Spanish Modal verbs (verbos modales en español) express the speaker’s feeling towards an action. These verbs indicate modality, ability, necessity, possibility, obligation or permission.
Subject Lessons:
Spanish Modal Verbs Detailed
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Subject Exercises:
Spanish Modal Verbs Exercise 1
Spanish Modal Verbs Worksheet 2
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Multiple Choice:
Modal Verbs Spanish Mixed Quiz
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The most commonly used Modal Verbs in Spanish are: deber, necesitar, permitir, poder, querer, saber, soler and deber de, haber que, tener que. The verb that follows a modal verb is always in the infinitive form.
Affirmative Modal Verbs in Spanish Table
| Affirmative Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Deber | have to / must / should | Debemos tomar el autobús a las 8:00 p.m. We must take the bus at 8:00 p.m. |
| Necesitar | need | Necesito estudiar este fin de semana. I need to study this weekend. |
| Permitir | allow / permission | El médico permite que se vea al paciente. The doctor allows the patient to be seen. |
| Poder | can / be able to | Puedo correr un kilómetro sin parar. I can run a kilometer without stopping. |
| Querer | want to | Quiero ir al parque por la tarde. I want to go to the park in the afternoon. |
| Saber | know / can (able) | Arturo y yo sabemos hablar español. Arturo and I know how to speak Spanish. Arturo and I can speak Spanish. |
| Soler | be accustomed to / normally | Suelo trabajar los sábados por la mañana. I normally work on Saturday mornings. |
| Deber de | must / should / have to (strong probability) | Mi hermana debe de estar en casa. My sister must be home. |
| Haber que | must / have to (necessity / obligation) | Hay que comprar frutas y verduras. (You) have to buy fruits and vegetables. |
| Tener que | have to (necessity / obligation) | Laura tiene que ir a trabajar. Laura has to go to work. |
Negative Modal Verbs in Spanish Table
| Negative Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| No deber | not have to / shouldn’t | No deberías beber demasiado té por la mañana. You shouldn’t drink too much tea in the morning. |
| No necesitar | not need to | No necesitamos ir al banco. We don’t need to go to the bank. |
| No permitir | not allow to | No se me permite salir de la casa. I am not allowed to leave the house. |
| No poder | can’t / not able to | No puedes comer en clase. You cannot eat in class. |
| No querer | not want to | No quiero ir a trabajar hoy. I don’t want to go to work today. |
| No saber | not know / can’t | Yo no sé nadar. I do not know how to swim. |
| No soler | not normally / not usually | No suelo cenar. I don’t usually / normally eat dinner. |
| No deber de | must not / should not / not have to | No deberías de conducir de noche. You shouldn’t drive at night. |
| No haber que | not have to | No hay que levantarse temprano hoy. (You) don’t have to get up early today. |
| No tener que | not have to | No tengo que presentar el informe hoy. I do not have to present the report today. |
Haber Que vs Tener Que Difference
The modals haber que + infinitive and tener que + infinitive express obligation or necessity. They both have a similar meaning but are used in different contexts.
Haber que + infinitive
- It is only used in impersonal sentences.
- It is used in the third person singular: Hay que.
- Indicates a necessary, obligatory or recommended, action for someone in general / everyone (not someone specifically).
Example:
Hay que lavarse las manos antes de comer.
Hands should be washed before eating. (Everyone / Anyone should wash their hands).
Tener que + infinitive
- Is used in personal sentences.
- It is used in the first, second or third person in singular or plural.
- Indicates an action that is necessary, obligatory or recommended for someone in particular.
Example:
Nicholas tiene que trabajar este sábado.
Nicholas has to work this Saturday. (Someone specifically has to work this Saturday).
