modal verbs

English Modal Verbs ?

Section FourCompound Modal

Verbs and their functions

Section TwoSimple Modal

Verbs

Section ThreePast forms of

Modal Verbs and their functions

Section OneBasic Information about Modal Verbs

Section FiveFinal Test

What are Modal Verbs ?

Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences:

What all are modal verbs?

• Can, could, able to – modal verbs to express ability

• Can, can’t, could, may: modal verbs for permission

•Modal verbs of deduction: must, can’t, may, might, could

• Should – to express weak obligation, advice

• Should have – to express unfulfilled obligation in the

past

1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.

EXAMPLES:He can  speak Russian.She should  go now.

My wife may join us for the dinner.

3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.

EXAMPLES:He will can go with us.  NOT CORRECT

She musted study very hard.    NOT CORRECT

It mayed show yesterday. NOT CORRECT

1

2

3

Which sentence has a modal verb?

Now we should not argue on this topic ,lets change the topic.

Can you tell me about Indore . I am new here

We may visit our grandpa, we have not seen him since Christmas.

Please choose the correct sentence

He cans climb the rocks.

He can climb the rocks.

He canned climb the rocks.

Please choose correct negative form of modal verb

I don’t can do it now, I am very busy till 5pm.

You must don’t smoke here, this place is smoke free.

He should not procrastinate his assignments, he may not get good grades.

Section TwoSimple Modal

Verbs

“Can”

“May”

“Must”

1. to express general ability 2. to express possibility / impossibility 3. to ask a permission (informal)

EXAMPLES:

I can sing and play the guitar. Anyone can learn how to use Computers if

they want to. Can you help me to fix my door?

1. to express possibility2. to ask or to give a permission (formal)3. to make requests

EXAMPLES:

He may come late today. You may use my Computer now. May I make a phone call?

1. to express certainty 2. to express necessity 3. to make a strong recommendation

EXAMPLES:

You must be tired now, you have worked all day long.

I must have a visa to go to Canada. CEP 811 is a very interesting class, you must

take it too.

If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out, you_______________ walk downtown and explore the waterfront.

Choose the best answer

Will DoCan

Today is cloudy, it ________________ rain.

Choose the best answer

May CanDoes

Choose the best answer

Ted's flight from Uzbekistan took more than 11 hours. He ________________ be exhausted after such a long flight.

May MustCan

“Could”

“Would” “Should”

“Might”

Section ThreePast forms of

Modal Verbs and their functions

1. to express general ability in the past, because it is the past form of the “Can”

2. to express possible future actions similar to “May and Might” in meaning

3. to make a request or ask something4. to express unreal or impossible actions

EXAMPLES:

We tried hard but we could not persuade them to come with us.

My grandfather could not swim. When you go to USA, you could stay with me. Could you tell me what time it is? I don’t know how she works 14 hours a day in front

of the computer, I could not do this.

1. to express future in the past because it is the past form of “Will”

2. to express unreal action in the present

3. to ask someone to do something (formal), (structure: If + you + would+ verb)

EXAMPLES:

He told me that he would come and fix this computer yesterday.

I would be very frightened if someone pointed a gun at me.

If we did not go to their party next week, she would be very upset.

I’d be very grateful if you would come and help me to complete my work.

1. to ask or give advice or recommendation 2. often after these verbs: suggest, propose,

recommend, insist, demand.3. If you think that if person is likely to do something

with less certainty or accidentally, you can use this structure: If + you + should+ verb or Should + you + verb

EXAMPLES:

I think you should stop smoking, drinking and messing around, instead you should do sometime useful.

They insisted that we should have dinner with them. He recommended that I should apologize to her for

what I said. If you should see Tom this evening, could you tell him

to call me? or Should you see Tom….. Don’t worry if I should be late tonight.

1. to give or ask permission, or possibility in the past, because it is the past form of “May”

2. to express future or present possibility and probability

3. Interchangeably with “May” quite often with no difference in meaning.

EXAMPLES:

She told that he might come in and use her stove. He might be having lunch now. It might rain tomorrow. There may/might not be a meeting tonight, because

the director is ill. I may/might go to Italy this summer.

Your brother was ill, therefore he _____ go out for a walk.

# 1. Choose the correct modal verb

Can’t Mustn’t Couldn’t

Mr. Gupta said if she wasn’t busy at 10 o'clock, she ____ come to see her.

# 1. Choose the correct verb

May CanWould Must

This house ____ look better if they painted it and cut the grass and planted flowers.

# 2. Choose the correct modal verb

May Can WouldMust

The Sheriff demands that all the eyewitnesses _____ be questioned immediately.

# 2.Choose the correct modal verb

WouldShouldMust Could

He said that I ____ play any CD from your collection while you were gone.

# 1. Choose the correct modal verb

May Should Must Might

For more Information about Modal verbs please meet me in class 8th a