Modal Verbs

Word puzzle: Highlight the verbs in the puzzle that express obligation, necessity,
willingness, possibility and advice and fill them using the color of your choice.
There are nine (9) words that you can find in the box.

M U S T S X V B N M
A W R D X T I B H I
Y L S Q A E R T J G

R D S H A L L E Y H
T R D C O K H F T T
M D L C O U L D A K
W S D W I L L G E C
G R T C V B W D X A

W O U L D P U L K N
J K P S H O U L D I
What are modal verbs?
 They are:
• Can
• Could
• May They are Auxiliary verbs that
• Might provide additional and specific
meaning to the main verb of the
• Must
sentence
• Shall
• Should
• Will
• Would
 Learning Competencies

 I can identify the different uses of modals.

 I can construct sentences using modals.
 I can participate actively in a given task.
What is modal?
Modal auxiliaries or modals are special auxiliary or
helping verbs used with a main verb indicate
particular moods like ability, permission, necessity,
willingness, advice, expectation and possibility. They
are invariable, meaning they don’t change from
person and number as other auxiliaries do. The
main verb is always in the “bare infinitive” meaning
the infinitive without the word “to”. Modals are
different from ordinary verbs so you have to know
them in your writing. Below are some of the modals
in common use.
How do we use modals?

S M V
Subject Verb

Example: Mary could play the piano

Form
There is no “s” in singular
There is no “do / does” in the question
There is no “don’t / doesn’t” in the negative

 He can ski He cans ski or He can skis

 Would you like to come with me?
Do you would like to come with me?
 They can’t be serious
They don’t can be serious
Form

Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms

to can / caning to must /musting

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to

She must study

We should have gone the other way
He could play football in his youth (general ability)
Form

 Occurs before the main verb

 the form is the same for all persons
 Add NOT to the negative
 Start the question with the modal
 No infinitive
What do they express?
Modal Concept Examples
Will Future Joe will travel to NY next week

Might Small probability I might move to Canada some day

Should Advice You should go to the doctor

Must Strong obligation Everyone must pay taxes

Strong suggestion
What do they express?
Modal Concept Examples
Shall Educated expression Shall I clean it?
Offer

Would (1) Past (used to) When I was young, I would play
soccer

Would (2) Present unreal I would buy the car but I can’t afford
it
What do they express?
Modal Concept Examples
Could (1) Unreal Ability I could go if I had time

Could (2) Past Ability She could play the piano, not anymore

Can (1) Present Ability We can speak English

Can (2) Permission Can I have a sweet?

What do they express?
 Ability:
can, could

 Permission:
can, could

 obligation\ advice:
must, shall, should

 Offers:
shall, would

Possibility:
Might, Could, Must
Practise

1- Children ________ stay away from fire.

a. Ought to b. must c. would d. mustn’t
2- You _________ talk during tests. It’s forbidden!
a. don’t have to b. mustn’t c. couldn’t d. might
3- They ________ hear him because he was whispering.
a. Wouldn’t b. mustn’t c. shouldn’t d. couldn’t
Practise

4- __________ you like to have dinner with me tonight?

a. Could b. may c. should d. would
5- You _________ let him hear about the party tomorrow. It’s a surprise!
a. mustn’t b. wouldn’t c. couldn’t d. can
6- I think your leg is broken. You ___ go to the emergency room.
a. Might b. could c. must d. can
More practise
 Re-write the following sentences using modals so that they have the
same meaning.
1- I suggest that you sleep early!
should sleep early
You ___________________________________________
2- Eating is forbidden in class!
You ___________________________________________
mustn’t eat in class
3- Look at sky! it’s cloudy.
It ____________________________________________
might rain
Valuing:
How will you act as a student of Matiao
NHS? What are your musts, should,
shouldn’t, could and couldn't?
 Direction: Underline the proper/correct modal in the statement.

 
1. “If a man (could, must) have half his wishes, he (will, would) double his
troubles.”
  * Benjamin Franklin
2.“We (cannot, will not) control the tragic things that happen to us, but
we (can, will) control the way we face up to them.
*Anonymous
3.“Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working
24 hours a day for good or bad. We (could, ought to) know how to
harness and control this great force.”
*Charles Simmons
4.“ An optimist (may,  must) see a light when there is none, but why (can,
must) the pessimist always run to blow it out?
  *Michael de St. Pierre
 5.“You (might, should) make yourself useful to somebody. You (wouldn’t,
shouldn’t) make life hard to any.
  *Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
Assignment:

Write a movie review about the latest movie

releases this month. Identify the modals used in
your review by underlining them. Write it in a short
bond paper.
Use your imagination
 Think about these situations and create a sentence using modals.

1. We are going to Paris for a weekend. (Make suggestions about things

to do)
2. We start exams in January . (Talk about necessity)
3. Your friend has got a headache. (Give him some advice)
4. You want to borrow your elder brother’s laptop. (Ask for permission
politely)