modal verbs of deduction

AlexanderA2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

modal verbs of deduction

¡Hola!

Could you please provide me with Spanish equivalents for modal structures of probabality:

-Must/might/may/could + be (+ V-ing);

past probabality:

-Must have/might have/may have/could have + past participle (+ V-ing);

and their negative forms

Thanks in advance

Regards,

Alexander

Asked 5 years ago
InmaKwiziq team memberCorrect answer
Hola Alexander
To express probability in the present (progressive) we generally use:
-Debe estar ( + gerundio)
-Debe de estar ( + gerundio)
-Podría estar ( + gerundio)
-Puede que esté ( + gerundio)
for must/might/may/could + be (+ ing)
To express probability in the past (progressive) we generally use:
-Debe haber estado ( + gerundio)
-Debe de haber estado ( + gerundio)
-Podría haber estado ( + gerundio)
-Puede que haya estado ( + gerundio)
for must/might/may/could + have been (+ ing)
To negate all these above, the most natural way would be placing "no" before the modal in the case of "deber", so:
-No debe estar (-ing)
-No debe de haber estado (-ing)
but after the modal with poder:
-Podría no estar (-ing)
-Podría no haber estado (-ing)
However with "puede que" it must be after "que":
-Puede que no esté (-ing)
-Puede que no haya estado (-ing)
I hope this helps.
We are still working on some advance lessons on modals. The progressive aspect has just been noted to include in our content.
Saludos
Inma
AlexanderA2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

¡Hola Inma! 

Muchas gracias por su respuesta))

Could you be so kind to answer some more questions?

a) What's the difference between

debe + infinitivo/infinitivo compuesto/estar+gerundio/haber estado + gerundio

&

debe DE + infinitivo/infinitivo compuesto/estar+gerundio/haber estado + gerundio?

Namely, does the preposition "DE" make any difference?

b) What are the equivalents for can't & must not for logical conclusions in Spanish?

For example:

(present)

The restaurant can't be open - the door is locked

The restaurant must not be any good - it is always empty

(Past)

He had left the office at 6:00 p.m. He can't /couldn't have been at home at 6:05 p.m

She was not answering the doorbell. She must not have been at home then.

How can I express this difference in Spanish?

c) Is it possible to use debería/podría haber + participio in Spanish like could/may/might have + past participle in English - for both expressing regrets about something that was not done in the past / criticizing someone for not doing smth

& for making suggestions about possible completed events?

d)Is no tenía que haber+participio an equivalent for needn't have (done)

Regards,

Alexander

modal verbs of deduction

¡Hola!

Could you please provide me with Spanish equivalents for modal structures of probabality:

-Must/might/may/could + be (+ V-ing);

past probabality:

-Must have/might have/may have/could have + past participle (+ V-ing);

and their negative forms

Thanks in advance

Regards,

Alexander

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