TEACHER : Khalid AIT ELHAJ GRAMMAR : MODALS LEVEL : ………

Form: Modal verb + infinitive (with out to)

The modals are verbs which come along with other verbs in order to help express meanings and specific
language functions.
Modal Verb Function / Meaning Examples
* Permission -You can go to the party.
can * Possibility - That can be dangerous.
* Ability or Capacity - She can play the piano very well.
* Request - Can I go out tonight, Dad?
can’t * Impossibility -That story can’t be true.
* Past of can - I could ride a bike when I was a child.
could * Polite request - Could you bring me some tea, please?
* Suggestion - You could try that jacket on.
* Permission - You may go to the party.
may * Possibility - There are some clouds. It may rain in the afternoon
* Request - May I come in?
might * Informal suggestion - You might get up earlier.
* Remote possibility - They said on TV that it might rain.
* Obligation /command - You must do your homework.
must * Deduction /logical conclusion - If he cares about you, he must be your friend
* Necessity - I must go home.
* Prohibition - You mustn’t smoke in the school area.
mustn’t * Negative obligation - You mustn’t tell anyone what I said.
shall * Offer - Shall I answer the phone?
* Suggestion - Shall we drink some tea?
Should/ had better * Giving advice - In my opinion, you should listen to your parents.
ought to * Duty / Moral obligation - They should behave in classes.
will * Request - Will you help me, please?
would * Offer / invitation - Would you like a piece of cake?
* Very polite request - Would you mind closing the door, please?
have to/has to * Necessity - I have to go to class today.
don’t have to /
doesn’t have to * Lack of necessity/obligation - I don't have to/ needn’t go to class today.
needn’t
Past modal verbs (Modals of deduction) : S + modal verb + have + Past participle
Modal verbs Function / Meaning Examples/ Past
may * Possibility He may have been at the library.
might * Possibility He Might have been at the library.
should * Advisability I should have studied last night.
* 90% certainty She should have done well on the test.
ought to * Advisability I ought to have studied last night.
must * Strong necessity I had to go to class yesterday.
* Certainty Mary must have been sick yesterday.
have to * Necessity I had to go to class yesterday.
Could * Ability / possibility I could run fast when I was a child but now I can't.
* Past ability I could run fast when I was a child.
Can’t/Couldn’t * Impossibility That can’t/ couldn't have been true!
A. Fill in the gaps with the right modal verbs.
1. We ………………. take the bus to the stadium; we can go on foot. need to / need / needn’t
2. “You ………..… give up smoking; your heart is too weak,” the doctor said to his patient. may/ must/ can
3. Rachid can’t find his mobile phone. He ……..…. left it in his father’s car. might have/ would have/ will have
4. You ………..…..….. buy a ticket for the match; I’ve got invitations for both of us. wouldn’t/ can’t/ needn’t
5. You ……………. Go to university to register. You can send you application by e-mail. must/need to/needn’t
6. Workers ………... Bring their old uniforms. The company will give them new ones. need/ not need/ needn’t
7. Why don’t you read this story? You …………………………. like it. may / have / would have
8. You ………….…. go to university to register; today is the deadline. needn’t / should have / must
9. We ………………. be at the bus stop by 8:00 if we don’t want to miss the bus. may / have / must
B. Complete the sentences with the most appropriate modal verb.
1. __________ I borrow your car, Dad? - No, you ___________. might-must-can-should-can’t
2. Mrs. Manson, ___________ I speak to you for a moment, please? must-can-should
3. It’s already late. The meeting ____________ have finished by now. might-must-needn’t
4. You _____________ park your car here. It’s forbidden. needn’t-may not- mustn’t
5. I think you ______________ study harder to improve your marks. should-can-would
6. She ___________ swim very well. She even takes part in competitions around the country. Can-could-may
7. I think that people _____________ recycle all the waste they produce. might-must-can
8. I really want to see this film. __________ we go to the cinema on Saturday evening? needn’t-shall-must
9. ______________ you mind helping me write this letter, please? -Yes, of course. can-could-would
10. Students _________ disobey the school regulations or they will be severely punished. must-mustn’t-should
C. Complete the sentences with the most appropriate modal verb.
1. They said on TV that it _____________ rain heavily this afternoon. need-must-may
2. You __________________behave well in front of guests. Stop being silly. can’t-mustn’t-should
3. Sam ____________________lift that heavy table. He is too weak. needn’t to-should-can’t
4. I have no time. I ________________leave now. My parents are waiting for me. has to- might-have to
5. We ___________ climb those mountains when we were kids, but later we could climb even to the highest
mountain in our country. can’t-couldn’t-wouldn’t
6. Stop smoking! You really ________________ smoke in a bank! needn’t-mustn’t-shouldn’t have
7. You ___________________leave the class before 1 o'clock. It’s forbidden. shall-mustn’t-may not
8. We ________________watch TV so much. It’s not good for our eyes. shouldn’t have-shouldn’t-mustn’t
9. “Students ___________________________ finish the test by 11:55” the teacher said. must-may-can
10. I can hear you well. You ______________________ shout. needn’t-mustn’t-shouldn’t
11. You ________________be tired because you have worked very hard. needn’t-shall-must
D. Fill in the blanks using the PAST FORMS of modal verbs:
1. Sally looked sad and worried. She ………………….. had a problem with something.
should have – must have - mustn’t have
2. Mr. Jones hasn’t come to work yet. He has never been late for work. He ……………… missed the bus.
might have – can’t have - mustn’t have
3. Why didn’t you come to the party? You ………………………..….. enjoyed it very much.
could have – had to – will have
4. Tim is a very good boy. He isn’t naughty, so he ……… damaged that window. Someone else ……… broken it.
must have - might have – can’t have - mustn’t have
5. I ………….………… dropped my key in the car. I can’t find them here.
can’t have - might have –mustn’t have
6. The street is wet this morning. I’m not sure but it ………………………rained last night.
must have - might have – can’t have
7. My friend Kamal looks happy and satisfied today. He …………………….. done well on the test.
must have – mustn’t have – needn’t have
B: You ……………. talked to her because she wasn’t
8. A: I talked to your science teacher at school yesterday.
at school yesterday. must have – shouldn’t have – couldn’t have
9. A: The man was being taken to hospital. He………………………. had an accident.
B: Yes, I’m sure he had an accident. needn’t have – can’t have - must have
10. She knew everything about our plans. She ………………………listened to our conversation.
must have - might had – can’t have
E. Complete these sentences with the right modal verbs and the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
1. John said he would ring, but he hasn’t. He …………… (forget) all about it. will have - might have – would have
2. He drank three glasses of water. He ………………..… (be) very thirsty. must have - must had – can’t have
3. I know she was in because I heard her radio, but she didn’t open the door. She ………............. (hear) the bell.
must have – couldn’t had – couldn’t have
4. You ……..…. (give) me back the money immediately. Take your time. shouldn’t have – don’t have to – couldn’t
5. Nora got a bad mark in the exam last week. She ………………………..… (revise) her lessons well.
might – should have – ought to
6. You ……………….. (buy) all this food. There aren’t many guests. won’t have – wouldn’t have – needn’t have
7. When I woke up this morning, the light was on. I ……….................…… (forget) to turn it off.
should have – don’t have to - must have
8. ………..….................. (like) to come to the cinema with us? Can you – Would you- Shall you
9. The buses were all full; I ……………………....… (take) a taxi. have to - have had – had to
10. You ……………………. (drive) fast; there is a speed limit here. needn’t have - haven’t – musn’t
Good Luck