Modal Verbs

MODAL VERBS

                   I can fly !!! 

                                              I can fly !!!

        

1. Express functions 2. Have the same form for all persons 3. Followed by Infinitive without “to” 4. Affirmative: Subject + Modal verb + Infinitive 5. Negative: Subject + Modal verb+ not (n’t) + Infinitive 6. Interrogative: Modal  verb+ Subject + Infinitive  ?

 

 

Modals	Functions	Examples
Can    (Present) Could  ( Past)	Ability / Capacity	She can cook Chinese food. She could speak Chinese when she was 5 years old.
Can   Could (more polite) May (more formal)	Request / Permission	Can/ May I book a table online? Could you tell me the Chef’s name? Can I go to the restaurant with you? Yes, you can.
May   Might (less probable)	Possibility / Probability	The restaurant may /might be close today.
Must   Mustn’t	Obligation /  Necessity Prohibition	A cook must wear a cook uniform. I must buy some bread. You mustn’t smoke in restaurants.
Should	Advice Duty / moral obligation	You should eat more vegetables and fruit. Children should respect their parents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Look at the table and do these exercises.

 

	Picture	Choose the modal verb	Choose the function. Write R(for Right) and W (for wrong)
1.		We mustshouldn'tmustn't  drive more than 70Km per hour.	Advice  Ability Prohibition
2.		Carol  can'tcanmay    ice-skating terrifically well but I cancan'tmay	Advice     Obligation  Ability
3.		“ Super Size Me” is a good film on fast food. I think you shouldcanmay see it.	Permission  Advice      Possibility
4.		CouldMustMight I have the menu, please?	Request      Duty          Necessity
5.		The school canteens canmayshould   have balanced meals.	Moral obligation Possibility      Permission
6.		My uncle James died last year. He cancouldmay perform magic.	Obligation     Permission     Ability
7.		I haven’t got any money . I maymustcan go to an ATM machine.	Ability         Necessity     Permission
8.		There are some clouds in the sky . It  mightmustshould     rain.	Request        Possibility      Necessity

 

 

 

 

Good Work!!!

Cristina Teixeira