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Modal Verbs

The document discusses different modal verbs and their uses for expressing obligation, absence of obligation, prohibition, advice, ability, permission, possibility, logical deduction, requests, offers, suggestions, and past habits. It provides examples for each use and an exercise for learners to practice using modal verbs in sentences.

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13 views3 pages

Modal Verbs

The document discusses different modal verbs and their uses for expressing obligation, absence of obligation, prohibition, advice, ability, permission, possibility, logical deduction, requests, offers, suggestions, and past habits. It provides examples for each use and an exercise for learners to practice using modal verbs in sentences.

Uploaded by

laylaboh90gmaio.com
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODAL VERBS

1.- OBLIGATION (MUST/HAVE TO)

- “You must tidy your room”, my mother said to me.


- You must be careful. (Strong recommendation)
- I have to work on Saturday mornings. (My boos makes me work on Saturday mornings)
- Joseph had to work yesterday.
- We’ll have to cook dinner tomorrow.

2. - ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION (DON’T/DIDN’T HAVE TO, DON’T/DIDN’T NEED TO, NEEDN’T)

- It’s Sunday. We don’t have to get up early/we don’t need to ... (it isn’t necessary)
- The food was free. We didn’t have to pay for it/We didn’t need to... (it wasn’t
necessary)

3. - PROHIBITION (MUSTN’T)

- You mustn’t smoke in class. (It’s forbidden)


- You mustn’t tell anyone. (Emphatic advice)

4. - ADVICE (SHOULD/OUGHT TO/HAD BETTER)

- We should write him a letter/ We ought to write... (That’s the best or the right thing for
us to do)
- You’re not very well. You ought to/should see a doctor. (I advise you to see a doctor)
- It’s cold. You’d better wear a coat. (Put on a coat if you don’t want to be cold)

5. - ABILITY (CAN/COULD)

- Sarah can play the violin very well. (She is good at playing the violin)
- It’s nice to be able to go for a walk in the evening. (CAN cannot be used)
- I’ve been able to swim since I was 3 years old. (CAN cannot be used)
- Angela could play the piano when she was only 7 years old. She was able to do it.
(General ability in the past)
- I had my camera with me and I was able to/managed to take some pictures. (I could
and I did it)

6. - PERMISSION (CAN/MAY)

- Can I use your pen?


- May I sit here? (More formal)
- I’m sorry, but you can’t picnic here. (It’s not allowed)
- Each passenger can take a bag onto the plane. (They are allowed to do that)
- I can’t have another day out tomorrow. (I won’t be allowed)
- Could I borrow your ladder, please? (Permission or request)

7. - POSSIBILITY (CAN/COULD/MAY/MIGHT)

- We can ski this weekend. There’s enough snow. (General possibility)


- Can you get to the top of the mountain in one day? (Is it possible?)
- I may go to visit Tom tomorrow. (It’s quite possible)
- I might go to the disco/I could go to the disco. (I’m not sure yet)
- I may not have time to go. (I don’t know if I’ll have time)
8. - LOGICAL DEDUCTION (MUST/CAN’T)

- She hasn’t eaten anything since breakfast. She must be hungry. (I’m sure she is hungry)
- He can’t be hungry. He has just had a sandwich. (I’m sure he is not hungry)

9. - REQUEST (CAN/COULD/WILL)

- Can you help me, please?


- Could you, please, lend me your dictionary?
- Will you open the window, please?

10. - OFFER (WILL/WOULD/SHALL)

- Would you like a coffee?


- I’ll help you. Don’t worry.
- Shall I help you with your homework?

11. - SUGGESTION (SHALL)

- Shall we go for a walk?

12. - HABIT IN THE PAST (WOULD/USED TO)

- “The Scotts would sometimes invite us over for the weekend”


- I used to enjoy gardening, but I don’t have time for it now”

EXERCISES

A) WRITE THE MOST APPROPRIATE MODAL VERB:


1. Take your umbrella. It................................ rain this afternoon.
2. Excuse me, .................................. you tell me the way to the station, please?
3. The children....................................... be sleeping now. There are no lights in their bedroom.
4. We........................................... go to your party tomorrow. Our son is ill.
5. You........................................ use mobile phones in class.
6. ............................................ you speak Italian?
7. This is my advice: You....................................... work so hard.
8. You.............................................. take any food. We can have lunch in a café.
9. What................................................... we do this evening? What about going to the cinema?
10. When I was a child, I .......................................... play football in the street.
11. I............................................. read comics than watch TV.
12. You.......................................... do more physical exercise. It would do you good.
13. I’m afraid I................................... help you now. I’m very busy.
14. We...................................... go to the beach on Sunday. We don’t know yet; it depends on the
weather.
15. Students ......................................... attend the game. It’s optional.
16. People............................................. smoke in non-smoking areas.
17. ........................................... you like to have dinner out tonight?
18. We........................................... help each other when we were younger.
19. ........................................ I call the doctor for you?
20. My son.................................................. be home now. Where can he be?
B) REWRITE THESE SENTENCES USING MODAL VERBS:
1. It’s not necessary for you to clean the house now.
You...
2. Perhaps it will rain tomorrow.
It...
3. When I was 8 years old, I didn’t know how to ride a bike.
When I was 8, I...
4. Paul is a very good singer.
Paul...
5. In many British schools it’s compulsory to wear a uniform.
In many British schools students...
6. I’m sure they are at home because the lights are on.
They...
7. It’s possible that our team will win.
Our team...
8. Excuse me, is it all right if I open the window?
...
9. You are not allowed to use a dictionary.
You...
10. Why don’t you clean your room more often? It’s very dirty.
You...
11. What about going to Pizza Express this evening?
…?
12. I’m sure this is the restaurant we ate at.
This…
13. I’m sure this isn’t the restaurant we ate at.
This…
14. I would like to go to the toilet.
…?
15. People are not allowed to smoke in public places.
People…
16. Saturday tomorrow! It’s not necessary for me to get up early tomorrow!
I...
17. She is able to play the guitar very well.
She…
18. We went to the river every afternoon when we were children, but now we never go there.
We…
19. Why don’t we see a film this evening?
…?
20. Yes, it’s OK for you to leave early.
You…
21. Her advice to me was: “Don’t work so hard”
She told me that I…
22. Those bags look heavy. Let me help you.
Those bags look heavy. …?
23. Maybe your glasses are in the bathroom.
Your glasses…
24. I insist you say sorry to him.
You…
25. I need help in the kitchen, Mark.
…?

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