Meaning of modals

Upper-intermediate exercises

a. You’ll feel better after this medicineb. That’ll be the postmanc. If litmus paper is dipped in acid, it will turn red; d. Oil will float on watere. She’ll sit on the floor quietly all day. She’ll just play with her toys, and you won’t hear a murmur from her ( of a good baby)f. She will fall in love with the wrong people. g. Every morning he would go for a long walkh. In the spring the birds would return to their old haunts, and the wood would be filled with their music….

Read these examples and classify the following modals in the chart below according to their

meaning.

O i. Sandra used to come down here and watch me bake cakes. And she used to find it quite fascinating. She wanted to bake them herself but she never really knew how. And her grandmother always used to bake cakes and she would go and watch you know.

O j. I’ll write as soon as I can; We won’t stay longer than two hours

O k. Will/Would you help me to address these letters? I’ll do it, if you like

O l. : If you will go out without your overcoat, what can you expect?; She would keep interrupting me.

O m. I’m afraid you’ll need to fill in this form. I’ll have to ask you to wait a minute.

EXERCISE :NOW COMPLETE YOUR CHART WITH

THE SENTENCES

MEANING 

EXAMPLE1.Prediction in the present/ future

     

2.Logical necessity 

     

3.Conditional sentences:- universal truth 

     

4. Present habits 

     

5. Criticizing typical behavior 

   

6. Past habits and actions

   

7. Willingness 

     

8. insistence   

9. Intention 

     

10. Distancing 

     

NOW CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

MEANING  EXAMPLE

1.Prediction in the present/ future

a   

2.Logical necessity 

b   

3.Conditional sentences:- universal truth 

C,d   

4. Present habits 

E 

   

5. Criticizing typical behavior 

f 

6. Past habits and actions

G, h, i

 

7. Willingness 

k   

8. insistence l 

9. Intention 

j   

10. Distancing 

m