| Permission | ¿Puedo + infinitive: asking if something is allowed | ¿Puedo abrir la ventana? | Can I open the window? |
| Requests | ¿Puedes + infinitive: asking someone to do something | ¿Puedes repetir, por favor? | Can you repeat that, please? |
| Skills | saber + infinitive: something someone has learned to do | Sé nadar. | I can swim. |
| Ability now | poder: whether someone is able to do something now | Hoy no puedo salir. | I can't go out today. |
| Obligation | tener que + infinitive: what one person needs to do | Tengo que trabajar el sábado. | I have to work on Saturday. |
| Obligation | hay que + infinitive: what everyone needs to do, with no subject | Hay que pagar antes de entrar. | You have to pay before going in. |
| Pronouns | before the conjugated verb, or at the end of the infinitive | Lo tengo que hacer. / Tengo que hacerlo. | I have to do it. / I have to do it. |
| B1Duty | deber + infinitive: what is right or required | Debes decir la verdad. | You must tell the truth. |
| B1Advice | deberías + infinitive: a piece of advice | Deberías descansar. | You should rest. |
| Trap | tener takes que before the infinitive | Tengo que irme. | I have to go. |
| B1Trap | no tener que: not necessary; no deber: mustn't, as a duty or advice; no poder: not allowed | No tienes que venir. / No debes mentir. / No puedes fumar aquí. | You don't have to come. / You mustn't lie. / You can't smoke here. |