Poder (Can/To Be Able To)
Poder expresses ability, possibility, or permission.
Present Tense Conjugation
Poder is an irregular stem-changing verb (o→ue):
yo puedo
I can
tú puedes
you can
él/ella/usted puede
he/she/you can
nosotros/as podemos
we can
vosotros/as podéis
you all can
ellos/ellas/ustedes pueden
they/you all can
Uses of Poder
Different meanings and uses of poder:
Puedo hablar español.
I can speak Spanish. (ability)
¿Puedes ayudarme?
Can you help me? (request)
Puede llover mañana.
It might rain tomorrow. (possibility)
¿Puedo entrar?
May I come in? (permission)
No puedo venir hoy.
I can't come today. (inability)
Deber (Should/Must/Ought To)
Deber expresses obligation, duty, or strong recommendation.
Present Tense Conjugation
Deber is a regular -er verb:
yo debo
I should/must
tú debes
you should/must
él/ella/usted debe
he/she/you should/must
nosotros/as debemos
we should/must
vosotros/as debéis
you all should/must
ellos/ellas/ustedes deben
they/you all should/must
Uses of Deber
Different meanings and uses of deber:
Debes estudiar más.
You should study more. (advice)
Debo llegar temprano.
I must arrive early. (obligation)
Debemos respetar las reglas.
We must respect the rules. (duty)
Debe de estar en casa.
He must be at home. (probability)
No debes fumar.
You shouldn't smoke. (prohibition)
Querer (To Want)
Querer expresses desire, wish, or intention.
Present Tense Conjugation
Querer is an irregular stem-changing verb (e→ie):
yo quiero
I want
tú quieres
you want
él/ella/usted quiere
he/she/you want
nosotros/as queremos
we want
vosotros/as queréis
you all want
ellos/ellas/ustedes quieren
they/you all want
Uses of Querer
Different meanings and uses of querer:
Quiero aprender español.
I want to learn Spanish. (desire)
¿Quieres café?
Do you want coffee? (offer)
Queremos viajar a España.
We want to travel to Spain. (intention)
Te quiero mucho.
I love you very much. (affection)
¿Qué quiere decir esto?
What does this mean? (meaning)
Tener que (To Have To)
Tener que expresses strong obligation or necessity.
Formation
Tener que is formed with tener + que + infinitive:
tengo que
I have to
tienes que
you have to
tiene que
he/she/you have to
tenemos que
we have to
tenéis que
you all have to
tienen que
they/you all have to
Uses of Tener que
Expressing necessity and strong obligation:
Tengo que trabajar mañana.
I have to work tomorrow.
Tienes que estudiar para el examen.
You have to study for the exam.
Tenemos que llegar a tiempo.
We have to arrive on time.
¿Tienes que irte ya?
Do you have to leave now?
No tengo que trabajar los domingos.
I don't have to work on Sundays.
Other Modal Expressions
Additional ways to express modality in Spanish.
Saber (To Know How To)
Saber + infinitive expresses learned ability or skill:
Sé nadar.
I know how to swim.
¿Sabes cocinar?
Do you know how to cook?
No sabe conducir.
He doesn't know how to drive.
Sabemos hablar francés.
We know how to speak French.
Hay que (One Must/It's Necessary)
Hay que expresses general obligation or necessity:
Hay que estudiar mucho.
One must study a lot.
Hay que llegar temprano.
It's necessary to arrive early.
No hay que gritar.
One mustn't shout.
¿Hay que reservar?
Is it necessary to make a reservation?