modals
TRANSCRIPT
Modals
PermissionObligation / ProhibitionProbability / Possibility
Suggestion / Advice
Permission Can / May
Situations:
Ask
Give
Refuse
Ask:
1. Can I come in? (informal)
2. May I come in? (formal)
Give:
1. Of course, you can call me later, no problem.
Refuse:
1. I'm sorry, you can't. I'm too busy right now.
Ability Can = be able to
Ask:
1. Can you speak English? Or
2. Are you able to speak English?
3. Can you swim?
Replies1. Of course, I can.
2. Of course, I´m able to.
3. Definitely. I am a very good swimmer.
4. No, I can´t.
5. No, I´m not able to speak Englisn.
6. Not really. I´m a lousy swimmer.
Possibility / ProbabilityCan / Could
May / Might
Should
1. It may rain today. / It might rain today.
2. Look at the sky. It´s turning darker. It can rain today.
3. Thank God, it could have been you.
4. They should visit the Zoo in SPaulo. It´s wonderful.
5. You should not talk this way. People can not understand you.
Obligation
Must / Have to
1. You have to/must study hard.
2. Does he have to pay for this ticket?
Must he pay for this ticket?
3. They don´t have to go immediately.
4. I must/have to be in time for the class.
5. We must/have to be consistent to our way of thinking.
Prohibition Must not = Mustn't
1. You mustn't go out dressed like this. Change yourself or you'll stay home.
2. They mustn't step on the grass.
3. The students mustn't come to school without their uniforms.
SuggestionShould
1. You look pale. You should see a doctor.
2. What do you think I should do?
3. Should the teacher be more rigid?
Ben ___________ play soccer.
CANCOULDMUSTHAVE TOMAY MIGHTSHOULD
CAN
Mr. and Mrs. Davies ___________ play volleyball 10 years ago.
CANCOULDMUSTHAVE TOMAY MIGHTSHOULD
COULD
Mr. White cannot run this marathon because he doesn´t feel
good. What do you think?
CANCOULDMUSTHAVE TOMAY MIGHTSHOULD
I think he ____________ take some pills to feel better.
SHOULD
Mr. and Mrs. Davies look tired. They ____________ rest now.
CANCOULDMUSTHAVE TOMAY MIGHTSHOULD
MUST
Mandy has bad grades. She ________ study more.
CANCOULDMUSTHAVE TOMAY MIGHTSHOULD
MUST
Rick has a test tomorrow. His mother says: “Son, you __________
go to your room to study.”
CANCOULDMUSTHAVE TOMAY MIGHTSHOULD
MUST
Mr. Benson is a musician. He ________ play the violin.
CANCOULDMUSTHAVE TOMAY MIGHTSHOULD
CAN
Mr. Benson was a musician in the past. He ________ play the violin.
CANCOULDMUSTHAVE TOMAY MIGHTSHOULD
COULD
Jane and Mary waits for the bus for a long time. What do you suggest
them to do?
CANCOULDMUSTHAVE TOMAY MIGHTSHOULD
In my opinion, they __________
listen to some music.
SHOULD
Mr. Johnson´s car is not working. What _________ he do?
Well, he __________________________________
call a mechanic.
CAN
CAN / SHOULD
CANCOULDMUSTHAVE TOMAY MIGHTSHOULD
SHOULD MUST
Exercises
Rewrite the sentences using the correct modal verb:
a) Is it possible for us to stay at home tonight?_____________________________________________________________
b) I’m afraid I won’t give you permission to buy that._____________________________________________________________
c) I don’t have the ability to sing now, though I did when I was younger._____________________________________________________________
d) I didn’t manage to contact you, no matter how hard I tried._____________________________________________________________
e) If you come to stay it will be possible for us to visit all the sights._____________________________________________________________
Can we / Could we stay at home tonight?
I´m afraid you can´t / couldn´t buy that.
I can´t sing now, though I could when I was younger.
I couldn´t contact you, no matter how hard I tried
If you come to stay, we can visit all the sights.
ExercisesComplete with must, mustn´t, should / shouldn´t , don´t have to:
1. "Do you want me to wait for you?" "No, it's OK. You _______________________________ wait.
2. Tom gave me a letter to post. I __________________ forget to post it.
3. You _______________ come if you don't want to but I hope you will.
4. "What sort of house do you want to buy? Something big?"
"Well, it _______________ be big - that's not important. But it __________ have a nice garden - that's essential."
5. We have enough food at home so we ____________ go shopping today.
6. This book is very valuable. You __________________ look after it very carefully and you __________ lose it.
DON´T HAVE TOSHOULD NOT
DON´T HAVE TO
DOESN´T HAVE TO
MUST
DON´T HAVE TO
MUST
MUSTN´T