Modal verbs

Grade 7
Unit 7
What are modal verbs?
They are special verbs which behave irregularly in English. They are different from
normal verbs like "work, play, visit..."
They give additional information about the function of the main verb that follows it.
They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...
They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (example: the bare infinitive.)
Why do we use Modal verbs?
Modal verbs are used to express functions such as:
• Obligation
• Prohibition
• Lack of necessity
• Advice
• Permission
• Possibility
• Ability
• probability
 Modals of:

Obligation Prohibition
Must Mustn't
Have to
Has to

Lack of necessity
Don’t/ doesn’t have to
Don’t/ doesn’t need to
Needn't
 Modals of:
Possibility
Advice May
Should Might
Ought to

Ability
Can
Permission
Could
Can
Was able to
May
Modals of Obligation
• Must + infinitive  Strong obligation ( law / rule)
e.g. We must clean our room now.
I must finish my homework early
• Have to + infinitive  Strong obligation / Necessity
e.g. You have to stop when the traffic lights turn red.
She has to turn in her assignment on time.
Practice
Rewrite the following sentences using the modals
1. We are obligated to submit the project tomorrow.
 We must submit the project tomorrow

2. It is necessary that Tom arrives to work at 9:00 AM.

 Tom must arrive to work at 9:00 AM
Modals of Prohibition

• Mustn’t + infinitive  Prohibition / Something is not allowed

e.g. You must not speak loudly in a library.

You mustn’t cross a red traffic light.
Practice
Rewrite the following sentences using modals.
1. You are not allowed to arrive late to classes.
 You mustn’t arrive late to classes.

2. Jane is prohibited form eating pinot as it causes her allergy.

 Jane mustn’t eat pinot as it causes her allergy.
Modals of Lack of Necessity

• Needn't to + infinitive
Lack of necessity / when something is
• Don’t need to + infinitive not important to be done
• Don’t have to + infinitive

e.g. You don’t need to answer the question it is optional.

Sam needn’t pay the bill I will pay it.
Jane doesn’t need to finish the project now she can finish it tomorrow.
Modals of Advice
• Should / ought to + infinitive  duty / weak obligation

e.g. I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache.

You should / ought to study harder
 Practice
Rewrite the following sentences using modals.
1- It`s not important to buy a new mobile, yours is still new.
 You don’t have to buy a new mobile, yours is still new.
2- We have plenty of time before the meeting, we don’t need to hurry
 We have plenty of time before the meeting we needn’t hurry.
3- Sam failed his English exam. (give him a piece of advice)
 You should / ought to study harder
Modals of Permission
• Can / May + infinitive  ask for permission

e.g. May I use your phone?

Can I talk to you for a minute?

 Since we are making a polite request we use the form of the question
Modal + subject + infinitive … ?
Modals of Possibility
• May / Might + infinitive  to express something that is likely to happen

e.g. It may rain tomorrow

I might go to the dead sea this weekend.
We might be late.
Modals of ability
• Can + infinitive  ability (what a person can do)
e.g. Sally can ride a motorbike
Mark can speak Chinese

• Could / was able to + infinitive  ability to do something in the past

e.g. Tom could play the piano when he was 6 years old
I was able to ride a bike at the age of 5.
Practice
• Use the correct modal to fill the spaces.
1. There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. You _________ buy any.
a) must b) needn’t c) should
2. If you want to learn to speak English fluently, you _________ work hard.
a) don’t have b) mustn’t c) should
3. Take an umbrella. It _________ rain later.
a) may b) needn’t c) must
Practice
4. Nancy_________ go to bed early; tomorrow is her day off.
a) doesn’t need to b) must c) mustn’t
5. You ________ smoke on buses. It's forbidden.
a) doesn’t need to b) must c) mustn’t
6. Students __________ use their mobile phones during the lessons.
a) have to b) must c) mustn’t
7. You _________ buy any meat. There is plenty of it in the fridge.
a) have to b) needn’t c) mustn’t
Practice
8. __________I ask a question? Yes, of course.
a) can b) needn’t c) mustn’t
9. Drivers ___________ stop when the traffic lights are red.
a) must b) may c) mustn’t
10. I ____________speak French fluently when I was a child and we lived in
Morocco.
a) might b) was able to c) mustn’t
Practice
What is the function of the following modals in theses sentences?
1. May I use your mobile phone?
a) possibility b) permission
2. You must stop when the traffic lights are red.
a) obligation b) permission
3. You needn't take your umbrella. It isn't raining. 
a) Lack of necessity b) advice