![\"Modal](\"https:\/\/mydailyspanish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Spanish-Modal-Auxiliary-verbs_FB-twitter.png\" "\\"Spanish")
<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is a Spanish modal auxiliary verb?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
An auxiliary verb<\/strong>, sometimes called a \u2018helping verb,\u2019 is a verb that usually works with another verb (the main verb) to form a verb phrase\u2014for example, by putting it in front of an infinitive (volver<\/strong><\/em> a intentar<\/em>) or a gerund (estar<\/strong><\/em> cocinando<\/em>).<\/p>\nA modal verb<\/strong> is a specific type of auxiliary verb. Modal verbs are used to express \u2018modality,\u2019 i.e. things like obligation, ability, possibility, and so on. In English, this would include words like \u2018must,\u2019 \u2018shall,\u2019 \u2018would,\u2019 \u2018can,\u2019 etc.<\/p>\nSome of the most important modal verbs in Spanish are: <\/p>\n
\n- Querer<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
- Poder<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
- Saber<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
- Deber<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
- Tener que<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
- Soler<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
- Haber<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
We\u2019re going to look at them one by one, and conjugate them all in the present tense. Don\u2019t forget, they can be used in other tenses, too!<\/p>\n
Querer<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Querer <\/em>means \u2018to want.\u2019 One of the main ways to use it is to put it before an infinitive. This usage makes it a modal verb.<\/p>\nHere\u2019s how to conjugate it in the present tense.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\n
\n\n\n\t(Yo) quiero<\/i><\/td> (Nosotr@s) queremos<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t(T\u00fa) quieres<\/i><\/td> (Vosotr@s) quer\u00e9is<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t(\u00c9l\/ella\/usted) quiere<\/i><\/td> (Ellos\/ellas\/ustedes) quieren<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\nIf you use querer <\/em>in the imperfect subjunctive or the conditional (e.g. quisiera, querr\u00eda<\/em>), it can be a great way of politely asking for something, and isn\u2019t as strong as \u2018I WANT.\u2019<\/p>\nNow let\u2019s see how it\u2019s used in context. Remember, stick it before an infinitive.<\/p>\n\n
\n\n\n\tHoy quiero nadar en el mar.<\/i><\/td> Today I want to swim in the sea.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t\u00bfQuieres salir conmigo?<\/i><\/td> Do you want to go out with me?<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t\u00bfQuiere ir a la conferencia?<\/i><\/td> Do you (formal) want to go to the conference?<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tQueremos dar las gracias a Diego.<\/i><\/td> We want to thank Diego.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tS\u00e9 que quer\u00e9is ir a la fiesta pero he dicho que no.<\/i><\/td> I know you want to go to the party but I\u2019ve said no.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tQuieren comprar un nuevo coche.<\/i><\/td> They want to buy a new car.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tQuisiera ver al jefe, por favor.<\/i><\/td> I\u2019d like to see the boss, please.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tQuerr\u00edamos jugar aqu\u00ed si no le molesta, Se\u00f1or Cifuentes.<\/i><\/td> We would like to play here if it doesn\u2019t bother you, Mr. Cifuentes.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\nPoder<\/strong><\/h2>\nArguably the most common of the Spanish modal verbs, poder<\/em> doesn\u2019t have a direct one-word English equivalent, but it means \u2018to be able to.\u2019 <\/p>\nHere it is in the present tense.<\/p>\n\n
\n\n\n\t(Yo) puedo<\/i><\/td> (Nosotr@s) podemos<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t(T\u00fa) puedes<\/i><\/td> (Vosotr@s) pod\u00e9is<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t(\u00c9l\/ella\/usted) puede<\/i><\/td> (Ellos\/ellas\/ustedes) pueden<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n
A modal verb<\/strong> is a specific type of auxiliary verb. Modal verbs are used to express \u2018modality,\u2019 i.e. things like obligation, ability, possibility, and so on. In English, this would include words like \u2018must,\u2019 \u2018shall,\u2019 \u2018would,\u2019 \u2018can,\u2019 etc.<\/p>\n Some of the most important modal verbs in Spanish are: <\/p>\n We\u2019re going to look at them one by one, and conjugate them all in the present tense. Don\u2019t forget, they can be used in other tenses, too!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Querer <\/em>means \u2018to want.\u2019 One of the main ways to use it is to put it before an infinitive. This usage makes it a modal verb.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to conjugate it in the present tense.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n If you use querer <\/em>in the imperfect subjunctive or the conditional (e.g. quisiera, querr\u00eda<\/em>), it can be a great way of politely asking for something, and isn\u2019t as strong as \u2018I WANT.\u2019<\/p>\n Now let\u2019s see how it\u2019s used in context. Remember, stick it before an infinitive.<\/p>\n\n Arguably the most common of the Spanish modal verbs, poder<\/em> doesn\u2019t have a direct one-word English equivalent, but it means \u2018to be able to.\u2019 <\/p>\n Here it is in the present tense.<\/p>\n\n\n
Querer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n\n
\n\t (Yo) quiero<\/i><\/td> (Nosotr@s) queremos<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t (T\u00fa) quieres<\/i><\/td> (Vosotr@s) quer\u00e9is<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t (\u00c9l\/ella\/usted) quiere<\/i><\/td> (Ellos\/ellas\/ustedes) quieren<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n \n\n
\n\t Hoy quiero nadar en el mar.<\/i><\/td> Today I want to swim in the sea.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t \u00bfQuieres salir conmigo?<\/i><\/td> Do you want to go out with me?<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t \u00bfQuiere ir a la conferencia?<\/i><\/td> Do you (formal) want to go to the conference?<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Queremos dar las gracias a Diego.<\/i><\/td> We want to thank Diego.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t S\u00e9 que quer\u00e9is ir a la fiesta pero he dicho que no.<\/i><\/td> I know you want to go to the party but I\u2019ve said no.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Quieren comprar un nuevo coche.<\/i><\/td> They want to buy a new car.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Quisiera ver al jefe, por favor.<\/i><\/td> I\u2019d like to see the boss, please.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Querr\u00edamos jugar aqu\u00ed si no le molesta, Se\u00f1or Cifuentes.<\/i><\/td> We would like to play here if it doesn\u2019t bother you, Mr. Cifuentes.<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n Poder<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n\n
\n\t (Yo) puedo<\/i><\/td> (Nosotr@s) podemos<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t (T\u00fa) puedes<\/i><\/td> (Vosotr@s) pod\u00e9is<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t (\u00c9l\/ella\/usted) puede<\/i><\/td> (Ellos\/ellas\/ustedes) pueden<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n