Professional Documents
Culture Documents
VERBS (2) Modal Verbs
VERBS (2) Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are a small group of verbs, which are very different from normal
verbs.
Common Modal Verbs and their Particularities 28 min
- They do not take “s” in the third person: he can, she must, it could
- They use “not” in the negative form: they may not, we should not
- They cannot be used in the past or in the future tenses
- There is no “to” after them: I can do, you must see
When we speak, we use contractions with some of the modal verbs in the negative
form. Examples:
can't = cannot = can not
couldn‟ t = could not
shouldn‟ t = should not
mustn‟ t = must not
won‟ t = will not
wouldn‟ t = would not
How can we use modal
verbs in the past?
We can:
Use a synonym in the past: to be able to, to Youcan go Youwere able to go
be allowed to, to have to, to need to You may go You were allowed to go
You must go You had to go / You needed
to go
Use a modal verb that expresses the past: I could not go
could (past of „can‟ ), would (past of „will‟ ) I thought I would go
Match the two columns to identify the use of each modal verb.
1. Abe should call Lyla soon after their first date. a. obligation
2. Lyla should be happy to get his call. b. possibility
3. Abe calls but she doesn’t pick up, she must be working. c. low probability
4. No problem, he can call her back later. d. rational probability
5. Later he tells her they could go out to dinner again. e. certainty
6. She says she may be available Friday. f. polite request
7. Abe asks if he can call her back Friday morning. g. permission
8. She says she could be in a meeting, the afternoon is h. advice
better.
9. Friday afternoon, Abe asks: May I pick you up at 6 pm? i. capacity
10. He must be on time to make a good impression. j. suggestion
Complete the sentences with a modal verb from this list, without using the
same one twice: can, could, may, might, should, must, shall, will, would
1. Children ___________ go to school.
2. Before you make a decision, you___________ speak to a specialist.
3. I___________ ride a horse, I love horse riding.
4. Let‟ s go,___________ we?
5. Jake___________ speak some English before the training.
6. ___________ I please speak to Mrs. Sanders?
7. I promise I___________ buy you a new phone.
8. He___________ join us later, he is not sure.
9. If I were you, I ___________ take this opportunity.
1. Jack must write a report tomorrow. a. She needs to help him, or the report
will not be finished on time.
2. Jack couldn‟ t write it yesterday. b. Jennifer‟ s boss says she is allowed to help
Jack.
3. Jennifer says she can help him c. Jack will have to write a report tomorrow.
tomorrow.
4. She has to help him, or the report will d. Jennifer says she will be able to help
not be finished on time. him tomorrow.
5. Jennifer‟ s boss says she may help e. Jack wasn‟ t able to write it yesterday.
Jack.
Watch again, and complete the sentences below with the right modal verb:
Quiz 10 min
True or False?
1. The most polite modal verb to ask for permission is „may‟ . true false
2. We use „to‟ between a modal verb and another verb. true false
3. We can use the future with modal verbs. true false
4. „could‟ is the past of „can‟ . true false