Modal verbs + May, might

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Goal for Today

To understand the difference between the following modal verbs:

Can

Could

to be allowed to

to be able to 

May and Might, Should, must, have to

Modal verbs - helping verbs

Modal verbs are always used together with another verbs. 

Example: He .......................(to swim) really well. 

He can swim really well. 

Some modals are same form for all subjects.

Example: We can swim really well. 

Can 

Gebruik je voor: vaardigheid (of niet), mogelijkheid, het vragen en geven om toestemming 

• John can play the guitar / John can't play guitar
• We can take a map with us.
• Can we go to the party? 
• Yes, you can go to the party.

Could

 Gebruik je voor: vaardigheid van het verleden, mogelijkheid, een meer beleefde manier om iets te vragen.

• I could play the piano when I was younger.
• We could drink a coffee and then go. 
• Could I have an orange juice please?

To be able to

Gebruik je om te zeggen dat je wel of niet in staat bent om iets te doen (nu, in het verleden of in de toekomst) 

Nu: I am able to wash the windows.

VT: I wasn't able to wash the windows last weekend.

Toekomst: I will be able to wash the windows when I get my ladder back.

To be allowed to

Gebruik je om toestemming aan te geven of niet (nu, verleden of toekomst) 

 He is allowed to play games all day long.

He was allowed to play games all day long but not any more.

He will be allowed to play games all day long in the holidays.

He won't be allowed to play games all day long in the holidays.

Any questions .....

Let's start the quiz questions and test your knowledge so far

He ...................run very fast when he was a child.

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

If you are under 18 years of age you .................. buy alcohol.

1. couldn't
2. are not allowed to
3. is not allowed to

She .................sing really well. She should audition for a talen show.

1. can
2. could

My bike is broken but I think that I ................ fix it myself.

1. can
2. am allowed to
3. am able to
4. was able to

Did you know that Jamie ... go out after 10.00 p.m.? His parents won't let him.

1. can't
2. isn't allowed to

Hopefully, I .......................... to New Zealand next summer.

1. am able to go
2. will be able to go
3. am allowed to go
4. will be allowed to go

After he finishes this course he .................... speak better English.

1. can
2. could
3. is able to
4. will be able to

I ................ go out again if I come home too late. My parents will ground me.

1. am not able to
2. won't be allowed to
3. will be allowed to
4. am not allowed to

could

to be able to

to be allowed to

can

zou kunnen

zou mogen

konden

mochten

kunnen, 

in staat zijn tot

mogen,

toestemming krijgen

kunnen,

mogen,

mogelijk zijn

I understand the difference between
Can, could, to be able to, to be allowed to

Not at all

I would like another explanation, to be certain

I think I get it, but I would like some exercises to practice

I get this

Now let's look at

May and Might

Should, Have to and Must

May

• Possibility - (50% certain)
• Permission - to give or ask
• Questions - more polite than can or could

May I ask you a question? 

Might

•  Possibility (30% certain) 
• 
  
• Questions - more polite than may, can or could

Might I ask you a question? 

Students ................ only borrow 10 books at a time from the library.

1. may
2. might

I told them I ____ go if I felt like it, but wasn't sure.

1. may
2. might

I am not sure but I think my camera ................ be broken. Look, this bit is just hanging on there.

1. may
2. might

I was just wondering whether you ____ be able to help me.

1. may
2. might

I ..........................get stuck in traffic, but at this time of the day there normally isn't a problem.

1. may
2. might

Should, must, have to

In a nut shell

Have to - informeel, iets dat je moet doen/ noodzakelijk

Have to  - kan ook in de verleden tijd gebruikt worden (Had to)

Must - hetzelfde als "have to" maar het klinkt formeler en dwingender (regels, wetten of bevelen)

Must - gaat ook over iets dat logisch is, komt van de "speaker"

Should - advies/ mening geven

Visitors ......................touch the paintings in a museum.

1. must not
2. should not
3. don't have to

Are you coming with us Jill? No, I ...........fix my bike tyre before I can go anywhere.

1. must
2. have to
3. should

Passengers .................... fasten their seat belts for take off and landing.

1. should
2. must
3. have to
4. has to

You ....................drink coffee late at night otherwise you might not be able to fall asleep.

1. must not
2. should not
3. don't have to

Do you .......................to get up early tomorrow morning?

1. should
2. have to
3. must

Dogs ...................be kept on a lead in a dog friendly zone in the park.

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

have to

must

should

can

be able to

could

moeten vanuit iemand anders/ 

moet van de "spreker" 

zou moeten

zou kunnen

kan

in staat zijn om

Continue with....

Unit 3, Lesson 5

Exercise 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7

How confident do you feel using modal verbs

010

Should - used for suggestions, advice or opinions

• You should get out more. It isn’t good to sit indoors all day.
• My doctor says I should try to exercise at least twice a week.

Must - for rules, law (formal) or something that is logical or really needs to happen

• All non-essential shops must close at 5pm to help stop the spread of covid 19.
• You must be over 18 years old to buy alcohol.
• You must complete level one in the game before it will move onto level two.

Have to - expresses something that needs to be done (informal)/ what is necessary in the situation

• I have to clean my bedroom at the weekend otherwise my parents won’t let me go out.
• You have to finish these exercises as homework.
• I have to buy a new laptop as this one is broken