EXERCISE 1

Q.Match the sentences on the left with the uses of the modals on the right.

1.I must make a phone call. (a) certainty

2. She has walked a long way: she must be (b) ability

tired.

3. Will you close the window, please? (c) necessity

4. We will be away next weekend. (d) permission

5. She can speak French fluently. (e) request

6. Shall I get a taxi for you? (f) possibility

7. Shall we go for a swim? (g) future action

8. Can I go out? (h) suggestion

9. She may arrive tomorrow. (i) offer

After modal verbs we use the base form of a verb. Ought is an exception. We use ought with the
to-infinitive (e.g. you ought to go). We often use modal verbs to talk about permission, ability,
necessity, possibility, etc.

Permission
You can sit here.
Anyone may join the club. (May is more formal than can.)
Can/May I use your computer?
Could I ask you a question? (Could I? is more polite than Can/May I?)

Ability
She can speak English fluently.
I could swim when I was seven.

Obligation or necessity
I must get up at 5.00 tomorrow.
You must work hard.
You ought to obey your parents.
You should apply for the job.
Need I come again?

Compare the following

You need not go. (It is not necessary or you to go)
You must not go. (Don't go.)
Requests Can I have a glass of water, please? Could I have some tea? Will you give me a lift?
Would you lend me your camera? Can you do me a favour? Could you get me a ticket? Offers I
will get tickets for you. Shall I carry the bag for you? Can/May I help you? Would you like me to
help you? Will you have a cup of tea? Would you like a cup of tea? Suggestions Shall we go
swimming? Shall we play chess?

possibility He may be at home now. (perhaps a 50% chance) He 111ight be at home now. (a
smaller chance) He could be at home now. (less sure than may/might) He may I might have left.
(It is possible that he left/has left.) Certainty He must be at home now. (I am sure that he is at
home now.) He must have left. (I am sure that he has left.) Prediction I suppose she will get the
job. Perhaps it will rain tonight. I will be busy tomorrow. (Less usual: I shall be busy tomorrow.)

EXERCISE 2
Q. The statements below are not true. Work in pairs and turn the sentences into (a) questions,
(b) negatives. Take turns to ask questions and answer them.

Example: Fish can fly. Student A : Can fish fly? Student B : No, fish can't fly.
1. Doves can swim. 3. Mohan has repaired the TV. 5. Kalpana Chawala was born in America. 7.
Gopi is using the Internet. 9. We will know the results next week.
2. Nagpur is the capital of Maharashtra. 4. The stars shine during the day. 6. Tom knows
French. 8. Anita phoned him. 10. Dogs fear cats.