Our aim is to explore a cognitive account of the Spanish verb temporal and modal system based on some of the concepts stated in Langacker's Cognitive Grammar model. On the one hand, our proposal rests on concepts like epistemic model, grounding functions, profile and base of expressions' meaning, and scope of predication. These concepts and constructs are applied to describe, in a general insight, the main Spanish verb modal and temporal oppositions. On tlie other hand, the different kinds of categorization links (extension and elaboration) proposed by Langacker will allow us to find a promising way to overcome the discussion about the role of temporality in the description of the Spanish verbal system.