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Modals New

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23 views13 pages

Modals New

Uploaded by

joshuasujan989
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MODAL VERBS

Objectives
Students will differentiate between the models used for
possibility, obligation and necessity by identifying these type
of modals in the language around them.
Students will demonstrate an ability to reason deductively
using modal forms.
Modals are auxiliary verbs used to form the tenses,
moods, voices etc of other verbs.
They are helping verbs that cannot be used on their
own but is used along with other main verbs to express
attitudes.

There are 9 modal verbs in English.


They are can, could, may, might, will,
would, shall, should, and must.
The verbs or expressions dare, ought to, had better, and need
not behave like modal auxiliaries to a large extent and my be
added to the above list

They are different from normal verbs like "work, play,


visit..." They give additional information about the
function of the main verb that follows it.
some characteristics of modal
verbs:

They never change their form. You can't add "s",


"ed", "ing"...

They are always followed by an infinitive without


"to" (e.i. the bare infinitive.)

They are used to indicate modality, allow speakers


to express certainty, possibility, willingness,
obligation, necessity, ability
Why are modal verbs important?
Modal verbs can express many basic concepts which you will need
regularly in any situation. Modal verbs are used to express
obligation, give advice, talk about possibility and probability, ask
for permission and more.

Shall can be used with first person singular (I) and first person plural (we).
However, it is less common than will, especially in American English.

In British English, first person questions expressing willingness or wish


use shall.
(Shall I/we? = Do you wish me/us to...?) First person statements use will (I/we
will)

Shall I give you a hand with the dishes? (BrE) (offer)


Shall we buy her a present?

I'll ( will/shall) be back in a minute.


We will/shall overcome all difficulties.
Grammar
Modal Verb Expressing Example
Strong obligation You must stop when the
traffic lights turn red.

must
logical conclusion / He must be very tired.
Certainty He's been working all
day long.

prohibition You must not smoke in


must not the hospital.

ability I can swim.


permission Can I use your phone
can please?

possibility Smoking can cause


cancer.
ability in the past When I was younger I
could run fast.

could polite permission Excuse me, could I just


say something?
possibility It could rain tomorrow!

permission May I use your phone


please?
may
possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!

polite permission Might I suggest an idea?

might possibility, probability I might go on holiday to


Australia next year.
lack of I need not buy
necessity/absence of tomatoes. There are
need not obligation plenty of tomatoes in
the fridge.

50 % obligation I should / ought to see a


doctor. I have a terrible
headache.

advice You should / ought to


should/ought to revise your lessons

logical conclusion He should / ought to be


very tired. He's been
working all day long.

advice You 'd better revise your


had better lessons
Negative modal verbs are often contracted although
might not and may not are usually written fully
without contractions.
e.g. can – can’t / would – wouldn’t / might – might
not

For will and shall the spelling changes in the


negative
e.g. will – won’t / shall – shan’t

To make a question, move the modal verb before the


subject.
e.g. Should I tell him?
What would you do?
Every modal verb can have more than one
meaning also it shows you that every idea like
obligation, certainty and so on can be expressed
by more than one modal verb.

In each sentence ‘can’ has a different meaning.

1. Can you look at something for me? - Request


2. I can’t do anything for a while. - ability
3. Older laptops can get like that sometimes. - General
possibility
4. It can’t be a virus. - certainty
5. Can I take it for an hour or so? - Asking permission
Choose the right modal verb.
1._____ (can, could) you swim when you were 10? – Ability

2.I read the book three times, but I _______ (mustn’t, couldn’t)
understand it. – Ability

3.We have a lot of work tomorrow. You _____ (will, mustn’t) be


late. – Obligation

4.You _____ (can’t, don’t) have to tidy up now. I'll do it later. –


Obligation

5.Susie is so late! She _______ (could, must) have missed the


train!. – certainty

6.If you haven't eaten all day, you _______ (be) hungry. -
Probability
7. ______ (can, May, would, would you mind if) I speak to Mr.
Smith, please? (Formal polite request)

8. Would you mind if I _____ (didn’t, won’t, wouldn’t) come to


your party? (Asking for permission)

9. Could I use your cell phone, please? – Sorry, you ______ (can’t,
mustn’t, won’t). (Permission not given)

10. Would you mind _______ (not smoke, no smoking, not


smoking) here? I have a headache. (Polite request)

11. I can’t find my keys. They _____ (will, must) be here


somewhere because I used them to open the front door. –
Certainty

12.They _______ (might, can’t) be outside, because I came inside


immediately. – Certainty
13. I _______ (might, must) have put them back in my handbag. Oh yes here
they are!- Certainty

14. I ________ (take) you to the airport. I have nothing to do tomorrow. –


Willingness

15. If you _____ (wait) for a moment, I'll see if Mr Hawking is available. –
Willingness

16. My bank _______ (allow) me to make international transactions. – Refusal

17. Greg just _________ (answer) the phone. – Refusal

18. You ________ (should, would) eat more vegetables. - Advice / suggestion

19. I _____ (shouldn’t, wouldn’t) wear those pants if I wear her. - Advice /
suggestion

20. You ______ (may, might) leave if you’ve finished. – Permission

21. ________ (may, could) you turn the heating up a bit, please? - Permission

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