, won't she?	She won't cook, will she?

AFIRMATIVAS:

• Your brother is older than you, isn’t he?
• You can help me, can’t you?
• John is getting married, isn’t he?
• You worked yesterday, didn’t you?
• Sarah likes ice cream, doesn’t she?

NEGATIVAS:

• You’re not from here, are you?
• Kate’s not American, is she?
• Peter never liked Susan, did he?
• They didn’t go to class yesterday, did they?
• You can’t dance, can you?