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Using Modals Appropriately

The document outlines the objectives and uses of modal verbs in English, including their definitions and examples for expressing ability, possibility, advice, obligation, permission, intention, and requests. It highlights the unique characteristics of modal verbs, such as their grammatical behavior and the necessity of using them with the base form of verbs. Additionally, it provides practice exercises and a quiz to reinforce understanding of modal verbs.

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Mark Dominic M. Oreiro
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7 views

Using Modals Appropriately

The document outlines the objectives and uses of modal verbs in English, including their definitions and examples for expressing ability, possibility, advice, obligation, permission, intention, and requests. It highlights the unique characteristics of modal verbs, such as their grammatical behavior and the necessity of using them with the base form of verbs. Additionally, it provides practice exercises and a quiz to reinforce understanding of modal verbs.

Uploaded by

Mark Dominic M. Oreiro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Objectives:

a. list the common modal verbs and


identify what concept each expresses;

b. describe how modal verbs are used


correctly and how important are they in
conveying a message;
c. use modal verbs appropriately to
express ability, possibility, advice,
obligation, permission, intention and
request; and

d. create sentences with modal verbs to


express a particular purpose.
What are They ?
shall may might
should can
will
could
would
must
ought to
have to have got to

We use Modal verbs to talk about an ability/a duty/


a need /a necessity/wanting
What are modals?

Modals are helping verbs


that are used only with a
main verb to help
express its mood such
that of possibility, ability,
permission, obligation,
.request and others
What is special about them?

Modal verbs behave very


differently from normal verbs.
Here are some important differences:
?How
1. Modal verbs are always followed by a verb
in its base form.
form

EXAMPLES:
He can speak Chinese.
Compare: I speak Chinese.
He speaks Chinese
You may take the book to school.
She may take the book to school.
Compare: You take the books to
school.
She takes the books to school.
?How
Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third .2
.person in the present simple

EXAMPLES:
• He speaks Chinese.
• He can speak Chinese. (NOT- He cans
speak…)
• She eats a sandwich at 9:30
• She may eat a sandwich at 9:30.
?How
3. You use "not" to make modal verbs
negative, even in Simple Present and
Simple Past.
(We don’t use the helping verb “do”)

EXAMPLES:
He should not be late.
They might not come to the party.
Compare: I don’t like to be late.
I cannot eat any more cakes.
I don’t eat carrot cakes.
?How

Many modal verbs cannot be used in .4


.the past tenses or the future tenses

EXAMPLES:

He will can go with us. WRONG

She must studied very hard. WRONG


Modal Verbs and their
substitutes
• Many modal verbs cannot be
used in all of the English tenses.
That's why we need to know their
meaning and the substitute for
these modal verbs.
will- will not - won’t

We use this modal to speak about


future actions that we are sure/
convinced about.
will- will not(=won’t)
Today is Tuesday. Tomorrow
will be Wednesday.
= I know it because this is a known
fact.

We will not be in the office


tomorrow.
= I know it because he is going on
vacation.
Can – Could –Be able to

We use these modals to express:


• General ability/ disability
• possibility / impossibility
• opportunity
• Permission
• request
Can
I can walk.
= I have the general ability to do
the action of walking.

I can’t hear you, it is too noisy.


=I don’t have the ability to hear what
you are saying because of the noise.
Can
I have some free time. I can help her
now.
=I have the opportunity to help her.

I can't help her now because I don't


have any time.
=I don’t have the opportunity to help her.
Can Could
In the past, can changes to could.

He could speak only Hebrew when


he was a kid. He couldn’t speak to
his neighbor who speaks only English.
(General ability)

Practice time-can/could
may
=future possibility/get permission
may
• I may choose to wear the red dress to
the party.
=I have two dresses. There is a chance that I will
choose to wear the red dress and not the blue
one.

• Today, he may come on time.


=Although usually he comes late,
There is a possibility that today he will come on
time.
may
• May I come to visit you at 5 o’clock?
=I want to come to you but I’m not sure that you
want me to come/that you will be at home/that
you will let me enter .

• You may take only one candy.


=Although there are more candies, I permit you
to take only one of them!
might
=possibility
might
• We may come on time, but if you
miss the bus, we might be late.
=I plan to come on time and this is why I I want
to catch the 7:15 bus.
If I catch the 7:30 bus, I can come on time or not,
I’m not sure.

• If you advertise on the Internet you


might get a lot of spam to your e-
mail box.
=Although you don’t want to get spam, there’s a
risk that you will get it.
should
= advice or a strong suggestion.
• If you want to be a champion you
should practice every day.
=You don’t have to practice but then, you will
not get better.

• When you make a cheese cake, you


should first check that you have
cheese.
-or else, it will not be a cheese cake
must - mustn’t
Must – very strong advice/ obligation
Mustn't – things you're not allowed to
do.
• She is sick. She has high fever. She
must take a pill.
= very strong advice/ obligation

• You mustn’t ride your bike without a


helmet!
= you're not allowed to do.
!Let’s try
Directions: Underline the correct modal inside the
parenthesis to complete the sentence. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. I thought I (may, might) visit Cape Town.

2. My friend (may, might) see me in Uganda one of


these days.

3. He is amazing, he (can, could) dance Shaku-shaku,


a famous dance in Nigeria.

4. She (can, could) speak Khoe–Kwadi language when


she was in Namibia five years ago.

5. If you were in Ghana, you (shall, should) not use


your left hand when you give anything to anyone.
.Quiz
Direction: Rewrite the following sentences using
modals so that they have the same meaning. The first
one is done for you as an example. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Sentence: Politely request your friend to bring the medicine.


Answer: Could you bring the medicine?

1. Ask for permission to get a quarantine pass next week. Use


a polite question.
2. Advise your friend to wash his hands very often.
3. You are forbidden to stay outside.
4. Tell Arman that it is necessary for him to wear face mask
inside.
5. Explain that when you were outside the country, you were
allowed to travel anywhere.
ANSWER KEY!

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