Key learning points

1. The SSC [ca] is pronounced as in 'casa', [co] as in ‘comer’ and [cu] as in ‘cuerpo.
2. The modal verb ‘deber’ means ‘must’ and we use it to talk about obligations.
3. The modal verb ‘poder’ means ‘can/be able to’ and we use it to talk about possibility.
4. The modal verb ‘querer’ means ‘to want, wanting’ and we use it to talk about what we want to do.
5. All modal verbs are followed by an infinitive.

Keywords

• Modal verbs - verbs of necessity and possibility used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive, e.g. must, can, want

• Deber - modal verb that means to have to, must with singular forms ‘debo’ - I must, ‘debes’ - you must, ‘debe’ - she, he, it must.

• Poder - modal verb that means to be able to, can, with singular forms ‘puedo’ - I can, ‘puedes’ - you can, ‘puede’ - she, he, it can

• Querer - modal verb that means to want, wanting with singular forms ‘quiero’ - I want, ‘quieres’ - you want, ‘quiere’ - she, he, it wants.

Common misconception