Mastering Modals: Who Wants to Be a Modal Millionaire?

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 4

Modal verbs 

(modale werkwoorden)

Learning objectives modals 1

• I will be able to define and identify these modal verbs in English.

• I will be able to explain the role of these modal verbs in expressing different meanings.

• I will be able to distinguish between can, could, may, might, and be able to and explain their usage in different tenses.

• I will be able to identify and use the correct modal verb based on different tenses, context and meaning.

• I will be able to explain the significance of modal verbs in a legal context

• I will be able to differentiate between can and be able to.

Modals

Modals zijn een specifieke groep hulpwerkwoorden. 

Modals veranderen niet van vorm.

Met een modal gebruik je het hele WW.

Modals

Modal verbs can be confusing for learners because individual modal forms can be used to express a number of different meanings. 

E.g. we use modals to describe ability and possibility, to make suggestions, and wishes, and to ask for and give permission.

Can 

CAN = Kunnen/kan

• Mogelijkheden/possibility

Stress can cause health problems.

• Vaardigheden/ ability (iets wat je goed of niet goed kunt).

My mother can speak Spanish.

• Toestemming (vragen)/ ask for permission 

Can I come into your room?

Could

COULD = Zou kunnen

COULD is beleefder dan CAN

• Mogelijkheden (het zou eventueel kunnen gebeuren).

Stress could cause health problems.

• Ergens om vragen (bv bestellen in een restaurant) 

Could I have a steak, please?

• Mogelijkheid in de verleden tijd.

Could he travel by  bus when he was younger?

can	could	be able to
= kunnen / mogen (beheersen) = present simple	= zou kunnen, verleden tijd van can (beheersen) en beleefd vragen = present + past simple	= kunnen / in staat zijn = alle tijden (moet bij: future > will be able to EN perfect >have/has/had been able to

Understanding 'Could' and 'Can'

Could is used to express past ability or past possibility, while can is used to express present ability or present possibility.

Voorbeeldzinnen verschillen

* I can drive a car, but I am not able to drive one right now, because I’ve broken my leg.

(hij kan het wel, maar is nu niet in staat om het te doen)

*I won’t be able to help you tomorrow, because I’ve got a party.

(Momenteel niet in staat om te helpen, maar hij zou het wel kunnen)

* He could already speak when he was one, he isn’t able to speak now, because he’s broken his jaw.

(hij kon al praten toen hij 1 was, maar hij is er nu niet toe in staat)

Bij gebruik ‘to be able to’, moet je je dus altijd af kunnen vragen: kan hij dat op dit moment!

(specifieke situatie)

The patient can / will be able to walk again in a few days.

1. can
2. will be able to

I ___ swim very well.

1. can
2. am able to
3. be able to

It is little Sue's birthday tomorrow, she ......... sleep

1. Cannot
2. is not able to

When Donald Trump was only 4, he ............count to 20 in Japanese!

1. could
2. was able to

John ....................... participate tomorrow, he has broken his leg!

1. cannot
2. will not be able to

Without your help, I would never have..............

1. been able to do it
2. could do it
3. can do it

could/ may/ might

Deze drie hulpwerkwerkwoorden geven 'mogelijkheid'/ possibility aan.

We use might, may or could to say that we think something in the present or future is possible but we're not sure. 

It may happen - het zou kunnen gebeuren 

it could happen - het zou misschien kunnen gebeuren

it might happen - het zou heel misschien kunnen gebeuren.

COULD / MAY / MIGHT

 Which one expresses more or less certainty. Compare:

-The restaurant may close. It is likely that the restaurant will close.  

-The restaurant could close. It is less likely that the restaurant will close.

-The restaurant might close. There is only a possibility that the restaurant will close but no one is very sure.

The speaker also shows degree of certainty or uncertainty through intonation and stress. If the speaker stresses the modal verb, they are expressing more uncertainty than if they stress the main verb.

Vertaling: had kunnen

Quiz time!

Use the appropriate modal.

I ----- win the lottery one day, but I don't think so!

1. may
2. could
3. might

You’re lucky you didn’t get in trouble for coming late without calling. You -------- fired.

The fishing boat sank but luckily all the crew ____________ save themselves.

1. was able to
2. were able to
3. could
4. can

She _____________ come on holiday next month if her parents give her permission.

1. can't
2. could
3. could't
4. 'll be able to

We ------- the mountains yesterday, but today we can't.

1. could see
2. can see
3. will be able to see
4. won't be able to see

They ____________ go. The weather was too bad.

1. couldn't
2. can't
3. weren't able to
4. are able to

Homework!

Homework for next time: 

BLE Chapter 12:  do exercise A p. 68 and hand in via teams!

MAY & MIGHT

Beide gebruik je bij een voorstel of als je op een beleefde manier een vraag wilt stellen.

MAY & MIGHT

Bij may vraag je 'Mag ik dit zien?'

Bij might vraag je  'Zou ik dit mogen zien?'.

De waarschijnlijkheid waarop iets kan is veel kleiner 

bij 'might' dan bij 'may'.  

Welke van de twee is onwaarschijnlijker?

1. We might see some dolphins on our boat tour.
2. We may see some dolphins on our boat tour.

"I ... go to the party, but I am not sure."

1. may
2. might

Formeel

Informeel

Beleefd

beleefder

beleefd

beleefder

Can

Could

May

Might

"I told them I ... (gaan) if I felt like it, but wasn't sure."

"... I help you with your luggage, madam?"

1. may
2. might

"Students ... only ... (lenen) four books at a time.

waarschijnlijk

iets minder waarschijnlijk

bijna onwaarschijnlijk

Could

May

Might

MAY vs MIGHT

Je gebruikt may en might dus om aan te geven dat iets mogelijk is. In veel gevallen kun je zowel may als might gebruiken. Might geeft iets meer onzekerheid aan dan may . Bij een situatie die niet waar is, gebruik je altijd might!

What he says____be true, but I think it is rather unlikely.

1. may
2. might

I _______ be late for dinner

1. may
2. might

He ____ have seen the accident but I think he was asleep

1. may
2. might

Homework!

Homework for next time: 

BLE Chapter 12:  do exercise B 1- 9 and do the may/might quiz, hand both in via teams/ opdrachten!

Who Wants to Be a Modal Millionaire?

Engage in an interactive game of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire with vliegensvlugge (lightning fast) questions about modals.

Who Wants to Be a Modal Millionaire?

Apply the knowledge of modals in English sentences by completing practice exercises and forming sentences using could, can, and be able to.

Who Wants to Be a Modal Millionaire?

lightning fast questions coming up ...

Can

Could

To be able to

Tegenwoordige tijd

Kunnen

in staat zijn

Toegestaan

Mogelijk

Verleden tijd

in staat zijn

Toegestaan

Mogelijk

Zouden

 could not have thought of 

could think of

will be able to think of

____________________(niet had kunnen

bedenken) before;

could receive

you (d) ________________ (zal in staat zijn om te bedenken)

innovations that you

might receive

you (c) _________ (zou heel misschien kunnen

ontvangen) useful advice;

Drag the modals into the box

Modal verbs

walk

can

should

like

would

take

could

advise

will

may

have

have to

must

should

can

be able to

could

moet van jezelf

moet van iemand anders

zou moeten

zou kunnen

kan

in staat zijn om

normal verb 

modal verb

I need to go home.

You needn't come if you don't want to.

The business doesn't need to invest in more new technology.

Money is needed to protect the world's endangered species.

Need I pay now, or can I pay later?

You only need to tell us and we'll try to help you.

The cooker needs cleaning.

Leave the washing up. You needn't do it now.

can

could

be able to

kunnen

zou kunnen/ konden

in staat zijn om...

Modal Verbs 

posibility, ability, requests and permission

ability

possibility + polite requests

obligation from the speaker

obligation from someone else

Advice and suggestion

can

to be able to

could

should

have to

must

Rank the modals from weak to strong.

This is an option.

This is an advice.

This is a strong advice.

This is the strongest advice.

should

must

have to

can

Verleden tijd, Beleefdheid, waarschijnlijkheid

Iets kunnen

Kunnen, mogelijkheid, toestemming vragen....

could

can

to be able to

Write down 1 thing you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.