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Unit 10 Modal Verbs

This document provides an overview of basic modal verbs in English, including 'can', 'must', 'should', 'will', and 'might', along with their meanings and usage. It explains the distinctions between 'must' and 'have to', and offers guidance on forming questions and negative sentences with modal verbs. Additionally, the document includes exercises for practice and a link to a video on modal verbs.

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45 views5 pages

Unit 10 Modal Verbs

This document provides an overview of basic modal verbs in English, including 'can', 'must', 'should', 'will', and 'might', along with their meanings and usage. It explains the distinctions between 'must' and 'have to', and offers guidance on forming questions and negative sentences with modal verbs. Additionally, the document includes exercises for practice and a link to a video on modal verbs.

Uploaded by

kabenecedrick
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UNIT 10 : Modal Verbs

The basic modal verbs in English are: can, must, should, will and might.

I. Can

Can has 3 different meanings:


1. To have the ability to do something: ‘birds can fly’:

2. To have the permission or possibility to do something: ‘Can I go to the toilet?’, ‘I can do


my homework tomorrow’.

3. ‘Can’ is sometimes used to tell people to do something: ‘Can you be quiet please?’ =
‘Please be quiet’.

II. Must
If someone must do something, they have an obligation to do it. For example: ‘you must do
your homework’ or ‘you must tidy the kitchen’.

III. Must and have to

Let’s look at our previous example using MUST


I must write a letter to John.

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We generally use must when the speaker decides that something is necessary, or needs to be
done.
In this case I have decided that I need to write a letter to John. Nobody else has told me to
write it. I think it is necessary.

The other example with HAVE TO.


I have to write a letter to John.

We use have to when somebody else other than the speaker has made the decision.

When you’re asking a question, it’s much more common to use have to than it is to use must.
When you make a question with have to, add the verb “do.”

IV. Should
‘Should’ is used to give strong advice: ‘I think you should talk to him’ or ‘I think you should do
more sport’.

V. Will
‘Will’ is used to form the future tense in English. (Except for plans or predictions based on
strong evidence). ‘I will pay you tomorrow’= a promise for the future.
VI. Might
If something might happen, it is possible that it will happen:
Tomorrow will be Thursday = 100%
It might rain tomorrow = 50% or 60%, etc.

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VII. Grammar

Modal verbs don’t have an ‘s’ for he or she:


E.g. He/she can
He/she must
He/she should
Other verbs following modal verbs don’t take an ‘s’ either:
He runs and jumps He can run and jump.
In the question form, modal verbs are like the verb ‘to be’:

He is happy.
Is he happy?
He can speak Chinese.
Can he speak Chinese?
Does he can speak Chinese?
She can speak Chinese.
Can she speak Chinese?
They can speak Chinese.
Can they speak Chinese?

Also like the verb ‘to be’, modal verbs take ‘not’ in the negative form:
She is not happy. Contracted form: she’s not happy/ she isn’t happy.
She cannot swim. Contracted form: she can’t swim (the ‘a’ sound becomes a sound like in the
word ‘aunt’).
She must not swim. Contracted form: she mustn’t swim. Pronunciation: musunt.

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She should not swim. Contracted form: she shouldn’t swim.
She might not swim. No contracted form.
She will not swim. Contracted form: she won’t swim. Pronunciation: like in ‘don’t’ but with a ‘w’
instead of a ‘d’.
Can you hear and say the difference between these words? : ‘
1. Want ‘I want to swim’.
2. Won’t I be at home before 8pm.’

Exercise 1: choose the correct option

1. Can I start now? / Do I can start now?


2. Of course he can/ will speak French fluently, it’s his first language!
3. Cans she drive? / Can she drive?
4. It might be Wednesday tomorrow. / It will be Wednesday tomorrow.
5. Can/ Should I go to the toilet?
6. Does she will do an exam tomorrow? / Will she do an exam tomorrow?
7. We can/must wear seat belts in cars.
8. Should / shoulds she stop?
9. Might / can he speak English?
10. Can he jumps / can he jump?
11. Should she study? / should she studies?
12. Do you think it will rain/ rains tomorrow?
13. I don’t he think he should stops /stop.
14. Can you/should you be quiet now?
15. Can you/ must you help me please?

Exercise 2: ask and Answer with a Partner

1. Can you drive?


2. Can you cook?
3. Can you ride a bicycle?
4. Can you speak Chinese?
5. Can you go to the moon?
6. Can you order on Amazon?
7. Can you run fast?

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8. Can you smoke in a classroom?
9. Can you fly?
10. Can you use excel?
11. Can you swim?
12. Can you play tennis?
13. Can you open the window?
14. Can you travel tonight?
15. Can you enter Buckingham Palace?
16. Can you leave the room?
17. Can you sing well?
18. Can you fix a computer?
19. Can you pass?
20. Can you steal?

1. What do you have to do tomorrow?


2. Do you have to do military service?
3. Do you have to work on Sundays?
4. Do you have to get a visa before Friday?
5. How many hours do you have to study every day?

6. Should you smoke?


7. Should you eat more vegetables?
8. What should you wear in cold weather?
9. What should you wear in hot weather?
10. Should you be more active?
11. Do you think it will rain tomorrow?
12. Do you think you will be in Belgium next year?
13. Do you think you will pass your exams?
14. Do you think you will have 5 children?
15. Do you think you will be rich?
16. What might happen if it snows tomorrow?
17. What might happen if you drive too quickly?
18. What might happen if you fall?
19. What might happen if you lose your mobile?
20. What might happen if it is a beautiful day tomorrow?
Video on modal verbs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIDqtVHasQ8

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