Department of Education

English 9
Expressing Permission, Obligation, and
Prohibition Using Modals
First Quarter-Week 1

Jelyn B. Tajanlangitt
Writer

Randy B. Borromeo
Rosalinda G. Jusi
Lolita B. Orlanda
Mary Joyce V. Raymundo
Dr. Ma. Carmen D. Solayao
Quality Assurance Team

Schools Division Office – Muntinlupa City

Student Center for Life Skills Bldg., Centennial Ave., Brgy. Tunasan, Muntinlupa City
(02) 8805-9935 / (02) 8805-9940
 This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to
help you express permission, obligation, and prohibition using modals. The
scope of this module permits it to be used in many different learning situations.
The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students.
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. Define modal;
2. Recognize modals in sentences;
3. Identify the function expressed by modal verbs (permission,
obligation, and prohibition) in sample sentences; and
4. Write sentences granting permission, declaring obligation, or
announcing prohibition using appropriate modals.

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Use a separate sheet
of paper for your answers.
1. Which of the following is used to express obligation?
A. can C. must
B. may D. must not

2. The following words are used to express permission, EXCEPT ONE:

A. can C. have to
B. could D. may

3. Prohibition is expressed by using the words .

A. can & may C. must & mustn’t
B. could & must D. mustn’t & can’t

4. is a type of auxiliary verb that is used

to express: permission, prohibition, and obligation.
A. Action verb C. Stative verb
B. Modal verb D. Transitive verb

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 5. Health is at risk because of CoViD-19: therefore, we have to
take good care of our well-being and follow the health proto-
cols that implemented. Which is the modal in the sentence?
A. at risk C. health protocols
B. have to D. well-being

For items 6-10

Directions: Identify the function expressed in the following sentences. Choose
from the choices below.

A. Obligation C. Prohibition
B. Permission D. Suggestion

6. Muntinlupeños have to follow CoViD-19 protocols all the time to help main-
tain the peace and order in the city while the front liners and the local gov-
ernment try to eradicate the spread of the disease.
7. During the CoViD-19 pandemic, the front liners are doing their part in sav-
ing lives and promoting health. We must do our part as well by staying at
home and keeping ourselves healthy.
8. The proliferation of fake news about CoViD-19 today may cause fear and
panic.
9. We can stop CoViD-19 from spreading by being updated, staying at home
and keeping ourselves healthy.
10. The elderly, children and pregnant women must not go outside for they are
more susceptible to infections.

Directions: Give the function expressed by each of the underlined

sentences and the word that helped you identify it. Write your an-
swers in the table that follows.
You must protect yourself and those people around you from
CoVID-19. Taking appropriate precautions will help you avoid getting in-
fected by the virus. Some are the common ways to prevent it: First, you
must not touch your face especially your eyes, mouth or nose. You have to
wash your hands with soap often. Stay at home and don’t go outside if it
is not necessary or if you’re not feeling well. In case you miss your friends
or loved ones, you may still connect with them through calls or any social
media platform. With these, you won’t risk your health or your loved ones.

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 FUNCTION
SENTENCE WORD CLUE
EXPRESSED
You must protect yourself and those
people around you from CoVID-19.
First, you must not touch your face, es-
pecially your eyes, mouth and
nose.
You have to wash your hands with soap
often.
In case you miss your friends or loved
ones, you may still connect with them
through calls or any
social media platform.

Modal Verbs

A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that is used to ex-

press: permission, prohibition or obligation.
➢ Permission – can, may, could
'Can' is most often used to ask for or give permission but 'may' and
'could' are also possible even though they are not used as often as
'can'.
• Can I wash my hands?
• You can use this hand sanitizer if you don’t have soap
with you.
• Could I use the computer to research more about CoVID-19?
• May I get some updates about CoVID-19 cases here in
Muntinlupa?
➢ Prohibition
'Can't' and 'mustn't' (must not) are used to show that some-
thing is prohibited (not allowed)
• You can't go outside the house without your mask on.
• You mustn't touch your face especially your eyes, mouth and
nose.
➢ Obligation
'Have to' and 'must' are both used to express obligation. There is
a slight difference in the way that they are both
used. 'Have to' shows that the obligation comes from someone
else, not the speaker. This is usually referring to a rule or law.

4
 • We have to stay at home to prevent getting exposed to the
virus. People have to maintain physical distance to prevent
the spread of CoVID-19.
• The frontliners have to wear personal protective equip-
ment to protect themselves from getting infected.

➢ Here is an example of the difference between 'have to' and 'must':

• My doctor said that I have to get myself tested for

CoVID-19 or I'll risk serious problems. (I have no choice)
• I must get myself tested for CoVID-19 so that I’d be
sure. (it’s my decision)

➢ We use 'don't have to' to show that there is no obligation. You can do
something if you want but it is not an obligation.

• You don't have to help everyone but it would be nice to help a person
and show our support with each other in the midst of this pandemic.
• Students don't have to be at risk to acquire education, teachers are
doing their best to equip themselves to deliver education in their stu-
dents’ homes.
References: https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar- rules/verbs/modal-verbs/
https://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/modal-verbs- 1-permission-prohibition-obligation-
no-obligation)

✓ With the use of modals in expressing permission, obligation, and

prohibition, it made expressing argument in certain situations
easier. Modals enable arguments or views to be stated clearly and
effectively.

Sample Topic: Should apartment rentals be waived during pandemic?

The coronavirus pandemic resulted to a lot of serious problems.
CoVID-19 does not only threaten our health but our lives as a whole as
well. Everyone is affected, from normal employees to business owners.
Among these people, those who are renting their current homes are per-
turbed by this. Since the pandemic affected our livelihood, tenants are
troubled financially because they have to pay their rents. Some can’t
pay their rents because since the outbreak they are compelled to stay
at home which resulted to job loss. With this, the question,
“should apartment rentals be waived during this time”, arises. This
has been a major concern not only by the tenants but the landlords as
well because some landlords are only dependent on the rents they re-
ceive from their tenants. Therefore, some are thorn between helping
other people (tenants) and helping themselves survive.
Since CoVID-19 affected everyone, it is only natural for us to think
of the well-being of everybody. We have to help one another to surpass

5
 this. We cannot let our fellowmen to suffer with the things we can con-
trol. If landlords cannot waive the rents during this times for this is their
only source of income, I believe there are still ways for them to help their
tenants. They can give discounts, allow staggered payments, or even
extensions. These acts could help both parties and help one another
survive this pandemic.

In the end, we must not just think about ourselves but the people
around us as well because showing care, love, and support to our fel-
lowmen is what Bayanihan is really about.

✓ Notice that the underlined phrases/sentences with modals from the para-
graphs help the writer to express her view in the issue (paying rent during
the pandemic). These phrases/sentences express permission, obligation,
and prohibition which further support the purpose of the writer. Through
the use of modals, the writer set her argument in the paragraph fully and
effectively.

Directions: Use modals in writing sentences that express what people

can do, should not do, and must do to help fight the spread of CoVID-
19.

PERMISSION
1.

2.

3.

PROHIBITION
1.

2.

3.

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 OBLIGATION
1.

2.

3.

A m o d a l i s a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that is used to ex-

press: permission, prohibition or obligation.
➢ Permission – can, may, could
'Can' is most often used to ask for or give permission but 'may' and
'could' are also possible even though they are not used as often as
'can'.
➢ Prohibition
'Can't' and 'mustn't' (must not) are used to show that something
is prohibited (not allowed)
➢ Obligation
'Have to' and 'must' are both used to express obligation. There is a
slight difference in the way that they are both
used. 'Have to' shows that the obligation comes from someone else,
not the speaker. This is usually referring to a rule or law.

Directions: Write an argumentative paragraph on the given topic. Use

modals to express permission, obligation, and prohibition.

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Should curfew be imposed further as an intervention to stop the spread of
CoViD-19?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Directions: Choose the correct modal from the box to complete the sen-
tences.

can’t can may must not must have to

1. You _________spread fake news on CoViD-19 in your social media

account. You are putting lives at risk!

2. Police and health workers _________ wear masks while on duty to

prevent getting infected.

3. Other than the front liners, other people _________ help fight the
spread of the virus by staying at home.

4. You don’t ________ go outside to buy food because the local govern-
ment units are ready to provide you with it.

5. People _________ attend mass gatherings to prevent the spread of the

virus, but, they can be connected with everybody by the use of var-
ious mediums such as phone call, video call and online chat among
others.

6. We ________ flatten the curve of CoVID-19 to reduce further damage

it may cause us.

7-8. You ________ be updated in the events that are happening around
us because this ________ help us in making ourselves safe.

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 9. CoVID-19 _________ greatly affect our economy because it disrupts
businesses, the supply of goods and others.

10. During the quarantine, people _________ go to non-essential places

to avoid the risk of contracting the disease.

References

1. How to Avoid Coronavirus (n.d.) Retrieved from https://howtoavoid-

coronavirus.org

2. Roriguez, M. (2020) Banding Together: Words to Inspire, From the

Front Lines. Retrieved from https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/the-
latest- news-features/81704/inspiring-quotes-frontliners-a4362-
20200412-lfrm

3. Registered Nurse Duties and Responsibilities (n.d.) Retrieved from

https://jobdescriptionandresumeexamples.com/registered-nurse-
duties- and-responsibilities/

4. Medical Doctor: Job Description and Career Info (n.d.) Retrieved from
https://study.com/articles/Medical_Doctor_Job_Descrip-
tion_and_Info_fo r_Students_Considering_a_Career_as_a_Medi-
cal_Doctor_Dr.html

5. What are the responsibilities of Police (n.d.) Retrieved

from https://www.reference.com/world-view/responsibilities-po-
lice- d6a603f6f318ad8e

6. Modal Verbs (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.gingersoft-

ware.com/content/grammar-rules/verbs/modal- verbs/

7. Krista B. (2013) Modal Verbs 1: Permission, Prohibition, Obligation,

No Obligation. Retrieved from https://www.eceng-
lish.com/learnenglish/lessons/modal-verbs-1- permission-prohibi-
tion-obligation-no-obligation

8. Cigaral, I.N. (2020, May 1) Coronavirus Infected Medical Frontliners

in Philippines Surge to 1,694. Philstar. Retrieved from
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/05/01/2011139/coro-
naviru s-infected-medical-frontliners-philippines-surge-1694

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 10
POSTTEST PRETEST
1. Must not
2. Have to C
3. Can
4. Have to
5.
6. Must
7. Must
B
8. Can
B
9. Can
10. Must not