Modal verbs and reflexives….

What is a modal verb? an auxiliary verb that expresses necessity or possibility. English modal verbs include must, shall, will, should, would, can, could, may, and might. So what are these verbs?

necesitar deber poder querer preferir soler What are some of the modal verbs in Spanish? necesitar deber poder querer preferir soler to need should can/ to be able to to want to prefer usually

pensar tener que hay que ir a These mean…. pensar tener que hay que ir a to plan to have to one must going to

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER – they are ALWAYS followed by an infinitive!! (verb ending in -ar, -er, -ir) …..these verbs can not stand alone…could you imagine saying to someone…I can. You need. We must. Ej: Puedo ir al baño? Pienso estudiar esta noche. Debo limpiar mi cuarto.

Tenemos QUE prestar atención a las reglas…. In Spanish if there is a second part to the modal verb, such as QUE or A, you MUST write it EVERY TIME Tenemos QUE prestar atención a las reglas…. EXCEPTIONS

¡VAMOS A PRACTICAR!

I must drink water. agua debo hablar tengo inglés beber

I must drink water. Debo beber agua

I can eat vegetables. comer puedo beber quiero las patatas las verduras comer puedo beber quiero las patatas

Puedo comer las verduras I can eat vegetables. Puedo comer las verduras

I want to stop smoking. quiero fumar salir debo dejar de tarde

I want to stop smoking. Quiero dejar de fumar

I need to do some exercise. tomar ejercicio hacer ser suelo necesito

Necesito hacer ejercicio I need to exercise. Necesito hacer ejercicio

I usually keep fit. suelo en forma tengo temprano acostarme mantenerme

Suelo mantenerme en forma I usually keep fit. Suelo mantenerme en forma

I need to drink less soda. necesito gaseosa tomar debo refrescos menos

Necesito tomar menos refrescos I need to drink less soda. Necesito tomar menos refrescos

We have to exercise more. Tenemos que hacer más ejercicio.

What about modal verbs with reflexive verbs? Where do I put the R.O.P.?

Reflexive verbs ejemplo: Me afeito When we conjugate reflexive verbs we know that if we put the ROP BEFORE the CONJUGATED VERB it will never be wrong ejemplo: Me afeito

ROP infinitive conjugated verb ej: Me voy a afeitar. The same thing happens when using 2 verb sentence because at least ONE verb must be conjugated! ej: Me voy a afeitar. ROP infinitive conjugated verb

You can ALSO put the ROP in another spot!!! BUT WAIT!!!!…THERE’S MORE!!!! You can ALSO put the ROP in another spot!!! *Voy a afeitarme *This method is more common with English speakers because it translates word for word

Me voy a afeitar Voy a afeitarme Here Me voy a afeitar Voy a afeitarme Here No where else!!!!!

Write each sentences in 2 ways. Te toca a ti! Write each sentences in 2 ways.

I want to brush my teeth Quiero cepillarme los dientes Me quiero cepillar los dientes *We never say mi or mis when using reflexive verbs because it’s already implied

He has to get dressed Él se tiene que vestir Él tiene que vestirse *It’s also not necessary to use the subject pronoun, but in the case of the 3rd person it’s a good idea to use it to avoid confusion

We prefer to shower at night. Nos preferimos duchar por la noche. Preferimos ducharnos por la noche. *in Spanish we never say en for the time of day, we say de or por

They need to wake up before getting up. Ellos se necesitan despertar antes de levantarse. Ellos necesitan despertarse HOLD UP….WHAT?

When using the words before and after in Spanish we have 2 options. Side note… When using the words before and after in Spanish we have 2 options. Antes, Después, conjugated verb + Antes de Después de + Infinitive

Por ejemplo…. Yo me lavo la cara y después me maquillo. Después de lavarme la cara, me maquillo. Why is this? Sometimes in Spanish we need and -ing word or gerund. In order to do that we use the infinitive.

practice makes perfect so let’s practice some more!!!

FIN.