Modal Verbs

Fill in: can’t, could, may or might

Sue: How old do you think Steve is?

Mary: He 1) may be a bit older than we are, but he certainly 2) ________ be more than 25.

Sue: I don't know. He 3) ________be older than you think. He takes very good care of himself, you
know. He 4) ________ be as old as thirty.

Mary: No, he 5) ________ be. I know because he left school just before I did.

Sue: You 6) ________ be right, but I'm still not really convinced.

We express permission with:

(asking for permission)

can (informal) Can I borrow your pen?

could (more polite) Could I borrow your car?
may (formal) May I use your phone?
might (more formal) Might I see your driving licence, please?

(giving/refusing permission)

can (informal, giving permission) You can have one more if you want.
may (formal, giving permission) You may stay a little longer.
mustn’t (refusing permission) You mustn’t park here.
can't (refusing permission) You can't enter this room.

Fill in: can may, could, mustn't or can't

Jim: Mum, 1) can/may I go to the library?

Mother: Of course you 2) ________, Jim, but you 3) ________ stay very long.

Jim: 4) ________ I stay until 8 o’clock?

Mother: No, you 5) ________, because the concert starts at 8.30.

(At the library)

Jim 6) ________ I look at the latest “Musician” magazine, please?

Librarian: Yes, you 7) ________, but remember that you 8) ________ take it out of the library.

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We make requests, offers or suggestions with:

can (request) Can you help me tidy my room?

could (polite request/suggestion) Could I have a little more cake please?
would you like (polite offer) Would you like some more lemonade?
Shall I/we (suggestion/offer) Shall I post this letter for you? (offer)
Shall we buy him a present? (suggestion)
will (offer/request) I'll make you some coffee if you want. (friendly
offer)
Will you do me a favour? (friendly request)

Fill in: can, could, would, shall or will.

John: 1) Would you like some more coffee, darling?

Jane: No, I don't think so. 2) ________ we get the bill?

John: OK. Waiter - excuse me, 3) ________ you bring us the bill please?

Waiter: Here you are sir. 4) ________ I take these plates away?

John: Thank you. 5) ________ I have a pen to sign this cheque please? Jane, 6) ________ you give
me my glasses?

Waiter: 7) ________ you like me to get a taxi for you sir?

John: Yes, please.

Waiter: And I 8) ________ bring your coats for you in just a minute.

Fill in: can, would, could, shall or will.

Shop Asst: 1) Can I help you?

Customer: Yes, I'm looking for a jumper. 2) ________ you show me some?

Shop Asst: Yes, of course. What size 3) ________ you like?

Customer: Medium, please.

Shop Asst: I 4) ________ get some to show you. Is there anything else you 5) ________ like to see?

Customer: 6) ________ I try on some skirts as well?

Shop Asst: Certainly ________ Do you like them?

Customer: Yes, I do. 7) I ________ take them all.

Shop Asst: 8) ________ I wrap them for you?

Customer: Yes, please.

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We express advice with:

should/ought to You should walk more. (general advice; I advise

you
had better You'd better see your dentist. (advice for a
specific situation; it is a good idea.)

Fill in: should, ought to or had better.

Gill: You 1) should/ought to ask someone to paint the house this year.

Laura: Yes. It's beginning to look a bit dirty. I can't really afford it, though. Do you think I 2) ________
try to get a loan?

Laura No, you 3) ________ not. You might have a problem paying it back.

Gill: I 4) ________ do something about the roof as well. It leaks when it rains hard.

Laura: Really? You 5) ________ take care of it now or the ceiling will fall in!

Gill: Yes you're right. I 6) ________ ring someone today and ask them to look at it.

We express obligation or necessity with:

must (strong obligation or personal feelings of We must follow the school rules (obligation; I'm
necessity) obliged to.)
I must see a doctor soon. (I decide it is
necessary.)
have to (external necessity) I have to do my homework every day. (others
decide it is necessary)
I’ve got to (informal: it's necessary) I've got to leave early today.

Must is the Present Simple form. It borrows the rest of its tenses from the verb have to. To form
questions and negations of have to we use do/does (Present Simple) and did (Past Simple).

He didn't have to do the shopping yesterday.

You don't have to go to school today.

Does he have to be at work on time?

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Fill in: must or have to.

1. I must water the plants.

2. I ________ water the plants.

3. I ________ go to bed.

4. I ________ go to bed early.

5. I ________ be quiet.

6. I ________ lose some weight.

We express absence of necessity or prohibition with:

mustn't (prohibition) You mustn't park here. (It's forbidden.)

can't (prohibition) You can't enter the club without a card. (You
are not allowed.)
needn’t (it is not necessary) You needn’t take an umbrella. It isn’t raining.
don’t need/have to (it is not necessary in the You don't need/have to do it now. You can do
present/future) it later. (It isn't necessary.)
didn't need/have to (it was not necessary in He didn't need/have to go to work yesterday
the past) because it was Sunday. (It was not necessary.)

Fill in: mustn’t, needn’t, don’t need/have to, didn’t need/have to, have to or can’t.

Mum: You 1) can’t watch TV right now. You have to do your homework.

Bobby: I 2) ________ do it. Doing homework is stupid anyway.

Dad: Bobby, you 3) ________ speak to your mother like that!

Bobby: I’m sorry. Well, at least I 4) ________ write a composition today.

Dad: When I was a boy we 5) ________ do much homework, but now I'm sorry because I didn't learn
much.

Bobby: If you 6) ________ do homework, then why 7) ________ do mine?

Fill in: mustn't, needn't or can't.

John, I want you to look after your brother this evening. He 1) can't go out and he 2) ________
forget to do all his homework. You 3) ________ let him watch TV until he’s finished it. He 4)
________ watch the film either - it starts very late. He 5) ________ have a bath; he had one in the
morning. There's a cake in the cupboard but you 6) ________ eat it all – leave some for your sister.
You 7) ________ do the washing up: I'm going to do it tomorrow. You 8) ________ make too much
noise. We might be quite late home because we 9) ________ leave the party tonight until most of

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the guests have left. And you 10) ________ go to bed without having a wash and brushing your
teeth. But you 11) ________ wait up for us.

First identify the meaning of the modal verbs, then write a synonym.

(im)possibility – offer – advice – necessity - giving/refusing permission - ability in the past - absence
of necessity – obligation – request - polite request - (im)probability - prohibition

1. This must be Jack's house. probability (I think)

2. It can't be 7 o’clock already!
3. Shall I open the door for you?
4. You should buy a new car.
5. You can't leave before 12 o’clock.
6. You’d better wash that immediately.
7. You may come in now.
8. Could I ask you a question?
9. He ought to be more careful.
10. There might be some apple pie left.
11. We've got to run to catch the bus.
12. Would you like me to give you a lift?
13. Can you pass me the salt, please?
14. I must go to the dentist’s.
15. You can leave your coat here.
16. You mustn't tell anyone what happened.
17. I'll answer the phone for you.
18. He could play the piano when he was
young.
19. She needn't wait for us.
20. Do I have to come with you?
21. Neil may not remember my phone number.
22. I didn't need to go to the bank yesterday.
23. You must listen to your parents!
24. He may know something about it.