Habilidad/Capacidad Can: algo que sabemos o somos capaces de hacer. Expresa capacidad en el presente y el futuro.

Could: capacidad en el pasado Be able to: lo usamos en todos los tiempos verbales. Permiso/ Peticiones Para dar permiso a alguien para hacer algo: Can (cant: denegar permiso)/may (may not: denegar permiso) Para pedir permiso para hacer algo o para pedirle algo a alguien: can /could /may. Can I go to the park, mum? / Could John and I go to the cinema, Mrs. Baker? May I talk to you for a minute, sir? / May I use your pen? Para pedir a alguien que haga algo: can/will o could /would. Will you answer the phone please? Ofrecimientos Para ofrecernos a hacer algo por alguien usamos Shall I? o Can I..? Shall I drive you home? / Can I help you with your luggage, madam? Para ofrecer algo a alguien usamos Would you like?: Would you like some orange juice? Obligation and necessity Para hablar de algo que estamos obligados a hacer usamos must o have to. I must phone my parents and tell them the good news. I have to go now. Its late. Must solo se usa en presente. Para el resto de tiempos usamos have to.: I had to take a taxi home last night Para algo que en necesario usamos need : I need to be at the office no later than 9 a.m. Absence of obligation Para hablar de algo que no es necesario, podemos usar: o o Dont have to+ infinitivo: You dont have to get up early tomorrow Neednt + infinitive: You neednt get up early tomorrow Could you tell me the way to the Town Hall, please?

Para hablar de algo que no era necesario en el pasado: Si ya sabamos que no era necesario en el pasado (suponemos que la accin no tuvo lugar): o o o didnt have to+ infinitive: He didnt have to go to work yesterday. didnt need to + infinitive: He didnt need to go to work yesterday. neednt have + past participle: He neednt have gone to work yesterday.

Para referirnos a una accin que no era necesaria pero tuvo lugar:

Prohibition/Restriction Para hablar de algo que nos prohibe hacer algo (prohibicin) o no nos permite hacer algo (restriccin) usamos mustnt, cant You mustnt touch the paintings. / You cant park here. Consejo/Crtica Para dar consejo: should /ought to +infinitivo Usamos should/ought to+ have + past participle para referirnos a algo que creemos que tena que haber sucedido en el pasado de una forma diferente a la que sucedi (criticism). You should have been more careful. (But you werent) Possibility/probability Para expresar posibilidad en el presente y en el futuro: could/may/might. He may win the race. Hes one of our best runners. Ojo: couldnt no se utiliza para expresar posibilidad Para expresar posibilidad en el pasado usamos may/might/could + have+ past participle.: I might have left my jacket at school. Con could have + past participle nos referimos a algo que pudo haber sucedido pero no ocurri: You could have asked the doctor before taking that medicine. Deduction Para expresar una conclusin lgica usamos must en el presente y must have + past participle para hablar de un hecho pasado: Para expresar que algo no puede ser cierto: cant en el presente y cant have/couldnt have+ past participle para un hecho pasado. He cant be a basketball player. Hes too short! The answer wasnt right. We must have made a mistake. Look in my purse. I might have some money in it.

He couldnt have gone to the concert because he was doing a test.

PROHIBITION
mustnt
We use mustnt when something is forbidden to do.

cant

You mustnt take photos in this museum because it gives harm to the monuments. In Turkey you mustnt smoke in public places.

Parking here is forbidden = You mustnt park here.

We use cant when we are not allowed to something.

You are not allowed to enter this room = You cant enter this room. She cant use the managers computer. ( Shes not allowed. )