🇦🇷 APRENDERSemana 4 · 12 preguntas

Modal Verbs

Bundle W04 de Ingles para Grado 9 en Argentina (NAP/Aprender): 12 preguntas con explicación pedagógica.

Alineación: NAP/Aprender

AR-ING-9-2026-W04-modal-verbs-001-MASTERY-bundle

Pregunta 1

Bloom: Remember

Martina habla sobre sus habilidades para los deportes y la música.

Choose the correct modal verb for ability: "I _______ play the guitar very well, but I _______ swim."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: D) can / can't

  • A) can't / canThis pair reverses the meaning: it says she cannot play the guitar but can swim, which contradicts the sentence.
  • B) could / couldn't'Could' and 'couldn't' refer to ability in the past, but Martina is talking about what she can do now.
  • C) must / mustn't'Must' and 'mustn't' express obligation or prohibition, never physical or mental ability.
  • D) can / can'tCorrect. 'Can' states an ability and 'can't' denies it: the guitar is the skill she has and swimming is the one she lacks, so 'can / can't' is the right pair.

💡 Explicación

Cuando querés decir que sabés hacer algo (como tocar la guitarra), usás "can". Si no sabés o no podés, usás "can't". Es el verbo más básico para hablar de tus talentos en la escuela.

Pregunta 2

Bloom: Remember

Un cartel de reglas en un museo de Bellas Artes en Buenos Aires.

Which modal verb indicates a strong prohibition? "You _______ touch the paintings in the museum."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: C) mustn't

  • A) don't have to'Don't have to' says it is not necessary, which leaves the action optional instead of forbidden.
  • B) shouldn't'Shouldn't' gives advice not to touch the paintings, which is weaker than a rule that forbids it outright.
  • C) mustn'tCorrect. 'Mustn't' is the modal for a strong prohibition, and museum rules forbid touching the paintings under any circumstance.
  • D) can't'Can't' states a physical impossibility. It does appear on informal signs, but 'mustn't' is the form used for an official prohibition.

💡 Explicación

En lugares con reglas estrictas (como el MNBA), usás "mustn't" para decir que algo está prohibido. Significa que NO tenés permitido hacerlo bajo ninguna circunstancia.

Pregunta 3

Bloom: Understand

Facundo le da un consejo a un amigo que tiene un examen difícil en la universidad.

Which modal verb is used to give a recommendation or advice? "You _______ study more if you want to pass your final exam."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: C) should

  • A) must'Must' makes the advice sound like an order from someone in authority rather than a tip between friends.
  • B) can'Can' expresses ability or possibility, and it does not recommend anything to the listener.
  • C) shouldCorrect. 'Should' is the standard modal for giving advice and suggestions; it works like the Spanish 'deberías'.
  • D) have to'Have to' marks an obligation imposed from outside, while the sentence offers personal advice.

💡 Explicación

Para ser un buen amigo y dar un consejo, usás "should". Es como decirle "deberías" a alguien en castellano. No es una orden, sino una sugerencia para que le vaya bien en el examen.

Pregunta 4

Bloom: Apply

Una situación en un aeropuerto antes de viajar a Iguazú.

Choose the correct modal for a strong external obligation (rules): "To travel to Iguazú by plane, you _______ show your ID or passport at the gate."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: A) have to

  • A) have toCorrect. 'Have to' expresses an obligation that comes from an external rule or law, and the ID requirement at the gate is exactly that.
  • B) should'Should' would make showing the ID a mere recommendation, but the airport requires it, so that is too weak.
  • C) can'Can' states ability or possibility; showing a document at the gate is required, not optional.
  • D) might'Might' expresses a remote possibility, which would wrongly suggest the passport is optional.

💡 Explicación

Cuando la obligación viene de una ley o reglamento (como en Aeroparque o Ezeiza), lo más común es usar "have to". Tenés que mostrar el DNI porque es la regla para poder subir al avión.

Pregunta 5

Bloom: Apply

Martina no está segura de qué va a hacer el sábado a la noche.

Which modal verb expresses a 50% possibility? "I'm not sure yet. I _______ go to the cinema or I _______ stay at home."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: C) might / might

  • A) must / mustRepeating 'must' states a strong obligation twice, which cannot express doubt about a weekend plan.
  • B) should / should'Should' in both blanks would give advice to yourself instead of admitting that you have not decided.
  • C) might / mightCorrect. 'Might' marks a possibility the speaker is not sure about, and both halves of the sentence need that uncertainty.
  • D) can't / can't'Can't' in both blanks would rule out both options completely, which is the opposite of being undecided.

💡 Explicación

Si todavía no decidiste qué vas a hacer (como Martina el sábado), usás "might". Indica que hay una chance, pero que no es algo seguro. Es el verbo de la indecisión.

Pregunta 6

Bloom: Apply

Alguien que llega tarde a una reunión en el centro de la ciudad.

Choose the correct option for lack of obligation: "The meeting started late, so you _______ hurry. You have plenty of time."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: A) don't have to

  • A) don't have toCorrect. 'Don't have to' says it is not necessary to hurry, which matches having plenty of time.
  • B) mustn't'Mustn't' would say you are forbidden to hurry, and nothing in the sentence suggests that.
  • C) shouldn't'Shouldn't' is advice against hurrying; 'don't have to' is more precise because the need itself does not exist.
  • D) can't'Can't' claims you are physically unable to hurry, which is a completely different claim from the one the sentence makes.

💡 Explicación

"Don't have to" es una frase muy útil. Significa que NO ES NECESARIO hacer algo. Si tenés tiempo de sobra, no tenés por qué correr. No está prohibido, simplemente no hace falta.

Pregunta 7

Bloom: Analyze

Un análisis sobre la diferencia entre "must" y "have to".

Which sentence expresses a personal obligation (from the speaker's feelings)?

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: B) I must buy a present for my mom's birthday.

  • A) I have to wear a uniform at school.'Have to' states an obligation imposed by the institution, so it describes a rule rather than a personal feeling.
  • B) I must buy a present for my mom's birthday.Correct. 'Must' expresses an obligation the speaker feels from the inside, and buying a present for your mother's birthday fits that sense of duty.
  • C) I should buy a present.'Should' would only recommend the action, which is weaker than the necessity the sentence expresses.
  • D) I can buy a present.'Can' merely states that you have the ability or the money, not that you feel you must.

💡 Explicación

A veces la diferencia es sutil. Si vos sentís que TENÉS que hacer algo porque te nace (como comprar un regalo), usás "must". Si lo hacés porque alguien más te obliga (la escuela o el trabajo), usás "have to". ¡Es una distinción de sentimientos!

Pregunta 8

Bloom: Analyze

Haciendo una deducción lógica sobre alguien que lleva una camiseta de la selección.

Which modal verb is used for a strong logical deduction (90% certainty)? "He is wearing a Messi jersey and celebrating. He _______ be a football fan."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: A) must

  • A) mustCorrect. 'Must' is the modal used for a strong logical deduction, and the Messi jersey plus the celebration are strong evidence.
  • B) can'Can' expresses general possibility, and here the evidence makes the speaker almost certain.
  • C) should'Should' is used for what we expect to happen, not for a deduction about what is true now.
  • D) might'Might' leaves room for doubt, and the evidence is far stronger than that.

💡 Explicación

Usamos "must" para adivinar con mucha seguridad. Si ves a alguien con la camiseta de la selección festejando, deducís que "debe ser" un fanático del fútbol. Es una conclusión lógica basada en lo que ves.

Pregunta 9

Bloom: Analyze

Una deducción negativa sobre alguien que no conoce un lugar muy famoso.

What is the opposite of 'must' for negative logical deductions? "She lives in Argentina but doesn't know where the Obelisco is? She _______ be from Buenos Aires."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: A) can't

  • A) can'tCorrect. 'Can't' is the modal for a negative deduction: it states that it is impossible for her to be from Buenos Aires.
  • B) mustn't'Mustn't' expresses prohibition, which has no use in a deduction about the present.
  • C) shouldn't'Shouldn't' would be advice about where she ought to live, which is not what the sentence is doing.
  • D) might not'Might not' expresses doubt, and here the speaker is close to certain that it is not the case.

💡 Explicación

Esta es una trampa común. Si estás seguro de que algo NO es cierto, usás "can't". Decís "She can't be from Buenos Aires" porque te parece imposible que viviendo acá no sepa qué es el Obelisco. ¡Ojo que no se usa "mustn't" para esto!

Pregunta 10

Bloom: Evaluate

Un debate sobre la cortesía al pedir permiso en clase.

Evaluate the level of formality: Which question is the most polite/formal to ask for permission?

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: B) May I go to the bathroom?

  • A) Can I go to the bathroom?'Can I?' is the everyday way to ask permission and is fine with friends, but it is not the most formal form.
  • B) May I go to the bathroom?Correct. 'May I' is the most formal and respectful way to ask permission, and it is used with teachers and elders.
  • C) Could I go to the bathroom?'Could I?' is politer than 'can I' and is often used to soften a request, but a more formal option exists.
  • D) Must I go to the bathroom?'Must I?' asks whether you yourself are obliged to go, which is not a request for permission at all.

💡 Explicación

En inglés, el grado de respeto cambia según el verbo que elijas. Si querés ser súper educado con un profesor o alguien mayor, usá "May I...?". El "Can I...?" está bien entre amigos, pero el "May" te hace quedar como un caballero o una dama.

Pregunta 11

Bloom: Evaluate

Revisión de un consejo de salud.

What is the difference in meaning?
1. You must see a doctor.
2. You should see a doctor.

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: D) 1 is an urgent necessity/order; 2 is a friendly recommendation.

  • A) 1 is about the past; 2 is about the future.Both sentences are about what should happen now or soon, so neither one refers to the past.
  • B) 1 is a rule from a book; 2 is a personal feeling.'Must' can come from a personal sense of duty, not only from a rule written in a book.
  • C) Both have exactly the same level of intensity.The two are not equally strong: 'must' is far more urgent and authoritative than 'should'.
  • D) 1 is an urgent necessity/order; 2 is a friendly recommendation.Correct. 'Must' carries urgency and authority, so sentence 1 is a necessity while 'should' in sentence 2 is only a friendly recommendation.

💡 Explicación

Si ves a alguien muy enfermo, le decís "You must see a doctor" porque es urgente. El "should" es más suave, como decirle "te convendría ir". Usar uno u otro cambia qué tan preocupado parecés.

Pregunta 12

Bloom: Evaluate

El uso de modales para expresar crítica sobre comportamientos pasados.

Identify the correct structure to criticize a past action: "You _______ so much alfajores yesterday! Now you have a stomach ache."

Elige una opción para comprobar tu respuesta.

Ver respuesta

Respuesta correcta: B) shouldn't have eaten

  • A) shouldn't eat'Shouldn't eat' refers to the present or the future, but the eating already happened yesterday.
  • B) shouldn't have eatenCorrect. 'Shouldn't have' plus the past participle criticises or regrets an action that is already finished.
  • C) mustn't have eaten'Mustn't have' is used to conclude that something did not happen, not to criticise what somebody did.
  • D) couldn't have eaten'Couldn't have' would say it was impossible that you ate that much, which is a different claim.

💡 Explicación

Esta es una estructura avanzada: Modal + have + Participio. Si te querés quejar de algo que alguien ya hizo (y que no debería haber hecho), decís "You shouldn't have eaten". Es el tiempo verbal de los arrepentimientos. ¡No te pases con los alfajores la próxima vez!

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