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Modal Verbs Modal Verbs
Modal Verbs Modal Verbs
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Modal Verbs
The modal verbs are:
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Modal Verbs
What are modal verbs?
Modal verbs are used to express certain hypothetical conditions, such as advice, capability, or
requests.
The first example is a simple factual statement. The speaker participates in a swimming activity
every week on Tuesdays.
The second example uses the modal verb can. Notice how the meaning changes slightly. The
speaker does not swim every Tuesday; they’re saying they are capable of swimming every
Tuesday if they need to. It’s hypothetical.
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Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?
Likelihood
Some things seem likely, but we don’t know for sure. In these cases,
you can use the modal verbs should and must to show probability
without certainty.
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parents must proud Her so be.
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baby should be by
brother asleep now My.
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Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?
Possibility
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Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?
Suggestion/advice
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should lasagna try You the.
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wear That less guy cologne should.
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Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?
Obligation or necessity
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Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?
Habit
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As a child, she _____ always write in her journal
before going to sleep.
Will
Would
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As a child, she _____ always write in her journal
before going to sleep.
Will
Would
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Usually, in the morning, he _____ go for a run in
the park.
Will
Would
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Usually, in the morning, he _____ go for a run in
the park.
Will
Would
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Last summer, he would always take his dog for
a walk in the evening.
Will
Would
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Last summer, he would always take his dog for
a walk in the evening.
Will
Would
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Ability
We use can and can't to talk about someone's skill or general
abilities:
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Ability
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John _____ Speak German really well. He
sounds like a native.
Could
Can
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John _____ Speak German really well. He
sounds like a native.
Could
Can
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When I was a boy, I _____ run 30 kilometers.
Could
Can
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When I was a boy, I _____ run 30 kilometers.
Could
Can
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The police searched the whole area but they
_____ find her.
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The police searched the whole area but they
_____ not find her.
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I _____ hear the birds chirping early in the
morning.
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I _____ hear the birds chirping early in the
morning.
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_____ you play the guitar?
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_____ you play the guitar?
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I _____ juggle three balls at once, no mater how
hard I try.
Couldn’t
Can’t
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I _____ juggle three balls at once, no mater how
hard I try.
Couldn’t
Can’t
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He _____ jump over the fence when he was
younger.
Couldn’t
Can’t
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He _____ jump over the fence when he was
younger.
Couldn’t
Can’t
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I _____ bake delicious chocolate chip cookies,
right now.
Couldn’t
Can’t
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I _____ bake delicious chocolate chip cookies,
right now.
Couldn’t
Can’t
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Requests
We use could you … and would you … as polite ways of telling or
asking someone to do something:
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Offers and invitations
We use can I … to make offers:
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I help you Can?
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I call you Shall on mobile your?
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Offers and invitations
We sometimes say I can ... or I could ... or I'll (I will) ... to make an
offer:
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Offers and invitations
We use would you like (to) ... for invitations:
We can use you must … or we must … for a very polite invitation:
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_____ I carry your bag for you?
Shall
Would
Can
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_____ I carry your bag for you?
Shall
Would
Can
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_____ you like to go out tonight?
Shall
Would
Can
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_____ you like to go out tonight?
Shall
Would
Can
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_____ we start the lesson?
Shall
Would
Can
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_____ we start the lesson?
Shall
Would
Can
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Asking for permission
We use can to ask for permission to do something:
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Asking for permission
may is another more formal and polite way of
asking for permission:
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come I Can in?
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I May a ask, please question?
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Giving permission
We use can to give permission:
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Giving permission
We use can to say that someone has permission to do
something:
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Refusing permission
We use can't and may not to refuse permission or
say that someone does not have permission:
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Finished can you've your go You
homework when out.
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may Students for travel not free.
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'Will' and ‘Would'
We use will:
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'Will' and ‘Would'
Beliefs
We use will to express beliefs about the present or future:
We use would as the past of will, to describe past beliefs about the
future:
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will John be office in his
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will We have train take to the.
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'Will' and ‘Would'
Willingness
We use will:
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Dad will Perhaps lend the me car.
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'Will' and ‘Would'
We use would as the past tense of will:
to talk about typical behaviour, things that we often did (because we were
willing to do them) in the past:
• When they were children they used to spend their holidays at their
grandmother's at the seaside. They'd get up early every morning and have
a quick breakfast. Then they'd run across the road to the beach.
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'Will' and ‘Would'
Promises, offers and requests
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They ___ come tomorrow.
Will
Would
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They ___ come tomorrow.
Will
Would
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If you knew Sara, you ___ probably like her.
Will
Would
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If you knew Sara, you ___ probably like her.
Will
Would
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My husband ___ arrive soon.
Will
Would
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My husband ___ arrive soon.
Will
Would
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I ___ be on time for class.
Will
Would
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I ___ be on time for class.
Will
Would
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He said he ___ read that book.
Will
Would
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He said he ___ read that book.
Will
Would
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What ___ like to eat, sir?
Will
Would
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What ___ like to eat, sir?
Will
Would
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Today ___ probably be a nice day for me.
Will
Would
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Today ___ probably be a nice day for me.
Will
Would
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Modal Verbs for Deduction/Conclusions:
We use must when we feel sure that something is true or it's the
only realistic possibility.
Example:
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must He be working tired day after all.
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garage must her This house. I can be see
car in her the.
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must to because live he always
near walks here work He.
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Modal Verbs for Deduction/Conclusions:
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might She be late due traffic
running to.
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He answering. He's meeting
could be not in a.
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weather, the may the ferry be
delayed to bad due
Unfortunately.
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Modal Verbs for Deduction/Conclusions:
• He can't have left already; his car is still in the parking lot.
• It can't be far now. We've been driving for three hours.
• It can't be easy for her, raising those three kids on her own.
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lot He still have already; his can't
car is in left the parking.
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can't It be driving now. far We've
three been for hours.
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It be kids own easy for, those
raising can't three on her her.
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