English: Modal Verbs

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo t, havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Lesson goals: 

Know what modal verbs are 

Use modal verbs in sentences 

Modal verbs

What categories of modal verbs do you know?

Definition of Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs  that express the attitude or opinion of the speaker about the action or state expressed in the sentence. 

Examples include can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would.

This slide should be used to define what modal verbs are and give examples.

Introduction to Modal Verbs

For now you only need to know:

• Ability
• Permission
• Politeness
• Obligation

Forms of Modal Verbs

Modal verbs do not change their form according to the subject. They are always followed by the base form of the main verb. 

For example:

• 'She can sing.'
• 'I should study more for the test'

Modal Verbs for Ability

The modal verbs 'could' & 'can', are often used to show ability, that you can of can't do something.

Present	Past
Can	Could
I can swim.	I could swim when i was younger.

Modal Verbs for Ability: denying

Can you come home?                No, I cant right now.

Can we go to the movies?        No, we have movies at home. 

Present	Past
Cant	Couldnt
I cant swim.	I couldnt swim when I was younger.

Modal Verbs for Politeness

You can also use 'could' or 'can', to ask permission to do something.

For example

Could I join you guys for the cinema?

Can I go to the toilet please?

Modal Verbs for Politeness

May and Might are more formal than can/could

Might is the most polite form of them all:

• 'May I borrow your pen perhaps?'             Yes, you may
• 'Might I bother you for a minute?'              No, you might not. 

Modal Verbs for Probability

Modal verbs such as 'might', 'may', and 'could' are used to express uncertainty or probability about a situation or an event.

For example:

• 'The students might be late.'
• 'It may rain this afternoon.'
• 'We could get wet when we go out.'

Modal Verbs for obligation

Modal verbs like 'have to', 'must', and 'should' are obligations.

• Must is the strongest form
• Followed by Have to
• Should is just used for advice

Modal Verbs for obligation

Modal verbs like 'have to', 'must', and 'should' are obligations.

For example:

• 'Students must be in class on time.'
• 'You have to be finished with your homework.'
• 'We should exercise more during the week.'

Listening activity

Cooking with grandma 

Puedo hablar cinco idiomas

1. I can speak five languages.
2. I'm speaking languages five.
3. I should five languages.
4. I'm speaking five languages at the moment.

¿Tengo que llegar a casa directamente?

1. Have I come home straight away?
2. Does I have to come home straight away?
3. Do I have to come home straight away?
4. Does she have to come home straight away?

What is the definition of a modal verb?

1. A verb used to describe emotions.
2. A verb used to describe physical action.
3. A type of auxiliary verb that expresses modality.
4. A verb that expresses past tense.

Which modal verbs show advice?

1. have to
2. shouldn't
3. ought to
4. must

Which modal verbs show obligation?

1. have to
2. must
3. ought to
4. don't have to

Which one of these is NOT a modal verb?

1. can
2. must
3. need
4. should

What modal verb(s) shows a prohibition?

1. need to
2. can't
3. mustn't
4. don't have to

Which modal verb?
I_____ be home early tonight

1. shouldn't
2. mustn't
3. must
4. ought to

Which modal verb?

Pudiste haberme llamado.

1. You should have called me
2. You could have called me.
3. You may have called me
4. You ought to call me!

Which modal verb?

You ........ smoke at this age.

1. shouldn't
2. cannot
3. must
4. aren't able to

Which modal verb?

Tengo que ponerme

1. I should wear
2. I have to wear
3. I must wear
4. I can to wear

¿Cuales verbos modales
implican obligación?

1. Should
2. Have to
3. Can
4. Might

agendaweb.org

Find the modal verbs and write them down.