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Advanced Spanish Grammer > 6. Modal Constructions > Flashcards

6. Modal Constructions Flashcards

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1
Q

You ‘must’ see that film. (deber)

A

Debes ver esa película.

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2
Q

You ‘should’ put on a coat. (deber)

A

Deberías ponerte un abrigo.

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3
Q

You ‘ought’ to go to the dentist. (deber)

A

Deberías ir al dentista.

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4
Q

You ‘must’ go to the doctor. (tener que)

A

Tienes que ir al medico.

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5
Q

You ‘should’ eat less. (tener que)

A

Tenías que comer menos.

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6
Q

You ‘ought’ to be more careful. (tener que)

A

Tendrías que tener más cuidado.

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7
Q

You ‘should’ go on a diet. (tener que)- 2 ways:

A

Tenías que ponerte a dieta. (more common)

Tendrías que ponerte a dieta.

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8
Q

The English construction ‘had better + infinitive’ can be translated using the conditional of ___ or by the construction ______:

A

deber; sería mejor que + imperfect subjunctive.

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9
Q

‘You’d better’ talk with him. (2 ways: deber, sería)

A

Deberías hablar con él.

Sería mejor que hablaras con él.

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10
Q

‘to be better (for you, him, etc.) + infinitive’

A

ser mejor que + subjunctive

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11
Q

It’s better for you to go to bed early.

A

Es mejor que te acuestes temprano.

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12
Q

It’s better for you not to argue with her.

A

Es mejor que no discutas con ella.

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13
Q

If I were you, I’d walk to the office.

A

Si yo fuera tú, me iría andando a la oficina.

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14
Q

I wouldn’t buy that.

A

Yo no compraría eso.

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15
Q

I would call them right now.

A

Yo les llamaría ahora mismo.

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16
Q

I advise you not to smoke so much.

A

Te aconsejo que no fumes tanto.

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17
Q

I would advise you not to do it.

A

Yo te aconsejaría que no lo hicieras.

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18
Q

Why don’t ….+ present ? (can be used to give advice):

A

Por qué no …. + presente

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19
Q

Why don’t you sell it?

A

¿Por qué no lo vendes?

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20
Q

Why don’t you spend a few days with us?

A

¿Por qué no pasas unos días con nosotros?

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21
Q

The English construction for advice ‘it is time . . .’ translates as (3 ways):

A

Es hora de que, ya es hora de que, ya va siendo hora de que. (these expressions are followed by the subjunctive forms).

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22
Q

It’s time you gave up smoking. (ya va . . .)

A

Ya va siendo hora que dejes de fumar.

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23
Q

It’s time you tidied up your room. (Ya es hora . . .)

A

Ya es hora de que ordenes tu habitación.

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24
Q

She told me that ‘it was time’ I spoke with my boss. (ya iba ….)

A

Ella me dijo que ya iba siendo hora de que hablara con mi jefe.

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25
Q

May/might as well can be translated using the verb:

A

poder

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26
Q

When the speaker expresses advice in a mild way (that is, the advice is not emphasized or insisted on), _____, can be added (usually preceding the verb poder).

A

por las mismas

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27
Q

You might as well try. (poder)

A

Podrías intentarlo.

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28
Q

You may as well talk with him. (por las mismas)

A

Por las mismas puedes hablar con el.

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29
Q

As in English, a very simple way of making suggestions is by using the plural first-person imperative:

Let’s take a walk.

A

Demos un paseo.

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30
Q

As in English, a very simple way of making suggestions is by using the plural first-person imperative:

Let’s visit them.

A

Visitémosles.

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31
Q

In everyday Spanish, it is more common to make a suggestion using the verb ir a + infinitive, even when no movement is implied:

Let’s have a coffee.

A

Tomemos un café.

Vamos a tomar un café.

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32
Q

In English, the question tag ‘shall we?’ can be added to constructions with ‘let’s.’ In Spanish ¿__? and ¿___? can be added.

A

¿vale? ¿de acuerdo?

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33
Q

Let’s rent a film, shall we?

A

Vamos a alquilar una película, ¿vale?/ ¿de acuerdo?

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34
Q

Let’s have a drink, shall we?

A

Vamos a tomar una copa, ¿vale?/ ¿de acuerdo?

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35
Q

Constructions with ‘shall we’ are translated into Spanish using the present indicative:

Shall we eat with them?
Shall we stay at that hotel?

A

¿Comemos con ellos?

¿Nos alojamos en ese hotel?

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36
Q

‘Why don’t’ is translated by ‘______’ + present indicative.

A

por qué no + present indicative

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37
Q

Why don’t we have lunch together?

A

¿Por qué no almorzamos juntos?

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38
Q

Why don’t you go to the dentist?

A

¿Por qué no vas al dentista?

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39
Q

How about selling the house?/ How about if we sell the house? (parecer)

A

¿Qué te parece si vendemos la casa?

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40
Q

How about selling the house?/ How about if you sell the house?

A

¿Qué te parece si vendes la casa?

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41
Q

What/how about …? translates as ¿Qué te/le/os/les parece si + subject + present indicative. ¿Qué te parece si vendes la casa?

Instead of qué te/le/os/les parece si, you can use ____.

A

¿Qué tal si . . .?

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42
Q

How about buying that apartment? (Qué tal .. ) (we)

A

¿Qué tal si compramos ese apartamento?

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43
Q

How about talking to him? (Qué tal …)

A

¿Qué tal si hablas con él?

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44
Q

The imperative of the verb ‘suponer’ (suppose) can also be used to make suggestions: ‘Suppose you invite them.’

A

Supón que les invitas.

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45
Q

The imperative of the verb ‘suponer’ (suppose) can also be used to make suggestions: ‘Suppose you phoned them. (usted)’

A

Suponga usted que les llama.

46
Q

In English, the verb ‘suppose’ can be followed by past tenses (Suppose you phoned them). This is possible in Spanish too (using the imperfect subjunctive), but then the suggestion represents an idea that sounds very:

A

remote or improbable

47
Q

A very direct way of making suggestions is the use of the verbs ‘suggest’ and ‘propose.’ (both are followed by subjunctive forms)

A

sugerir; proponer

48
Q

I suggest that you buy that magazine.

A

Te sugiero que compres esa revista.

49
Q

I propose you have dinner with us.

A

Te propongo que comas la cena con nosotros.

50
Q

If sugerir and proponer are conjugated in a past tense or in the conditional, the imperfect subjunctive follows:

I would suggest that you not smoke here.

A

Yo sugeriría que no fumaras aquí.

51
Q

I suggested that you go to Colombia.

A

Te sugerí que fueras a Colombia.

52
Q

Sugerir and proponer can be followed by infinitives. When this happens, the suggestion usually includes the speaker:

I propose discussing this with him.

A

Propongo discutir esto con él.

53
Q

Sugerir and proponer can be followed by infinitives. When this happens, the suggestion usually includes the speaker:

I suggest not going there by car.

A

Sugiero no ir allí en coche.

54
Q

She suggests that he work for her.

A

Ella sugiere que él trabaje para ella.

55
Q

I suggest you stay here. (usted)

A

Sugiero que usted se quede aquí.

56
Q

If I were you, I’d paint it green.

A

Si yo fuera tú, lo pintaría de verde.

57
Q

If I were you, I wouldn’t sign the contract. (usted)

A

Si yo fuera usted, no firmaría el contrato.

58
Q

Yo que tú/usted/vosotros/ustedes is a very common substitute for ‘si yo fuera tú/etc’

If I were you, I’d do it tomorrow.

A

Yo que tú, lo haría mañana.

59
Q

The verb ‘poder’ can be used to express possibility or doubt. When the context is clear, the structure of the sentence is very similar to that of the English equivalent:

Luis might come later.

A

Luis puede venir luego.

60
Q

The verb ‘poder’ can be used to express possibility or doubt.

Marta might bring it.

A

Marta puede traerlo.

61
Q

The conditional of poder expresses a more remote possibility or a higher degree of doubt:

Antonio might know.

Antonio could know.

A

Antonio podría saberlo.

62
Q

The conditional of poder expresses a more remote possibility:

Mari might buy it.

Mari could buy it.

A

Mari podría comprarlo.

63
Q

In referring to the recent past, the present of poder + haber + past participle is very common:

They may have been there.

A

Pueden haber estado allí.

64
Q

In referring to the recent past, the present of poder + haber + past participle is very common:

They might have taken something.

A

Pueden haber cogido algo.

65
Q

In referring to the recent past, the present of poder + haber + past participle is very common:

They may have been there. (with more uncertainty)

A

Podrían haber estado allí.

66
Q

In referring to the recent past, the present of poder + haber + past participle is very common:

They might have taken something. (with more uncertainty)

A

Podrían haber cogido algo.

67
Q

El ladrón podía estar en la otra habitación.

El ladrón pudo estar en la otra habitación.

Cúal es la diferencia?

A

With podía, the thief emphasizes the time period during which the thief may have been in the room.

With pudo, the speaker considers the action as finished.

Usuallt you can use either without significant differences in meaning, although the preterit is usually prefered.

68
Q

They might have come in through the back door. (poder + haber)

A

Pudieron haber entrado por la puerta de atrás.

69
Q

Juan could have stolen the money. (podría + haber)

A

Juan podría haber robado el dinero.

70
Q

Another common construction in talking about possibility or doubt is puede que (invariable) + subjunctive forms.

I might go there.

A

Puede que (yo) vaya allí.

71
Q

Another common construction in talking about possibility or doubt is puede que (invariable) + subjunctive forms.

The might have it.

A

Puede que lo tengan.

72
Q

Past subjunctive forms (after Puede que) usually refer to the past, but they can also be used to refer to very remote possibilities in the present or future:

They might be at home.
They could be at home.

A

Puede que estuvieran en casa.

73
Q

Past subjunctive forms (after Puede que) usually refer to the past, but they can also be used to refer to very remote possibilities in the present or future:

I might go with them.
I could go with them.

A

Puede que (yo) fuera con ellos.

74
Q

‘Puede que’ can also be followed by the present subjunctive of ‘haber’ and a past participle. In this case, the speaker refers to the recent past or to an action that started in the past and continues up to the present:

She may have seen it.

A

Puede que ella lo haya enviado.

75
Q

‘Puede que’ can also be followed by the present subjunctive of ‘haber’ and a past participle. In this case, the speaker refers to the recent past or to an action that started in the past and continues up to the present:

They may have been happy together.

A

Puede que hayan sido felices juntos.

76
Q

She might/could have said it before. (Puede que + past perfect subjunctive).

A

Puede que ella lo hubiera dicho antes.

77
Q

They might/could have passed (the test). (Puede que + past perfect subjunctive)

A

Puede que ellos hubieran aprobado (el examen).

78
Q

Instead of ‘puede que’ you can use ‘puede ser que + present subjunctive’ and ‘podría ser que + past subjunctive.’ The second indicates a higher degree of uncertainty:

It might rain.

A

Puede ser que llueva.

79
Q

They might come. (Podría ser que)

They could come.

A

Podría ser que vinieran.

80
Q

Juan might/could be ill. (Podría ser que)

A

Podría ser que Juan estuviera enfermo.

81
Q

They may/might have seen it. (Puede ser que)

A

Puede ser que lo hayan visto.

82
Q

It might/could have been stolen. (Podría ser que)

A

Podría ser que lo hubieran robado.

83
Q

Note that possibility is also conveyed using the present perfect of poder:

Marta may/might have been with them.

A

Marta ha podido estar con ellos.

84
Q

Note that possibility is also conveyed using the present perfect of poder:

Your brother may/might have done it.

A

Tú hermano ha podido hacerlo.

85
Q

In the previous unit, you saw the use of ___, ____, and ____ in commands. In this section you are going to see these verbs in other contexts.

A

deber, poder, tener que

86
Q

Both ‘deber de’ and ‘tener que’ can be used to express deduction and what may be deduced.

You must be exhausted. (deber de)

A

Debes de estar agotado.

87
Q

Both ‘deber de’ and ‘tener que’ can be used to express deduction and what may be deduced.

It must be twelve o’clock. (tener que)

A

Tienen que ser las doce.

88
Q

Both ‘deber de’ and ‘tener que’ can be used to express deduction and what may be deduced. (even in negative sentences)

It can’t be very late. (deber + de)

A

No debe de ser muy tarde.

89
Q

Both ‘deber de’ and ‘tener que’ can be used to express deduction and what may be deduced. (even in negative sentences)

They can’t be very hungry. (tener que)

A

No tienen que tener mucha hambre.

90
Q

Rather than deber de or tener que (in negative sentences that express deduction, like ‘it can’t be very late/ no debe de ser muy tarde), the present tense of ‘poder’ can be used, but then the speaker is more certain that the statement is true:

Antonio can’t be in Paris; I just saw him.

A

Antonio no puede estar in Paris; acabo de verlo.

91
Q

Deduction referring to the recent past can be expressed by the present of deber de +haber + past participle/tener que + haber + past participle (including poder in the negative):

You must have had a very bad time.

A

Debes de haberlo pasado muy mal.

92
Q

Deduction referring to the recent past can be expressed by the present of deber de +haber + past participle/tener que + haber + past participle (including poder in the negative):

You must have felt awful.

A

Tienes que haberte sentido horrible.

93
Q

Deduction referring to the recent past can be expressed by the present of deber de +haber + past participle/tener que + haber + past participle (including poder in the negative):

It can’t have been so difficult.

A

No puede haber sido tan difícil.

94
Q

In addition to (deber de haber + past participle, tener que haber + past participle) Haber + deber/tener can also express deduction in the present perfect:

It must have cost a lot.

A

Ha debido de costar mucho.

95
Q

In addition to (deber de haber + past participle, tener que haber + past participle) Haber + deber de/tener can also express deduction in the present perfect:

It must have been an ordeal.

A

Ha tenido que ser una tortura.

96
Q

In addition to (deber de haber + past participle, tener que haber + past participle) Haber + deber/tener can also express deduction in the present perfect:

It can’t have been so cheap.

A

No ha podido ser tan barato.

97
Q

Deduction about a more remote past is expressed by the imperfect or preterit of deber/tener que + infinitive (including poder in the negative):

She must have been about twenty years old.

A

Ella tenía que tener unos veinte años.

98
Q

Deduction about a more remote past is expressed by the imperfect or preterit of deber/tener que + infinitive (including poder in the negative):

They must have taken a taxi.

A

Ellos debieron de coger un taxi.

99
Q

Deduction about a more remote past is expressed by the imperfect or preterit of deber/tener que + infinitive (including poder in the negative):

Juan can’t have stolen the jewels.

A

Juan no pudo robar las joyas.

100
Q

In terms of time, the imperfect refers to the period ‘____’ while the preterit refers to”____”

A

‘around that time’; ‘that very moment’

101
Q

To refer to the recent past, the present perfect of deber can be used:

You should have done it before.

A

Has debido hacerlo antes.

102
Q

To refer to the recent past, the present perfect of tener que can be used:

You should have done it before.

A

Has tenido que hacerlo antes.

103
Q

The preterite forms of deber and tener que are very often used to make suggestions (should have) that refer to both the recent and remote past:

You should have taken the train. (2 ways)

A

Debiste coger el tren.

Tuviste que coger el tren.

104
Q

The imperfect of tener que + haber + past participle is a general construction that can express ‘should have’ in both the recent and remote past:

You should have taken the exam.

A

Tenías que haber hecho el examen.

105
Q

The imperfect of tener que + haber + past participle is a general construction that can express ‘should have’ in both the recent and remote past:

You shouldn’t have eaten so much.

A

No tenías que haber comido tanto.

106
Q

The conditional of deber + haber + past participle can be used like (no tenías que haber comido tando/you shouldn’t have eaten so much):

You should have drunk less.

A

Deberías haber bebido menos.

107
Q

The conditional of deber + haber + past participle can be used like (no tenías que haber comido tando/you shouldn’t have eaten so much):

You shouldn’t have said anything.

A

No deberías haber dicho nada.

108
Q

The conditional of tener que can also be used for ‘should have’ (like debes+haber, tenías que haber), but is less common than the other two:

You should have studied harder.

A

Tendrías que haber estudiado más.

109
Q

Unnecessary past actions are usually expressed using the imperfect of no tener que +haber + past participle/ no tener por qué +haber + past participle:

I needn’t have bought any sugar.

A

No tenía que haber comprado azúcar.

No tenía por qué haber comprado azúcar.

110
Q

Like with (No tenía que haber comprado azúcar(, it is possible to avoid the verb haber when the context makes it clear that the action took place but was unnecessary:

You needn’t have helped.

A

No tenías que ayudar.

111
Q

Ser necesario que and hacer falta que can express that an action took place but was unnecessary:

You needn’t have cleaned it.

A

No era necesario que lo limpiaras.

No hacía falta que lo limpiaras.

112
Q

Ser necesario que and hacer falta que can express that an action took place but was unnecessary:

You needn’t have washed the curtains. (both ways)

A

No hacía falta que lavaras las cortinas.

No era necesario que lavaras las cortinas.

Advanced Spanish Grammer (13 decks)

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