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ENGLISH PRACTICAL GRAMMAR WORKSHOP

CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH TEACHER: ORF-15 CESAR M. FAJARDO MEDINA

(Modal Verbs “CAN/COULD – MAY/MIGHT –

MUST/HAVE TO – SHALL/SHOULD –
WILL/WOULD” Exercises)
(ARGUMENTATIVE COMPETENCE)
Modal verbs in the English language are used for different situations such as
showing that we believe that something is accurate or possible, to make offers,
talk about skills, ask permission, make requests, obligation, etc. The modal
verbs are used together with other verbs in their base form or together with the
auxiliary "have".

EXAMPLES OF MODAL VERBS

To give you a clearer idea, we present you a list of some examples of sentences
in which the modal verbs that you have probably heard and used on more than
one occasion are used:

Example: I can speak Italian / She should know.

May I ask you a question? / He might not be here on time.

The modal verbs are as following:

 Can - Could
 May - Might
 Must - Have to
 Shall - Should
 Will - Would

These can be developed into both affirmative, negative, and question

sentences. Next, you will see several examples and situations where each one
of them is used and so you can start putting them into practice with great
fluency:
CAN
This expresses ability, possibility and permission

Example: I can't speak French. (skill)

He can get the tickets with a 50% off discount. (possibility)
Can I talk to you? (Excuse me).

COULD
This is used to talk about skills in the past, things we couldn't do in the past,
requests, etc.

Example:
I could speak Italian when I was in elementary school. (skill in the past)
I couldn't leave the house when I lived with my parents. (imposs. in the past)
Could you send me the copy by noon? (request)

MAY and MIGHT

"May" and "might" usually have the same intensity, however "might" is used with
a hint of less chance of something happening. Some of its uses are: giving and
asking for permission, expressing wishes, speculating about past actions, etc.

Example: He might notice it. (possibility)

She may not have another slice of pizza. (Excuse me)
May I come in? (Excuse me)
May the Lord help us? (wish)

MUST, HAVE TO and MUSN'T

The difference between "MUST" and "HAVE TO" is that "must" deals with
expressing obligation imposed by the speaker and "have to" expresses personal
obligation towards something external. The most common uses of "must" and
"have to" are: obligation, deduction, emphasis on need, strong recommendation,
while "musn't" expresses prohibition.

Example: You must show your passport. (obligation)

She must have paid in advance. (deduction)
You must go to that disco. (strong recommendation)
You musn't use your phone while driving. (prohibition)
SHOULD
"Should" is used to give advice, to talk about possible situations in the present
time and in the future. This can be replaced by "ought to" without having a
change in meaning.

Example: Mom, you should check your email. (advice)

Lorena should be in the office now. (possible situation in the present)
You guys should get the job; your presentation was the best.
(poss. Situation in the future)

SHALL
Shall is not widely used nowadays and is more seen in legal documents and
formal situations. This is used to give suggestions, volunteer help, give
instructions, promises, confirmation, etc.

Example: Shall I get sushi for lunch? (suggestion)

Shall I open the door for you? (offer of help)
I shall meet her at 8 pm. (confirmation)

WILL
“Will” is one of the perhaps best-known modal verbs and, as you surely know,
this one deals with talking about the future. The most common uses are: quick
decisions, offers, questions about the future, predictable behaviors for the
future. On the other hand, we will use “won't” to speak of refusal to take action.

Example: Will you come to the party? (asks into the future)
I will buy a drink, I am thirsty. (Quick Decision)
I will help you with the bags. (offer)
She won't listen to what I say. (rejection)

WOULD
The modal verb "would" is used in situations such as the following: to make
invitations formally, to describe a prediction, to talk about habits in the past, to
not sound rude or offensive when disagreeing with someone, etc.

Example: When I was a child, I would visit my grandmother every weekend.

(habits of the past)

I would like to add that the introduction of the project needs to be

redone. (polite way to disagree)

It would be awesome to go to Disney. (description of a prediction)

As you could see the modal verbs deal with various situations and are very easy
to implement. Try to use them in your day to day. Our recommendation is that
you focus on one of them every day and in two weeks you will be an expert
using modal verbs.

OUGHT TO 
(Ought to) is a semi-modal verb because it is in some ways like a modal verb and
in some ways like a main verb. For example, unlike modal verbs, it is followed
by to, but like modal verbs, it does not change form for person:
Example: I ought to phone my parents.
It ought to be easy now.
We ought to do more exercise.

(Negative) We ought not to have ordered so much food.

Not: We don’t ought to have ordered so much food.

(Interrogative) Ought she to call the police?

Not: Does she ought to call the police?

MAKE A SENTENCE AS FOLLOWING MODAL VERBS.

a) MAY: __________________________________________
b) MIGHT: __________________________________________
c) WILL: __________________________________________

d) WOULD: __________________________________________
e) SHALL: __________________________________________
f) SHOULD: __________________________________________

g) CAN: __________________________________________
h) COULD: __________________________________________

i) MUST: __________________________________________
j) HAVE: __________________________________________
k) OUGHT TO: _________________________________________

Elaborado por: ORF15 (Lic.) Cesar Miguel Fajardo Medina

Revisado por: ORF15 (Lic.) Cesar Miguel Fajardo Medina
Fecha de elaboración: 08-04-2018
Ubicación: USB

Carrera 16 C # 9 A – 91 Barrio los Almendros

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