Modal verbs for speculating

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2,3

Lesson goals

Refresh the lesson from chapter 6.

Learn to use modal verbs to speculate.

What we will be doing this class

• Grammar knowledge.
• Exercise 1, 2 and 3 on page 96/97

Expressing desire

giving a command

giving a reason

questions including the verb 'do'

Silence! I don't want to hear you.

I would like the weather to be warmer.

Does it have to be on Monday?

I used my bike to get to school.

What are modal verbs?

Verbs used to help express:

- Obligation (verplichting)

- Permission (toestemming) 

- Ability (vaardigheid)

- Possibility (mogelijkheid) 

Some examples:

- Can you speak French?

- Could you give me a hand?

- May I go to the toilet?

- Might I interest you in round of cricket?

- We must be home by 21.00!

Can 

Could

 

May 

Might 

Must 

Obligation - must

Positive:

You must be home by 21.00!

We must be on our way.

Negative:

You mustn't smoke!

We mustn't be late.

Permission - can, could &  may.

Informal:

Can I come in?

Formal:

Could I sit next to you?

Most formal:

May I be excused?

Permission - formal

1. Can you open the window for me?
2. Will you open the window for me?
3. Could you open the window for me?

Ability - can and could

Positive:

I can read English.

Negative:

Simon couldn't sing very well.

Past ability:

I could speak dutch since I was two.

Possibility - may, might, could & must

I may/might go on holiday in a few weeks.

You could come by later today.

You must be tired after running for so long!

Possibility: may, might, could or must

1. You must be hungry after fasting for a week.
2. You could be hungry after fasting for a week
3. You may be hungry after fasting for a week.

Choose may, might, could or must.

1. I could move the the US in the next five years.
2. I may/might move to the US in the next five years.
3. I must move to the US in the next five years.

Reference and practice

Practice - assignment 1, 2, 3 on page 96/97

Reference - Speculating about the past and present on page 170 of your FCE book.