Welcome to the

class...
HOW ARE YOU?
MODAL
VERBS:
 WHAT ARE MODAL VERBS?

◦ A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb that is

used to indicate modality-that is likelihood,
ability, permission, possibility.

Two of my friends
can play guitar.

(ability)
 LIST OF MODAL VERBS:

They are Auxiliary verbs that

provide additional and specific
• Can meaning to the main verb of the
sentence
• Could
• Must
Modal verbs are sometimes
• Should referred to as
Modal Auxiliary verbs because
they help other verbs
 STRUCTURE OF MODAL VERBS:
Subject Modal verb Main verb Complement

I speak slowly.
We
must drink some water.
They
can
You He eat some food.
She It should
could do some exercise.

Use the basic form or INFINITIVE of

the main verbs after the modal verbs.
 FORM:

Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms

to can / caning to must /musting

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to

⮚ She must study.
⮚ He could play football in his youth. (general ability)
⮚ We should have gone the other way.
 How do we use modals?

S M V
Subject Verb

Example: Mary can play the piano.

- they are not conjugated.
- they don’t need other auxiliary verbs.
 Modal verbs don’t need auxiliaries to form
negative and question:

Exp : She should stay.

She doesn’t should stay. → She shouldn’t stay.

Why does she stay? → Why should she stay?

Modal verbs don’t have infinitives or –ing

forms:
Exp: canning to might
 CAN
ABILITY/INABILITY: PERMISSION OR
I can play the piano. REQUEST:
Can I call you later?

OPPORTUNITY TO DO
SOMETHING/POSSIBILITY:
I´m free tonight so we can go out.
 CAN – AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE FORM:

I
You + CAN Verb in the base
He form
She
+
It complement
We
- CAN´T
they CANNOT ATTENTION!

Can´t/cannot
indicate
impossibility
I can sing beautiful.
He can ride a horse.
We can speak five language.
◦ I can’t sing beautiful.
He can not ride a horse.
We cannot speak five languages.
◦ A: Can i sing beautiful?.
◦ B: Yes, You can
◦ B: No, You can’t
Can he ride a horse?
Can we speak five language?
 CAN – INTERROGATIVE FORM:
I
You
MAIN VERB IN
He THE BASE
She FORM
CAN It +
We COMPLEMENT

You +

they ?
◦ A: Can he ride a horse?
◦ B: Yes. He can
◦ B: No, he can’t
◦
A: Can we speak five language?
◦ B: Yes, we can
◦ B: No, we can’t
◦ A: what can you do?
◦ B: I can sing very well, I can drive a car so fast, I can run so fast but I
can’t ride a motorbike.
 Modals verb can / can’t

A: what can I dO?

B: I can dance very well. I can play
the piano, I can cook , i can swim
well but I can’t play
basketball………….
 EXAMPLES:
1) to express ability:
Luis can speak French but he cannot speak English.
Superman can do things that ordinary people can’t.
2) to express request:
Can you help me Julio? No, I can´t.
Can I offer you something to drink? Yes, you can.
3) to express permission:
Can I use your cell phone?
You can’t go out with Victor.
4) to express possibility:
If the weather is perfect tomorrow, we can go on a picnic.
I can be ready in five minutes.
 COULD:

PAST OF PAST
CAN. ABILITY:
When I was
MORE POLITE young, I could

THAN CAN
ride a bike. POSSIBILITY:
I think we could have
(REQUEST): another Gulf war.
Could you open the door,
please?
 COULD – AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE
FORM:
I
YOU + COULD
MAIN VERB IN THE
HE BASE FORM
SHE +

IT -COULD NOT COMPLEMENT

WE - COULDN´T ATTENTION!

THEY COULD NOT:

Suggests that it´s
impossible for
something to
happen
 COULD – INTERROGATIVE FORM:

I
YOU MAIN VERB IN
THE BASE FORM
HE +
COULD SHE COMPLEMENT
IT +
WE
?
THEY
 EXAMPLES:
1) to express abilities in the past:
Jason could talk when he was four.
2) to express permission:
Could I leave the classroom, please?
3) to express future possibility:
I could get a bad final mark. It depends on the next
exam.
4) could with present perfect tense is used to
express something in the past may be real.
You could have been killed in that accident.
I could have won that game.
 SHOULD
ADVICE, SUGGESTIONS,
CRITICISM AND
EXPECTATIONS:

✔This film should be good.

✔You should stop smoking.
✔You shouldn’t have done it!
SHOULD – AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE
FORM:

+ SHOULD


MAIN VERB IN
- SHOULD NOT THE BASE FORM

- SHOULDN´T +
COMPLEMENT
 SHOULD – INTERROGATIVE FORM:


MAIN VERB IN
THE BASE
FORM
+
SHOULD
COMPLEMENT

+ ?
 EXAMPLES:
1) to give advice and opinions:
You are driving too fast; you should slow down a
little bit.
You have gained a lot of weight. You should go on
a diet.
2) to express expectations:
Are you ready? The taxi should be here soon.
Twenty dollars is enough. It shouldn’t cost more than
that.
3) to suggest a less strong possibility:
If you should pass the bakery, can you buy some
bread?
 MUST

DEDUCTION OR CENTAINTY: OBLIGATION:

(“must” involves the
Example: That must be Jerry, speaker´s authority or
they said he is tall and has red opinion). Example:
hair. You must go to bed, said her
mum
MUST – AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE:

+ MUST MAIN VERB IN


THE BASE
FORM
+
- MUST NOT
COMPLEMENT
MUSTN´T
 MUST NOT = MUSTN´T

PROHIBITION
You must not leave home in this quarantine.
 MUST – INTERROGATIVE
FORM:


MAIN VERB IN THE
BASE FORM
+
MUST COMPLEMENTS
+

?
 EXAMPLES:
1) express something is necessary and essential:

❖ You must pay by cash.

❖ You must wear your mask in this quarantine.

2) must not (musn´t) is used to express something

is not permitted or allowed.

❖ You mustn’t smoke, eat and drink in the hospital.

❖ You must not drink and drive.
 Let’s
practice!!!!
 Modal Verbs
Imagine a sentence for each picture, using the modal verbs you have studied.

Asking / giving permission Expressing an offer or Expressing ability

invitation

Could I come in, please? She can ski.

Could you sing with me,
please?
Expressing obligation Expressing prohibition

You must respect other people’s In Portugal you musn’t drive on the left
opinions. hand side.
Choose the correct answer:
1. Children ________ be accompanied by an adult at the zoo.
a. should b. must c. can d. mustn’t
2. You _________ talk during tests. It’s forbidden!
a. shouldn´t b. mustn’t c. couldn’t d. could
3. I can feel the heat. We _________ be near the fire.
a. Can b. shouldc. must d. musn´t
4. They ________ hear him because he was whispering.
a. can’t b. mustn’t c. shouldn’t d. couldn’t
5. You’ve never heard of Britney Spears! You ________ be serious!
a. must b. shouldc. can’t d. shouldn’t
 Use an appropriate modal verb in each sentence:

1. Owen ___________ ( not) do his homework because tomorrow is Saturday.

2. Drivers_________ stop at a stop sign.
3. _______ you make a copy for me?
4. We _______ leave now or we will be late.
5. A:______ I use your laptop computer? B: Of course you _______.
6. I ______ rather cook tonight.
7. _______I go to the restroom, Miss Rocio?
8. _________you prefer chicken or steak for dinner?
9. I __________catch the bus this morning. My father drove me to school.
10. ________you answer the phone, please?
11. When I was young, I _________speak better English than now.
12. You look pale. You ________ go to a doctor.
13. You have been driving for ten hours. You _______be exhausted.
14. We ___________rent a car. My father will lend us his.