Download - Modal verbs
A modal verb is also known as a helping verb. It gives additional information about the main verb that follows it. Examples:
They must go out .
Must: ObligationThey go out .
Present simple
They should go out .
Should: Advice
They may go out .
May: possibilityThey can go out .
Can: permission
They will go out .
Will: Future tense
A modal verb are different from normal verbs.
Remember:
1. They don't use an 's' for the third person singular
2. They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she go?')
3. They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to')
Subject Modal verb
Main verb
Complement
I We
TheyYouHeSheIt
must
can
should
may
will
go to sleep.
drink some water.
eat some food.
do some exercise.
Use the basic form or INFINITIVE of the main verbs after the modal verbs.
Exercise 1:
1. You must (coming / come / came) back home early.
2. My mother can (cooked / cooking / cook) seafood hotpot.
3. I may (finish / finished / finishing) my homework today.
4. Should I (turning / turned / turn) off the TV?
5. My daddy will (bought / buy / buying) me a robot.
_____
_____
_____
____
____
6. Would you (give / giving / gave) me your opinion?
7. You don’t need to (finish / finished / finishing) the homework.
4. You can’t (going / go / went) to the meeting
____
____
____
Obligation - opinion
We can use verbs such as 'must’, ’have to’ ‘need to’ to say when something is necessary or to express obligation
Examples:
Children must do their homework You have to go to school
You need to save some money
Ability
We use 'can' and 'could' to talk about a skill or ability
Examples:
She can speak six languages.
My grandfather could play golf very well
I can't drive
Permission
We can use verbs such as 'can', 'could’ ‘may’ and ’might’ to ask for and give permission. We also use modal verbs to say something is not allowed.
Examples:
Could i leave early today, please?
You may not use the car tonight
Can we swim in the lake
Might i ask a question
Request
We can use ’may’, ’can’ ‘could’ ‘will’ or ‘would’ for making requests. But ‘would’ and ‘could’ are more formal than ‘will’ and ‘can’Examples:
Will you help me with the washing-up?
Can you send me the newspaper?
Would you give this ring to Camila
Could i invite my boyfriend to the party?
Advice - opinion
We can use ’should’, ’had better’ ‘need to’ to give an advice or make a suggestion.
Examples:
We should go by train
You had better tell him everything
You need to talk louder
Prohibition
We use ’mustn’t’ or ‘can’t’ to show that something is prohibited or not allowed
Examples:
We musn’t use your phone in class
You can't drive here unless you are over eighteen
Absence of obligation
We can use ’don’t have to’ or ‘don’t need to’ to say when something is necessary or unnecessary
Examples:
We don’t have to go to school today, it’s sundayYou don’t need to write again the same thing
One of the meanings of modal verbs is to do with degrees of certainty. Modal verbs can be used to say for instance that a situation is certain, probable, possible or impossible.
Certainly (we are absolutely sure about something): •WillPossibility (something is possible to happen but we are not sure): •Can, may, might, couldPositive deduction (we are almost sure that something is true): •MustNegative deduction (we are almost sure that something is not true):• Can’t
Let’s look at the modal verbs of deduction.
Use:• Must: when I’m 100% sure that something
is possible.
• May (not), might (not) and could : when I’m unsure about something.
• Can’t: when I’m sure that something is not possible.
Let’s practice. Look at the pictures of some celebrities when they
were young. Guess who they are!
Use:• Must or can’t if you’re sure• May (not) or might (not) if you are
unsure.
He _______ be …
• Michael Jackson?
• Sasha Baron Cohen (Borat, Ali G)?
• David Beckham?
• or Eminem?
He might be Eminem
Use modal verbs to make your deductions.
• Lady Gaga?
• Madonna?
• Scarlett Johanson?
• Eva Longoria?
• Or Britney Spears?
She can’t be Madonna. She must be Britney Spears
She _____ be …
• Lady Gaga?
• Madonna?
• Britney Spears?
• Sarah Jessica Parker?
She must be Sarah Jessica Parker
He ________ be …
• Tom Cruise
• Jack Nicholson
• Leonardo di Caprio
• Orlando Bloom
He may be Leonardo di Caprio
He ________ be …
• Paul McCartney
• Jack Nicholson
• Leonardo di Caprio
• John Lennon
He could be John Lennon