Modal verbs and their meaning. - They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...

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1 Modal verbs and their meaning What are they? Modals are special verbs which behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like "work, play, visit..." They give additional information about the function of the main verb that follows it. They have a great variety of communicative functions. The most common modal verbs are:,,, might, will,, shall,,. (The verbs or expressions: dare, ought to, have to, had better, and need not all behave like modals to a large extent and be added to this list). Some characteristics of modal verbs: - They never change their form. You 't add "s", "ed", "ing"... - They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (i.e. the bare infinitive.) You stop when the traffic lights turn red. - They are used to indicate modality allow speakers to express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability. Use of modal verbs: Modal verbs are used to express functions such as: Permission/Ability/Obligation/Prohibition/Lack of necessity/advice/possibility/probability Modal Verb Function Example Strong obligation/ Self obligation You stop when the traffic lights turn red. I really stop biting my nails! Logical conclusion / Certainty He be very tired. He's been working all day long. not Prohibition You not smoke in the hospital. Ability I swim. Permission Can I use your phone please? Possibility Smoking cause cer. Ability in the past When I was younger I run fast. Polite permission Excuse me, I just say something? Possibility It rain tomorrow! Permission May I/we use your phone please? Possibility, probability It rain tomorrow! might Polite permission Might I suggest an idea? Possibility, probability I might go on holiday to Australia next year. Lack of necessity/absence of obligation need not/ don t need to/ /ought to I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. You don t need to hurry we have plenty of time. We get up early tomorrow because it s Sunday. Weak obligation I / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache. Advice You / ought to revise your lessons. had better Strong advice You 'd better revise your lessons or you will fail all the exams 1

2 Choose the right modal verb (there be more than one correct answer) 1. There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. You. buy any. 2. It's a hospital. You. smoke. 3. He had been working for more than 11 hours. He. be tired after such hard work. He. prefer to get some rest. 4. I.. speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Morocco. 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. 5. The teacher said we. read this book for our own pleasure as it is optional. But we read it if we don't want to you stand on your head for more than a minute? No, I. 7. If you want to learn to speak English fluently, you work hard. 8. Take an umbrella. It. rain later. 9. You.. leave small objects lying around. Such objects be swallowed by small children. 10. People. walk on grass. If you do, the police.give them a warning. 11. Drivers... stop when the traffic lights are red I ask a question? Yes, of course. 13. You take your umbrella. It is not raining. 2

3 Here are some more. Will you be able to do them easily? (Ask your teacher about CAN/COULD/BE ABLE TO) Q1. I didn t feel very well yesterday. I... eat anything. not n t n t Q2. You... look at me when I am talking to you. Q3. I was using my pencil a minute ago. It... be here somewhere! Q4. You really... be late again. not be Q5. If you don t start working harder, you... repeat the course next year. have to will have to Q6. Phone her now. She... home by now. has to be be be 3

4 Q7. You... forget your sun cream. It s going to be very hot! n t needn t Q8. I... be able to help you, but I m not sure yet. might Q9. Entrance to the museum was free. We... pay to get in. needn t didn t need to Q10. Already as a child Mozart... play the piano beautifully. Q11. Which sign are you more likely to see at an airport: Bags... not be left unattended. Q12. I really... try to get fit. Q take a photograph of you? Will I May I 4

5 Q14. Whose is this bag? - I don t know, but it... belong to Yuta. Q15. His excuse... be true, but I don t believe. Q16. It s very important to... speak more than one language. be able to Q17. I don t like... get up early on a Sunday. being able to being allowed to having to Q you speak French? - Only a few words, but my Russian is pretty good. Can Could Q you help me move this table? (Both answers are possible. Choose the more polite request.) Can Could Q20. If you continue to practise so hard, you... beat me before too long! will be able to 5

6 Q21. You... eat so much chocolate. It s not good for you. n t n t Q22. I m afraid I... play tennis tomorrow. I ve got a dentist appointment. t n t not be able to Q23. You come to the meeting if you want but you... have to n t Q24. I m so hungry I... eat a horse! Q25. The test starts at You... be late. n t 6