MODAL VERBS MARÍA DEL PILAR MONCADA ROMERO COLEGIO VIRGINIA GUTIERREZ DE PINEDA PROYECTO INTENSIFICACIÓN DE INGLÉS

MODAL VERBS Can Can "Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility. "Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility. Examples: Examples: I can ride a horse. ability I can ride a horse. ability We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris. opportunity We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris. opportunity She cannot stay out after 10 PM. permission She cannot stay out after 10 PM. permission Can you hand me the stapler? request Can you hand me the stapler? request Any child can grow up to be president. possibility Any child can grow up to be president. possibility Could Could "Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can." "Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can."conditional Examples: Examples: Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. possibility Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. possibility Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. past ability Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. past ability You could see a movie or go out to dinner. suggestion You could see a movie or go out to dinner. suggestion Could I use your computer to my boss? request Could I use your computer to my boss? request We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. conditional We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. conditional

Have To Have To "Have to" is used to express certainty, necessity, and obligation. Examples: Examples: This answer has to be correct. certainty This answer has to be correct. certainty The soup has to be stirred continuously to prevent burning. necessity The soup has to be stirred continuously to prevent burning. necessity They have to leave early. obligation They have to leave early. obligation Might Might "Might" is most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used in conditional sentences. English speakers can also use "might" to make suggestions or requests, although this is less common in American English. "Might" is most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used in conditional sentences. English speakers can also use "might" to make suggestions or requests, although this is less common in American English.conditional Examples: Examples: Your purse might be in the living room. possibility Your purse might be in the living room. possibility If I didn't have to work, I might go with you. conditional If I didn't have to work, I might go with you. conditional You might visit the botanical gardens during your visit. suggestion You might visit the botanical gardens during your visit. suggestion Might I borrow your pen? request Might I borrow your pen? request

"Must "Must Must" is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express necessity or strong recommendation, although native speakers prefer the more flexible form "have to." "Must not" can be used to prohibit actions, but this sounds very severe; speakers prefer to use softer modal verbs such as "should not" or "ought not" to dissuade rather than prohibit. Must" is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express necessity or strong recommendation, although native speakers prefer the more flexible form "have to." "Must not" can be used to prohibit actions, but this sounds very severe; speakers prefer to use softer modal verbs such as "should not" or "ought not" to dissuade rather than prohibit. Examples: Examples: This must be the right address! certainty This must be the right address! certainty Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. necessity Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. necessity You must take some medicine for that cough. strong recommendation You must take some medicine for that cough. strong recommendation Jenny, you must not play in the street! prohibition + Jenny, you must not play in the street! prohibition +

Should Should "Should" is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation. "Should" is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation. Examples: Examples: When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam. recommendation When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam. recommendation You should focus more on your family and less on work. advice You should focus more on your family and less on work. advice I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. obligation I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. obligation By now, they should already be in Dubai. expectation By now, they should already be in Dubai. expectation

PRACTICE MODAL VERBS ACTIVITY 1 ACTIVITY 1 Complete the sentences using the words listed in the box below, then click the "Check" button to check your answers. Don't forget to capitalize when necessary. Some gaps may have more than one correct answer. Complete the sentences using the words listed in the box below, then click the "Check" button to check your answers. Don't forget to capitalize when necessary. Some gaps may have more than one correct answer. can could have to must might should can could have to must might should 1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He______ be exhausted after such a long flight. He_____ prefer to stay in tonight and get some rest. 1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He______ be exhausted after such a long flight. He_____ prefer to stay in tonight and get some rest. 2. If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out, you_______ walk downtown and explore the waterfront. 2. If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out, you_______ walk downtown and explore the waterfront. 3. Hiking the trail to the peak________ be dangerous if you are not well prepared for dramatic weather changes. You_________ research the route a little more before you attempt the ascent. 3. Hiking the trail to the peak________ be dangerous if you are not well prepared for dramatic weather changes. You_________ research the route a little more before you attempt the ascent. 4. When you__________ have a small child in the house, you leave small objects lying around. Such objects_________ be swallowed, causing serious injury or even death. 4. When you__________ have a small child in the house, you leave small objects lying around. Such objects_________ be swallowed, causing serious injury or even death.

5. Dave:______ you hold your breath for more than a minute? Nathan: No, I can't. 5. Dave:______ you hold your breath for more than a minute? Nathan: No, I can't. 6. Jenny's engagement ring is enormous! It______ have cost a fortune. 6. Jenny's engagement ring is enormous! It______ have cost a fortune. 7. Please make sure to water my plants while I am gone. If they don't get enough water, they______ die. 7. Please make sure to water my plants while I am gone. If they don't get enough water, they______ die. 8. I________ speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Egypt. But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I_______ just say a few things in the language. 8. I________ speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Egypt. But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I_______ just say a few things in the language. 9. The book is optional. My professor said we______ read it if we_______ needed extra credit. But we read it if we don't want to. 9. The book is optional. My professor said we______ read it if we_______ needed extra credit. But we read it if we don't want to. 10. Leo: Where is the spatula? It_________ be in this drawer but it's not here. Nancy: I just did a load of dishes last night and they're still in the dish washer. It_________ be in there. That's the only other place it _________be. 10. Leo: Where is the spatula? It_________ be in this drawer but it's not here. Nancy: I just did a load of dishes last night and they're still in the dish washer. It_________ be in there. That's the only other place it _________be.

Bibliografía English learner Dictionaries for english as second language Learners, English learner Dictionaries for english as second language Learners, Beginning English Listening Skills for ESL EFL learners and classes. Beginning English Listening Skills for ESL EFL learners and classes Esl/about.com/library Esl/about.com/library www. youtube.com/watch?v=S5Drs2UuB2v www. youtube.com/watch?v=S5Drs2UuB2vyoutube.com/watch?v=youtube.com/watch?v= www. youtube.com/watch?v=tE8drA9YieM www. youtube.com/watch?v=tE8drA9YieMyoutube.com/watch?v=youtube.com/watch?v=