Modal Verbs: My Keys Must Be in The Car. It Might Rain Tomorrow. That Can't Be Eshan's Car. It's Too Small

MODAL VERBS
We use modal verbs to:

 Show that something is certain, possible or impossible
My keys must be in the car.

It might rain tomorrow.
That can't be Eshan’s car. It's too small.
 To talk about ability, ask permission, make requests and offers.
I can't swim.
May I ask a question?
Could I have some tea, please?
Would you like some help?
Modal verbs in Positive Statements
Base form of the

Subject Modal verb
verb
Examples: I can eat more

They may do their homework
Modal verbs in Negative Statements
Base form
Subject Modal verb not
of the verb
Examples: I should not (shouldn’t) go the party

He must not(mustn’t)go on the bus’s foot board
Modal verbs in Negative Statements
Base form of the

Subject Modal verb
verb
Examples: May I help you?

Would you like to join us?
1
Modal Verbs and their uses
Requests and
Ability Possibility Obligation Permission
offers
might may
may can can
can could should could could
could can must might would
must need would will
will need shall
Can
 To talk about what you are able to do
He can lift that rock
 To talk about a general possibility

The students can get really tired.
 To say that something is allowed

You can pay with a credit card.
 To make a request (this is an informal use, "may" is the formal version)

Can you help me with my homework?
Could
 As the past form of “Can”

He could do that favour for you
 To make a polite request

Could you give me a tissue please?
 To show possibility ("may" and "might" are stronger)

I could do it myself
May
 To show possibility (it is slightly stronger than "might")

It may rain
 To request or give permission (this is a formal use, "can" is the informal version)
May I use the washroom, please?
2
Might
 As a past from of “May”

She mentioned that she might come.
 To show possibility (it is slightly weaker than "may")

They might visit us tomorrow
Must
 To show that you have to do something, for example because it is very important or
because it is a rule
Students must come for lectures
 To show that something is very logical or very likely to be true

They must be very wise to take such a decision
 "Must not" (or "mustn't") is used to show you are not allowed to do something
You mustn’t shout
Should
 To say what is the right thing to do

Undergraduates should work hard
 To give advice or ask for advice

I think I should go with them, what should I do?
 To show that something is likely to be true or that it is expected

I should get the invitation today
Will
 To talk about future actions or future states (not plans)

I hope I will pass the exam
 For promises or intentions

I will do that for you
 To make a polite request

Will you make me a cup of tea please?
3
Would
 As the past form of “Will" in reported speech

“I will change it myself.” He said he would change it himself.
 To talk about an imagined situation

What would you do if you win a 10000$ cash prize?
 To make polite requests

Would you mind passing the sanitizer please?
Shall
 Used with "I" and "we" to talk about the future (especially in formal British English)
I shall attend the meeting
 Used with "I" and "we" to ask questions or make suggestions

Shall we go on a road trip?
Ought to
 To say what is the right thing to do ("should" is the more common word)
She ought to study harder
Activity 1
Fill in the blanks using the following answers.

Can’t, mustn’t, shouldn’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t
1. A Doctor ________________ make mistakes.
2. No. you ________________. You know it very well already.
3. my Lecturer wants me to translate an article but I ________________ because I don’t
have time.
4. I didn’t feel very well yesterday. I ________________ eat anything.
5. I can hear you quite well. You ________________ shout.
6. It ________________ be hard to dig in this sand.
7. He ________________ ride his bike at night without lights. It’s not allowed.
8. Sunil ________________ hear the speaker because the crowd was cheering so loudly.
9. But they ________________ believe me.
10. I told myself that I ________________ start smoking again.
4
Activity 2
Complete the sentences with a modal verb from the box below. Sometimes more than
one answer is possible.
1.___________________I use your pen, please?
2.You really ___________________see that new documentary. It’s fantastic.
3.You ___________________write 30 sentences for homework because you have
misbehaved.
4.You ___________________to write 300 lines. 30 will be enough.
5.Please, excuse me but I really ___________________go now.
6.John, you ___________________speak so quickly. Nobody can understand you!
7.We ___________________watch TV tonight. We haven’t decided yet.
8.If you’ve got such a bad cough, you ___________________smoke.
9.I am happy to inform you that I ___________________come to work next week.
10.You ___________________make so much noise. The baby is sleeping in the next
room.
11.She ___________________work hard because she’s a single parent and has little
money.
12.You ___________________go now. The train leaves in an hour, so you’ve still got
some time left.
13.According to the weather report it ___________________rain this afternoon.
14.He ___________________speak Italian fluently because he spent 5 years there.
15.That __________________be Tharaka over there. He said he would be in Ampara
this week.
16.You ___________________take the test seriously, even if you already have enough
good grades to pass.
17.I ___________________go out tonight, but I don’t think so. I feel too tired.
18.___________________Maneesha come with us?
19.You ___________________speak Sinhala. I can speak Tamil quite well.
20.You ___________________take an ID card with you if you enter the stadium.
Otherwise you won’t get in.
5
Activity 3
The following is an article in a magazine about regrets. Underline the correct modal
verb from the two choices given.
Regrets
As we get older and when we think about our past we sometimes ponder the things
that we should/can have done. And we also may/shall regret those things we did
badly and the mistakes we made. In reality, we be able to/can always learn from our
mistakes and hope to never make them again. For example, if I failed a test because of
a lack of study, the next test I will/must hope to pass because of hard work. Remember
too that some regrets are not based in reality and we must/may waste time thinking
that they are. Would/should I have really not have been involved in a car crash if I
had been driving more slowly? After all, the other driver ought to/will have been
concentrating and not playing with their radio. We have to/would be honest with
ourselves and live in the now. The only things we used to/can control are the things
happening now, in this moment.
Activity 4
Write down a conversation that you would have with your friend regarding your
future educational plans. Use Modal verbs as much as possible.
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Modal Verbs: My Keys Must Be in The Car. It Might Rain Tomorrow. That Can't Be Eshan's Car. It's Too Small

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Modal Verbs: My Keys Must Be in The Car. It Might Rain Tomorrow. That Can't Be Eshan's Car. It's Too Small

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MODAL VERBS

We use modal verbs to:

My keys must be in the car.

 To talk about ability, ask permission, make requests and offers.

Modal verbs in Positive Statements

Base form of the

Examples: I can eat more

Modal verbs in Negative Statements

Examples: I should not (shouldn’t) go the party

Modal verbs in Negative Statements

Base form of the

Examples: May I help you?

 To talk about a general possibility

 To say that something is allowed

 To make a request (this is an informal use, "may" is the formal version)

 As the past form of “Can”

 To make a polite request

 To show possibility ("may" and "might" are stronger)

 To show possibility (it is slightly stronger than "might")

 As a past from of “May”

 To show possibility (it is slightly weaker than "may")

 To show that something is very logical or very likely to be true

 To say what is the right thing to do

 To give advice or ask for advice

 To show that something is likely to be true or that it is expected

 To talk about future actions or future states (not plans)

 For promises or intentions

 To make a polite request

 As the past form of “Will" in reported speech

 To talk about an imagined situation

 To make polite requests

 Used with "I" and "we" to ask questions or make suggestions

Fill in the blanks using the following answers.

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