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MODAL VERBS

Modal verbs are special verbs which have irregular aspects. They are different from normal verbs

like "work, play, visit..." They are used to give additional information about the function of the main

verb that follows it. They have a lot of communicative functions to express things like:

1. Permission

2. Ability

3. Obligation

4. Prohibition

5. Lack of necessity

6. Advice

7. Possibility

8. Probability

Remember: Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without "to"

1) can

Use Examples

ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be able to)

I can speak English.

permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to)

Can I go to the cinema?

request Can you wait a moment, please?

offer I can lend you my car till tomorrow.

suggestion Can we visit Grandma at the weekend?

possibility It can get very hot in Arizona.

2) could

Use Examples

ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be able to)

I could speak English.

permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be allowed to)

I could go to the cinema.

polite question * Could I go to the cinema, please?

polite request * Could you wait a moment, please?

polite offer * I could lend you my car till tomorrow.

polite suggestion * Could we visit Grandma at the weekend?

possibility * It could get very hot in Madrid.

3) may

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Use Examples

possibility It may rain today.

permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to)

May I go to the cinema?

polite suggestion May I help you?

4) might

Use Examples

possibility (less possible than may) * It might rain today.

hesitant offer * Might I help you?

5) must

Use Examples

force, necessity I must go to the supermarket today.

possibility/deduction You must be tired.

advice, recommendation You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.

6) must not/may not

Use Examples

prohibition You mustn't work on dad's computer. You may not work on dad's computer.

7) need not

Use Examples

not necessary (don’t have to) I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the restaurant tonight.

8) ought to

Use Examples

advice You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.

obligation You ought to switch off the light when you leave the room.

9) shall (instead of will in the 1st person)

Use Examples

suggestion Shall I/we phone the restaurant?

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10) should

Use Examples

advice You should drive carefully in bad weather.

obligation You should switch off the light when you leave the room.

11) will

Use Examples

wish, request, demand, order (less polite than would)

Will you please shut the door?

prediction, assumption I think it will rain on Friday.

promise I will stop smoking.

spontaneous decision Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will.

habits She's strange; she'll sit for hours without talking.

12) would

Use Examples

wish, request (more polite than will) Would you shut the door, please?

habits in the past Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.

* no past forms - future forms

GAMES AND EXERCISES

ABILITY BINGO

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Walk around the classroom and ask your classmates if they can do the things on the Bingo Card. Ask yes/no questions using can, e.g. “Can you wiggle your ears?” For boxes with can, find a classmate who answers “Yes, I can.” Write that student’s name in the appropriate box and if possible ask them to demonstrate their ability. For boxes with can’t, find a classmate who answers “No, I can’t.” Write that student’s name in the appropriate box. The first student to have five names in a row, vertically, horizontally, or diagonally wins.

Can wiggle

his /her ears

Can speak

3 languages

Can play

chess

Can whistle

the Happy

Birthday song

Can name 3

countries

in Africa

Can play a

stringed

instrument

Can bake

a cake

Can name 3

countries in

South America

Can run 100

metres in 15

seconds

Can play

a wind

instrument

Can't say a

tongue twister

Can tell a joke

in English

Can make an

origami bird

Can stand on

his / her head

Can play

golf

Can eat with

chopsticks

Can swim

Can ride a

motorbike

Can spell the

capital of

Vietnam

Can say the

alphabet

backwards

Can spell the

teacher's

last name

Can hold his /

her breath for

25 seconds

Can hop

backwards on

one foot

Can ice skate

Can ride a

Skateboard

Can and Could

Can: “Can” is used to express ability, willingness, permission, or possibility. The negative of can is “cannot” or the contraction “can’t”.

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Example: I can cook dinner. In this example “can” expresses the ability to cook dinner.

Example: Can you pass me the ketchup? In this example “Can” expresses the willingness pass me the ketchup.

Example: Can I use your pencil? In this example “Can” expresses the permission to use your pencil.

Example: Intense light can hurt your eyes. In this example “can” expresses the possibility of intense light to hurt your eyes.

Directions: Say how “can” is used in each sentence. Circle “A” if it is used to express ability, “W” if it is used to express willingness, “Per” if it is used to express permission and “Pos” if it is used to Express possibility.

1) I can tie my shoes. A W Per Pos

2) Can I have a piece of gum? A W Per Pos

3) If you ride a motorcycle, you can fall. A W Per Pos

4) Can you get me a drink of water? A W Per Pos

5) I can speak English well. A W Per Pos6) He can use my basketball if he wants to. A W Per Pos

7) Can they clean my car while I am at work? A W Per Pos

8) Can squirrels fly? A W Per Pos

9) It can snow if it gets very cold. A W Per Pos

10) I can help you with your homework if you like. A W Per Pos

Directions: Now make your own sentences using “can”.

1) _____________________________________________________________________

2) _____________________________________________________________________

Could: “Could” has at least three functions. First, it can replace “can” and give the phrase a more conditional tone. Second, it can function as a the past tense of “can”. Third, it can function in the same way as “might” or “may”, suggesting that something is a possibility. The negative of can is “could not” or the contraction “couldn’t”.

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Example: You could have been an astronaut if you wanted to. In this example “could” expresses the conditional ability to be an astronaut in the past.

Example: He couldn’t let me have his pencil because he needed it. In this example “couldn’t” expresses the lack of permission to have his pencil in the past.

Example: Jane could be at the store right now. In this example “could” expresses the possibility that Jane is at the store in the present. “Could” functions the same way as “might” or “may” in this sentence.

Directions: Circle the correct auxiliary modal verb in each sentence.

1) I (could, can) help you with your homework now.

2) Five years ago, I (cannot, couldn’t) play the piano.

3) I (can, could) get an A on the test. 4) I (can, could) run ten miles if I train hard enough.

5) We (can, could) speak English well.

6) Matt (could, can) be sick today.

7) The volleyball team (can, could) go to the Olympics this year if they are lucky.

8) I think I (can, could) help you learn math if you promise to study hard.

9) (Can, Could) we go to the zoo tomorrow?

10) I (cannot, couldn’t) run that fast when I was six years old.

Directions: Now make your own sentences using “could”.

1) _____________________________________________________________________

2) _____________________________________________________________________

FUN ABILITY GAME

NAME CAN CAN'T

Spin around ten times and then walk in a straight line 1.

2.

3.

4.

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1.

Pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time 2.

3.

4.

1.

Wiggle your ears 2.

3.

4.

1.

Stand up and then touch your toes 2.

3.

4.

1.

Draw a square and a circle at the same time 2.

3.

4.

1.

Close their eyes and describe what another person in the class is wearing

2.

3.

4.

1.

Click your fingers 2.

3.

4.

1.

Say the months of the year backwards in English without making a mistake

2.

3.

4.

1.

Count to 20 in English in 10 seconds 2.

3.

4.

1.

Say the English alphabet in 10 seconds 2.

3.

4.

FUN ABILITY GAME INSTRUCTIONS:

Divide the class into groups of three or four and give each group one copy of the worksheet. Ask the members of each group to write their names next to the first challenge on the worksheet. In their groups, the students take it in turns to try out the challenge and then tick the 'can’ or ‘can’t’ column next to their name according to whether they completed the task successfully or not.

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The students repeat the procedure for all challenges in their groups and complete the chart. When the groups have completed all the challenges, ask the students to write a summary of what they could and couldn’t do.

After they have completed the summary, have the students take it in turns to tell the class one thing they could do and one thing they couldn’t do.

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What's that noise? – MAY/MIGHT/COULD/MUST

In this teaching activity, students learn how to use modal verbs of possibility and certainty in a real situation. For this activity, you will need some kind of screen and some everyday objects that make a recognizable sound when you use them.

Procedure

Put the objects behind the screen without the class seeing them. Next, ask one student to volunteer to operate the various objects behind the screen. Divide the class into two teams. The volunteer operates one of the objects. The teams take it in turns to guess what they think the object could be.

Each time a team makes a guess, they use a modal verb of possibility by saying "It could/may/might be a ..." If a team is very certain what the object is, the team uses a modal verb of certainty by saying "It must be a ..." Teams are only allowed one guess for each turn.

Score the game:

One point for a correct guess with "It could/may/might be a ..."

Two points for a correct guess with "It must be a ..."

Minus two points for an incorrect guess with "It must be a ..."

You can also play a variation of this game with smells by using things like lavender, mint, garlic, coffee, etc. You could also play this game with touch by using various fabrics. In both of these variants, the player in the guessing role would have to be blindfolded.

Possibility and probability

Aims: 1. to review the use of may, might, could, must and can’t to express possibility and probability; 2. to review the use of may, might and could when talking about possibility and probability in the future; 3. to extend vocabulary for expressing probability

Grammar Review:

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Write the following phrases on the board:

wears a wedding ring / be married// don’t know where Dad is / be in the garden// sky looks cloudy / rain// Anna’s too far behind / win the race// bought a lottery ticket / be a millionaire

Say aloud:

She wears a wedding ring. ~ She must be married.

I don’t know where Dad is. ~ He may be in the garden.

The sky looks cloudy. ~ It might rain.

Anna’s too far behind. ~ She can’t win the race.

I’ve bought a lottery ticket. ~ You could be a millionaire!

Ask students to repeat the phrases after you. Then say aloud the first part only and ask students to complete the phrases aloud as a class in response. Write the complete phrase with the modal verbs in place on the board.

Tell the class that these phrases are all about possibility and probability. For each phrase, ask whether the speaker feels sure about what they are saying, or whether they think what they are saying is possible, but they aren’t sure.

Draw this diagram on the board underneath the example sentences, but don’t include the modal verbs. Tell students that the line represents how sure we are about something. Ask students to put may, might, could, must and can’t in the correct place.

- isn’t can’t be could be may/might be must be is +

Looking again at the example sentences, ask: “Are these sentences about now or the future?” *She must be married. – now; He may/might be in the garden. – now; It may/might rain. - future She can’t win the race. – now; You could become a millionaire. - future.]

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Modal Verbs

For each sentence, choose the best word or phrase to complete the gap from the choices below.

1. Are you going swimming? ___ I come with you, please?

A Should B Can C Must D Will

2. I'm not going to pay five pounds for a coffee. You ____ be joking!

A can B might C must D should

3. This is a hospital. People are resting, so you ______ be quiet.

A will B ought C should D can

4. It _____ rain, so take an umbrella.

A might B must C should D can

5. _____ I have a quick word with you? Something important has happened.

A Must B Could C Would D Should

6. You _______ smoke here. It's a no-smoking area.

A couldn't B wouldn't C mightn't D mustn't

7. You ____ come and visit us when you are next in London.

A could B might C would D must

8. I'm sure you _____ love this film. It's brilliant.

A could B can C might D would

9. I _____ imagine why she married him. He's so stupid!

A can't B mightn't C mustn't D shouldn't

10. What _____ you do in my situation? I need your advice.

A would B must C could D should

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11. This is the most important thing - you _______ forget to take the food out of the oven at seven

o'clock.

A wouldn't B can't C mustn't D couldn't

12. They left London at three o'clock so they ______ be here by now.

A could B should C would D can

MODAL VERBS

Use CAN/CAN’T/MUST/MUSTN’T/MAY/MAY NOT/MIGHT/MIGHT NOT/SHOULD/SHOULDN’T/OUGHT TO/OUGHTN’T TO/HAVE TO/DON’T HAVE TO/NEED/DON’T NEED. There may be more than one correct answer.

1. He go skating because he broke his leg.

2. Many children in Britain wear school uniforms.

3. I'm not sure but Jane come to visit me this afternoon.

4. Didn't you see the sign? You drive more than 30 miles.

5. He speaks a lot of languages but he speak Chinese.

6. It snow. It feels very cold today.

7. You drive on the right in Britain. It’s the law.

8. He is a good boxer. You be careful.

9. You to drink coffee in the office because the boss doesn’t like it.

10. This test will be very difficult. So you learn a lot.

11. You eat more vegetables because they are healthy.

12. I don't the car. You can take it.

13. He does everything himself. He any help.

14. It's going to rain. You shut the window.

15. You start a fire in the forest if you smoke a cigarette there.

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