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Modal Verbs

The document discusses the characteristics and uses of modal verbs in English. It covers must/mustn't, can/can't/could/couldn't, should/shouldn't, may/might, and don't/doesn't have to. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used to indicate obligations, permissions, probabilities, abilities, and lack of obligations in both the present and past tense. It also includes exercises asking the reader to rewrite example sentences using different modal verbs.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
286 views5 pages

Modal Verbs

The document discusses the characteristics and uses of modal verbs in English. It covers must/mustn't, can/can't/could/couldn't, should/shouldn't, may/might, and don't/doesn't have to. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used to indicate obligations, permissions, probabilities, abilities, and lack of obligations in both the present and past tense. It also includes exercises asking the reader to rewrite example sentences using different modal verbs.
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MODAL VERBS
Los MODAL VERBS tienen una serie de características:
 No llevan –s en la 3ª persona del singular:
Example: He can swim.
 Van seguidos de infinitivo sin “to”.
Example: You must work harder.
 No necesitan verbo auxiliar para las negativas e
interrogativas.
Example: She can’t swim; Could you finish your job?
1. MUST/MUSTN’T:
“Must”
 indica obligación de hacer algo. Example: I must get up early.
 Indica deducción afirmativa.
Example: He studies very hard, he must have good marks.
“Mustn’t”
 indica prohibición de hacer algo.
Example: You mustn’t enter here.
Nota: LA OBLIGACIÓN EN EL PASADO SE INDICA CON “HAD
TO”
Example: I had to get up early.

1)REWRITE THESE SENTENCES USING MUST/MUSTN’T:


a) In many British schools it is compulsory to wear a uniform. - In many
British schools, you ...
b) It’s prohibited for the passengers to smoke here. - Passengers ...
c) It is compulsory for all drivers to have a driving licence. - All drivers ...
d) Feeding the animals is forbidden in this zoo. -You ...
e) I’m certain Mark plays the guitar very well. - Mark ...

2.-/CAN’T/COULD/COULDN’T:
“Can”
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 indica habilidad/capacidad en el presente.


Example: I can swim;
 Dar y pedir permiso en el presente. Example: Can I go to the toilet?
“Can’t”
 indica incapacidad en el presente. Example: I can’t swim;
 Denegar el permiso. Example: You can’t drive my car.
 Indica deducción negative.
Example: She doesn’t speak English. She can’t be British.

“Could”
 indica habilidad/capacidad/posibilidad en el pasado.
 xample: I could swim;
“Couldn’t”
 indica no habilidad/incapacidad/no posibilidad en el pasado. Example:
I couldn’t swim.

2) REWRITE THE SENTENCES USING CAN/CAN’T/COULD/COULDN’T


a) You’re not allowed to see that film. - You ...
b) It’s not permitted for him to drive a car. - He ...
c) It was not possible for me to go to London. - I …
d) She’s very good at dancing.- She …
e) I’d like to use your computer.- Can …?
f) They were able to run very fast. - They …
g) We’d like to watch TV. - Could … ?
h) I’m sure that that woman is not Sheila. -That woman ...

3.-“SHOULD/SHOULDN’T:
“Should”
 se usa para dar consejo afirmativo, significa “debería”.
 Example: You should study harder.
“Shouldn’t”
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 se usa para dar consejo negativo, significa “no debería”. Example:


You shouldn’t smoke.

3) REWRITE THESE SENTENCES USING SHOULD/SHOULDN’T


a) We advise you to eat vegetables. - You ...
b) It would be a good idea for me to read good books. - I ...
c) I advise you not to smoke. - You ...
d) We advise her not to eat so much chocolate. - She ...
e) I advise them not to talk here. - They ...
f) I advise you to use a helmet. - You...

4.-MAY/MIGHT:
 Se usan para indicar posibilidad/probabilidad en el presente o futuro.
Example: It may/might rain tonight. / Peter may be in Paris.

4) REWRITE THESE SENTENCES WITH MAY/MIGHT:


a) It’s possible that they will win the NBA. - They ...
b) Maybe it will rain this afternoon. - It ...
c) Perhaps Tom will arrive tomorrow. - Tom
d) It’s possible that he will visit Spain next summer. - He..
e) There’s a possibility that she comes this afternoon. - She …
f) It’s possible that they buy the car. - They …

5.-DON’T HAVE TO / DOESN’T HAVE TO/NEEDN´T:


 se usan para indicar “ausencia de obligación”.
Example: I don’t have to wear a uniform.
She doesn’t have to get up early.
you needn´t get up early

5) REWRITE THESE SENTENCES USING DON’T/DOESN’T HAVE TO:


a) It’s not compulsory for you to get up at eight. - You ...
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b) It’s not obligatory for her to watch TV. - She ...


c) It’s not compulsory for him to go to Rome. - He ...
d) It’s not obligatory for them to do the cleaning. - They ...
e) It’s not compulsory for me to buy a new phone. - I ...

nota: si la situación está en pasado debemos usar el infinitivo


perfecto: have + past participle

 He must have been away

 They can´t have studied in U.K.

 They should have gone. It was fun

1- REWRITE THE SENTENCES. USE A MODAL VERB (8)

1.-It´s compulsory for children to start school at the age of five in Britain.
_____________________________________________________________________________
2.-Julia has the ability to play football really well
_____________________________________________________________________________
3.-I revised for the English test but it was cancelled.
_____________________________________________________________________________
4.-It´s prohibited to ride a motorbike without a helmet.
_____________________________________________________________________________
5.-It´s possible that David wrote the note. It looks like his handwriting.
_____________________________________________________________________________
6.- That isn´t the time, surely!! I thought it was much earlier.
_____________________________________________________________________________
7.-I´ll probably take Japanese lessons.
_____________________________________________________________________________
8.-It wasn´t a good idea for you to walk home alone.
_____________________________________________________________________________
9.-I´m sure that Sherlock Holmes had incredible powers of deduction
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SHERLOCK _______________________________________________________________

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