Grammar in focus
Form
modal + base verb (no -s, no to, no do/does): can, could, may, might, must, should
| Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|
| She can swim. / You must go. | He can't swim. / You mustn't go. | Can she swim? / Should I go? |
Use
- Ability: can / could (past): I could swim when I was five.
- Permission and requests: Can I open the window? Could you help me? May I come in?
- Obligation and prohibition: You must wear a seatbelt. You mustn't smoke here.
- No obligation: You don't have to come early.
- Advice: You should see a doctor. You shouldn't eat so much sugar.
- Possibility: It might rain tomorrow.
- Deduction: She must be at home (sure). He can't be at work (impossible).
Watch out
She cans swim→ She can swim.I must to go→ I must go.Does she can swim?→ Can she swim?- mustn't = prohibited; don't have to = not necessary.
En español
Modales + verbo base: can = poder/saber, must = deber (obligación), should = debería (consejo), might = quizás. No llevan -s ni to. Mustn't = prohibido; don't have to = no es necesario.
US vs UK
This book teaches American English. These are the differences you will notice with British English on this topic.
Needn't is rare in American English.
Needn't es raro en el inglés americano.
Americans use should, not shall, in offers and suggestions.
En EE. UU. se usa should, no shall.
Must for personal obligation sounds strong or formal in the US; have to is the everyday choice.
Must suena fuerte o formal en EE. UU.; have to es lo cotidiano.
Exam practice
- Five parts, like a certification exam: multiple choice, open cloze, error identification, sentence transformation and US vs UK.
- Typed answers accept American spelling and contractions (don't = do not).
- Every item has feedback in English and Spanish. Items and options change order on every attempt.
- Only Exam mode saves your score to your progress. You pass with 70%.
Practice mode
No timer. Check each part as you go and read the feedback.
Exam mode
25 minutes. Feedback at the end. Your best score is saved.