Modul 4

TOPIC : MODAL VERB

DEADLINE : ONE WEEK

A. WHAT IS MODAL VERBS?

We use modal auxiliary verbs can, may, must in the English language for various meanings -
ability, possiblity, probability, certainty, permission, prohibition, obligation, opinion, speculation,
etc.

Image 1. The Structure of Modal Verbs

B. WHEN DO WE USE MODAL VERBS?

Image 2. The use of Modal Verbs

1. It is used to express the ability to do something.

I can swim very well.

2. It expresses the possibility to do something.

We can go to the seaside at last. Our holidays start next week.

3. We use it to say that something is probable.

It can be John. He has blond hair and he is wearing glasses.

4. It expresses the permission to do something.

Why not? You can marry her. She is a nice girl.

May

1. It is used for permissions.

You may borrow my car. I won't need it.

2. It is used to express probability or prediction.

They may call tomorrow. I hope so.

The main difference between may and can is in style. May is more formal than can. Can is

3. The opposite of may is must not or may not.

May I smoke here?

Must - Need not

1. It is used for strong obligations. It is personal, because it expresses the speaker's opinion or

I must clean my teeth. I want to be healthy.

2. It means a strong recommendation.

You must see it. It's the best film I've ever seen.

3. We use it to show the certainty of the speaker.

They must be at school by now. It's already 9 o'clock.

4. The opposite of must is need not.

You needn't wash up. I've already done it.

Must not has a different meaning. It is used to express prohibition that involves the speaker's

Note

Normally, these modal auxiliary verbs are not used in different tenses. The past tense
of can is could, may and must, however, only have the present form. All the other tenses must
be formed in a different way.

We make the passive voice with a verb + be + past participle: This can be done. The laws must
be respected.

PART A

Complete the sentences using the words listed in the box below, then click the "Check"
button to check your answers. Don't forget to capitalize when necessary. Some gaps may
have more than one correct answer.
can     could     have to     must     might     should

1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He   be exhausted

after such a long flight. He   prefer to stay in tonight and get some rest.

2. If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out, you   walk

downtown and explore the waterfront.

3. Hiking the trail to the peak   be dangerous if you are not well prepared for

dramatic weather changes. You   research the route a little more before

you attempt the ascent.

4. When you have a small child in the house, you   leave small objects lying

around. Such objects   be swallowed, causing serious injury or even death.

5. Dave:   you hold your breath for more than a minute?

Nathan: No, I can't.

6. Jenny's engagement ring is enormous! It   have cost a fortune.

7. Please make sure to water my plants while I am gone. If they don't get enough
water, they   die.

8. I   speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Egypt. But

after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot

almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I   just say a few things in the

language.

9. The book is optional. My professor said we   read it if we needed extra

credit. But we   read it if we don't want to.

10. Leo: Where is the spatula? It   be in this drawer but it's not here.

Nancy: I just did a load of dishes last night and they're still in the dish washer.

It   be in there. That's the only other place it   be.

11. You   take your umbrella along with you today. The weatherman on the

news said there's a storm north of here and it   rain later on this afternoon.

12.   we pull over at the next rest stop? I really   use the bathroom

and I don't know if I   hold it until we get to Chicago.

13. Oh no! Frank's wallet is lying on the coffee table. He   have left it here

last night.

14. Ned:   I borrow your lighter for a minute?

Stephen: Sure, no problem. Actually, you   keep it if you want to. I've given

up smoking.

15. I   believe she said that to Megan! She   insult her cooking in

front of everyone at the party last night. She   have just said she was full or
had some salad if she didn't like the meal.

16. Do you   chew with your mouth open like that? Geez, it's making me

sick watching you eat that piece of pizza.

17. Mrs. Scarlett's body was found in the lounge just moments ago, and it's still

warm! Nobody has left the mansion this evening, so the killer   be someone

in this room. It   be any one of us!!!

18. Ted: I don't know why Denise starting crying when I mentioned the wedding.

Pamela: It   have been what you said about her brother. Or, perhaps she is

just nervous. After all, the big day is tomorrow.

19.   you always say the first thing that pops into your head?   you

think once in awhile before you speak?

20. I was reading the book last night before I went to bed. I never took it out of this

room. It   be lying around here somewhere. Where   it be? be

swallowed, causing serious injury or even death.

PART B

Choose the correct modal from the two choices from an article in a magazine about
regrets
Regrets
As we get older and when we think about our past we sometimes ponder the things that
we should/can have done. And we also may/shall regret those things we did badly and the
mistakes we made. In reality, we be able to/can always learn from our mistakes and hope to
never make them again. For example, if I failed a test because of a lack of study, the next
test I will/must hope to pass because of hard work. Remember too that some regrets are
not based in reality and we must/may waste time thinking that they are. Would/should I
have really not have been involved in a car crash if I had been driving more slowly? After all,
the other driver ought to/will have been concentrating and not playing with their radio. We
have to/would be honest with ourselves and live in the now. The only things we
used to/can control are the things happening now, in this moment.