Modal Verbs

MODALS
MODALS are a small group of verbs, which are very different from normal verbs. They are used
as auxiliary or helping verbs which express the mode or manner of the actions indicated by
the main verbs.
Which verbs are common modals? Can, could, may, might, should, must, shall, will, would
How are modal verbs different from other verbs?
- They do not take s in the third person: he can, she must, it could
- They use not in the negative form: they may not, we should not
- They cannot be used in the past or in the future tenses
- There is no to after them: I can do, you must see
Which modal do we use and when?
Some of these common modal verbs have synonyms we often use.

Examples:
must = have to, need to
she must leave = she has to live = she
should = ought to
needs to leave
he should speak to his boss = he ought to
speak to his boss
When we speak, we use contractions with some of the modal verbs in the negative form.
Examples:
can't = cannot = can not
mustnt = must not
couldnt = could not
wont = will not
shouldnt = should not
wouldnt = would not
How can we use modal verbs in the past?
We can:
How can we use modal verbs in the future?

We can:
Exercises
A. Complete the sentences with one of the two
choices.
1. You really ___________ watch TV this much.
(shall / shouldnt)
2. She ___________ be at work, she always works at this time. (must / could)
3. Speak up, I ___________ hear you! (cant / couldnt)
4. I ___________ hear a word he said. (cant / couldnt)
5. Andrew ___________ call his wife urgently. (must / shouldnt)
6. Thank you for calling Zee Company, how ___________ I help you? (cant / may)
7. If I go to New York, I ___________ see the Statue of Liberty. (will / would)
8. If I went to New York, I ___________ see the Statue of Liberty. (will / would)
9. It ___________ happen, but it is very unlikely. (shall / could)
10. Emma ___________ go out tonight, her parents said no. (cant / may)
B. Match the two columns to identify the use of each modal. Write the letter of your
answer on the blanks provided before each number.
____1. Abe should call Lyla soon after their first date.
a. obligation
____2. Lyla should be happy to get his call.
b. possibility
____3. Abe calls but she doesnt pick up, she must be working.
c. low probability
____4. No problem, he can call her back later.
d. rational probability
____5. Later he tells her they could go out to dinner again.
e. certainty
____6. She says she may be available Friday.
f. polite request
____7. Abe asks if he can call her back Friday morning.
g. permission
____8. She says she could be in a meeting, the afternoon is better.
h. advice
____9. Friday afternoon, Abe asks: May I pick you up at 6 pm?
i. capacity
____10. He must be on time to make a good impression.
j. suggestion
C. Complete the sentences with a modal verb from this list, without using the same
one twice: can, could, may, might, should, must, shall, will, would
1. Children ___________ go to school.
6. ___________ I please speak to Mrs.
2.
Before
you
make
a
decision,
Sanders?
you___________ speak to a specialist.
7. I promise I___________ buy you a new
3. I___________ ride a horse, I love horse
phone.
riding.
8. He___________ join us later, he is not sure.
4. Lets go,___________ we?
9. If I were you, I ___________ take this
5. Jake___________ speak some English before
opportunity.
the training.
D. Match each sentence to a sentence with the same meaning. Write the letter of your
answer on the blanks provided before each number.
____1. Jack must write a report tomorrow.
a. She needs to help him, or the report will not be
finished on time.
____2. Jack couldnt write it yesterday.

b. Jennifers boss says she is allowed to help
Jack.
____3. Jennifer says she can help him tomorrow.
c. Jack will have to write a report tomorrow.
____4. She has to help him, or the report will not
d. Jennifer says she will be able to help him
tomorrow.
be finished on time.
e. Jack wasnt able to write it yesterday.
____5. Jennifers boss says she may help Jack.
E. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains a modal.
Example: I think she needs to spend more time with you. I think she must spend more time
with you.
1.
Youre
not
allowed
to
park
here.
_____________________________________________________________________
2.
Im
sure
that
Liz
hasnt
met
Harry
before.
____________________________________________________________
3.
Perhaps
Pam
and
Tom
decided
not
to
come.
____________________________________________________________
4.
Mary
knows
how
to
stand
on
her
head.
______________________________________________________________
5.
Its
possible
for
everyone
to
break
into
the
house!
_____________________________________________________
6.
Jack
is
supposed
to
have
arrived
half
an
hour
ago.
_____________________________________________________
7.
It
would
be
a
good
idea
if
Harry
took
a
holiday.
________________________________________________________
8.
Im
sure
that
David
took
your
books
by
mistake.
_______________________________________________________
9.
Im
sure
Brenda
isnt
over
thirty.
____________________________________________________________________
10.
It
was
a
mistake
to
park
outside
the
police
station.
____________________________________________________
F. Encircle the most suitable response to each comment or question.
1.
A: What did I do wrong?
B:
1. You shouldnt have connected these two wires
2. You didnt have to connect these two wires.
2.
A: Why is the dog barking?
B:
1. It should have heard something
2. It must have heard something.
3.
A: Why did you worry about me? I didnt take any risks.
B:
1. You must have been injured.
2. You could have been injured
4.
A: You forgot my birthday again!

B:
1. Sorry, I should have looked in my diary
2. Sorry, I had to look in my diary
5.
A: Where were you yesterday? You didnt turn up!
B:
1. I had to go to London
2. I must have gone to London
6.
A: What do you think has happened to Tony?
B:
1. I dont know, he should have got lost.
2. I dont know, he might have got lost.
References:
http://wootest.free.fr/02%20English%20Grammar%20-%20Verbs%20-%2003%20Modal%20Verbs_PDF.pdf
http://wps.pearsoned.com/wps/media/objects/6524/6681325/Modals.pdf
http://www.formazione.unimib.it/DATA/Insegnamenti/7_1504/materiale/ex%207.pdf

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MODALS

Some of these common modal verbs have synonyms we often use.

How can we use modal verbs in the future?

____2. Jack couldnt write it yesterday.

A: You forgot my birthday again!

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