4TH ESO MODAL VERBS REVISION.

Modals of Ability: Can, Could, Be able to, May, Might

Introduction

These five verbs are examples of modal verbs.

can

could

be able to

may

might

Modal verbs are helping/auxiliary verbs that express ideas like ability, permission, possibility, and
necessity. Many modal verbs have more than one meaning. They are always followed by the simple form
of a verb. For example,

Alan can swim well.

This shows that Alan has the ability to swim.

1. Modals for Ability

Lets start with expressing ability! We use can, be able to and could to show that someone has (or
doesnt have) an ability to do something.

Look at these examples:

Present/Future Ability Negative Past Ability Negative

Alan can swim well. Jackie cannot play Paul could speak Chinese Mary couldnt finish her
piano. when he was a child. homework last night.

I can meet you after We cant visit Last night, there were no You couldnt find the
school. Vancouver this clouds in the sky and they website this morning,
weekend. could see all the stars. could you?

I am able to speak two I am not able to When I was a young child, I I wasnt able to finish
languages. speak Arabic. wasnt able to tie my shoes. my test yesterday.

Brenda is able to run Stacey isnt able to Shaun was able to complete Paula wasnt able to
quickly. finish a marathon. the assignment. pass the class.

You are able to program We arent able to They were able to catch six You werent able to
a computer. make a reservation fish on their trip. understand the answer,
tonight. were you?

Did you notice that the verbs after can/could/be able to are always in the simple form? For example:

Alan can swim well. (subject + auxiliary verb + simple verb + ...)

Do NOT change the modal auxiliary OR the main verb for he/she/it subjects. In addition, do not add
ing or ed.

Alan can swims well. Wrong!

Alan can to swim well. Wrong!
Alan can swimming well. Wrong!
Alan could swam well. Wrong!

How can we make questions about ability? Its easy!

Modal auxiliary + subject + main verb + ... ?

Can she play guitar?

Could you speak English when you were a child?

BE + subject + able to + main verb + ... ?

Are you able to understand the homework?

Were you able to finish the test?
Was he able to pass the exam?

Notice that we do not need the verbs do/does/did when we make questions!
The modal verb be able to includes the word to; the to is not an infinitive.

2. Modals for Possibility

Lets learn about expressing possibility now.

The verbs may, might and could show possibility now and in the future. In this case, they have the same
meaning.

Look at this conversation:

A: My mother said that it may snow tomorrow.

B: Really? It might snow?! Thats great! I could make a snowman or go for a snow walk.
A: Dont get too excited. If the temperature is high, it may not snow. It may rain.
B: Well, I guess I could still go for a walk in the rain.

Be careful with may + be and maybe. Compare these sentences. Both are correct.
 Ann is not here today. She may be sick. may be is a modal.
Ann is not here today. Maybe she is sick. Maybe is an adverb.

3. Modals for Permission

Finally, lets look at ways to ask for and give permission. We use may, could and can to do this.

Formality Example

most formal/polite May I go to the washroom?

*only used with I and we

medium formal Could I borrow your dictionary?

Could he pay you tomorrow?

casual Can I call you back later?

Can she have a cookie?

Now, look at the (main) verbs that come after the subject. They are always in the simple form, just as
with other modal verbs.

Again, the most polite/formal way to answer these questions is with may.

Examples:

May I go to the washroom? Yes, you may (go to the washroom). No, you may not.
Yes, you can. No, you cannot.

Can she have a cookie? Yes, she can. No, she cant.

Notice that we do not contract may + not = maynt. Wrong!

Cant and couldnt are common contractions, however.

When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercises.

1. ____________ I borrow your dictionary?

A. ? Am I able to

B. ? May

C. ? Might

2. ____________ you play the piano when you were a child?

A. ? Can

B. ? May
 C. ? Could

3. When Vera was young, she ____________ type quickly. She took a typing class and
now she ____________ type very quickly!

A. ? could not / can

B. ? can / could

C. ? could not / can to

4. ____________ dogs fly? No, of course not!

A. ? Do can

B. ? Can

C. ? May

5. George is absent from class today. He ____________ be sick.

A. ? could

B. ? is able to

C. ? can

6. She ____________ understand Korean very well, but she ____________ speak it
perfectly.

A. ? be able to / cannot

B. ? is able to / is able to

C. ? is able to / cannot

7. Peter ____________ swim when he was a child, but now he ____________. In fact,
he swims every day!

A. ? could / can't

B. ? couldn't / can

C. ? couldn't / can't

8. My cat ____________ jump, but it ____________ talk.

A. ? can / can't

B. ? can't / can
9. The little girl asked, "Mommy, ____________ I have a cookie?" The mother said,
"Yes, you ____________."

A. ? can / are able to

B. ? can / can

C. ? may / might

10. Sara ____________ Italian food and she ____________ French food too!

A. ? can cook / is able to cook

B. ? can cooks / can cooks

C. ? can cooking / can cooking

11. The family can't decide where to go on vacation. They ____________ go to Los
Angeles or they ____________ go to Hawaii.

A. ? could / couldn't

B. ? might / may

C. ? may / are able to

12. Kevin was disappointed because he ____________ get tickets for the football game.

A. ? weren't able to

B. ? wasn't able to

13. I'm going to bring an umbrella today because it ____________ rain.

A. ? is able to

B. ? can

C. ? might

Modals of Ability 2 - Can, Could, Be able to, May, Might

Use the best modal to complete each sentence; use a negative form when necessary.
14. Type all of your answers in the spaces and then and click on "Check answers". If you
need help, click "Show a letter".
16. 1. I borrow your pencil? Thanks!

2. James and Sara were so sad because they go to their brother's wedding.

They were too sick.

 3. The students understand the instructions for the test yesterday, so many of them

failed.

4. A: We have a big problem. What we do? B: I don't know. Maybe we ask

our boss for help.

5. When Tina was a child, she speak three languages: French, Arabic and English.

She rarely practiced French, so she speak it anymore.

6. I'm sorry. I hear you. Please speak more loudly.

7. My little brother play piano and guitar.

8. Excuse me. I ask you a question?

9. A:What are you going to do on the weekend? B: I'm not sure yet. We go to a movie

or we stay home and relax.

10. I go to school tomorrow because I'm feeling sick right now. I'm not sure.

Modals of Advice: Should, Ought to, Had better

Introduction

These three verbs are modal verbs.

should

ought to

had better

Modal verbs are helping/auxiliary verbs that express ideas like ability, advice, and obligation. Many
modal verbs have more than one meaning. They are always followed by the simple form of a verb. For
example:

Amanda should go to the doctor.

 This shows that we think it is a good idea for Amanda to visit the doctor.

Modals for Advice

Let's learn how to give advice!

English speakers use the modal verbs should, ought to and had better to express that they think
something is a good (or a bad) idea. Should is the most common way to give advice.

Look at these examples:

Affirmative Negative Question

A: I failed my test. Young children shouldn't watch violent I have a problem. Should I
B: Really? You should study TV shows. call my parents or my friend?
harder.

A: It's really cold outside. (ought to is not usually used in the (ought to is not common in
B: You ought to wear a warm negative form) question form)
jacket.

A: You had better slow down. You had better not forget to pay your (had better is not usually
You are driving too fast! tuition. If you do, the university will used in question form)
kick you out!

These examples have the same basic advice message, but had better is a bit stronger. It includes the
idea of a warning: something bad will happen if you do not follow my advice. For example:

You had better not forget to pay your tuition. If you forget, the university will kick you out
You had better do your homework. If you do not do your homework, the teacher will give you a low
mark.

Note: You had better... can be contracted to become You'd better.... This is correct grammar, and very
common in speaking. Some native speakers say, You better ..., but this is incorrect. The had is
necessary in good grammar.

In the above examples, you can see that the modals are followed by the simple form of a verb in these
patterns.

Subject + modal + basic verb + ... You should study harder.

You should to study harder. Wrong!
You had better slowing down. Wrong!
She ought to to drink more water. Wrong!

Remember that ought to is a modal verb and is followed by a simple verb. The to is not an infinitive
to.

Modal + subject + basic verb + ...?? Should I call my parents or my friend?

WH- (information) questions can also be formed by putting the WH- question word immediately before
the modal.

For example:

What should I do about my problem?

Where should we have dinner tonight?
Why should you believe them?
When should they call their boss?

When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercises.

1. A: I'm so hot.
B: You _________________ your coat!

A. ? should to take off

B. ? should take off

C. ? should put on

2. I'm going to visit your country. Where _______________ if I want to go shopping?

A. ? should I go

B. ? ought to I go

C. ? I should go

3. My mother isn't feeling well, so I told her that she _______________ to the doctor.

A. ? ought go

B. ? ought to go

C. ? ought

4. A: I think that the grade my teacher gave me on my test is wrong.

B: Really? You ______________ to her after class today.

A. ? ought to talk

B. ? should to talk

C. ? ought talk

5. It's raining and I don't want to get my dress wet. I _________________ an umbrella.

A. ? had better bring

B. ? had better to bring

 C. ? had better not bring

6. The airline only allows two pieces of luggage. You _________________ pack too
much or you will have to take it out at the airport!

A. ? had not better

B. ? better not

C. ? had better not

7. Dave loves chocolate, but he _________________ too much or he will get fat.

A. ? shouldn't eat

B. ? should eat not

C. ? should eat

8. I need help, doctor. My baby doesn't sleep well. What ________________ ?

A. ? should I do

B. ? had I better do

C. ? I should do

9. Modals of Advice 2 - Should, Ought to, Had better

10. Type in the best modal to complete each sentence.
11. Type all of your answers in the spaces and then and click on "Check answers". If you
need help, click "Show a letter".
12. 1. My teacher told me that I review my notes every day. I guess it's a good

idea to look at them after class.

2. Do you think Carol save her money or spend it? She is planning to go to Europe

this summer.

3. I'm going to a party tonight. What I wear: a dress or black pants?

4. Our car's gas tank is almost empty. We fill it up with gas soon or we will run out

of gas!

5. If you are worried about getting fat, you eat at McDonald's every day. You

eat healthy, low-fat foods like fruits and vegetables.

 6. It's really raining outside right now. I forget my umbrella or I'll get wet!

7. Where we have lunch today: at home or in a restaurant?

8. My doctor feels that I exercise more because I'm out of shape and want to lose

weight. I think he's right.

Modals of Polite Request: Would you, Could you, Will you, Can you

Introduction

These four questions are made with modal verbs:

Would you... ?

Could you... ?

Will you... ?

Can you... ?

Modal verbs are helping/auxiliary verbs that express ideas like ability, permission, and asking for
assistance. Many modal verbs have more than one meaning. They are always followed by the simple
form of a verb.

For example:

Could you help me for a minute, please?

This shows that the speaker is asking for help politely.

To ask questions in a very polite way, use: Would you/ Could you (please) + simple verb + ...?

For example:

Would you please email that document to me? I need it ASAP*.

Could you explain that again, please? I didnt understand.

*ASAP = as soon as possible

To ask questions in a polite but more casual way, say: Will you/ Can you (please) + simple verb + ...?

For example:

Will you please answer the phone? Im working.

 Can you hold my books for me? My hands are full.

We do not use the word may in a polite question when you is the subject.

For example:

May you please close the door? Wrong!

Could you please close the door? Right!

The word please makes the request more polite and less direct. Canadians use please often and
visitors are expected to ask for help politely, using please.

Possible positive answers to the questions above:

Yes. Yes certainly. Yes, of course. Id be happy to.

Certainly. Of course. Id be glad to.
My pleasure.

Informally, we can say:

Sure.
Okay.
Uh-huh. (means yes)

To answer negatively, we say:

No.
Sorry.
No, Im sorry. I cant.
Sorry, I cant. Im busy right now.
Id like to, but I cant.
Id love to, but Im busy right now.

When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercise.

1. Teacher: Marco, ______________ erase the blackboard for me?

Marco: _________________, teacher.

A. ? you will / Yes, certainly

B. ? Would you please / Yes, of course

C. ? you can / Of course

2. Charlotte, ______________ send me the document by email?

A. ? You could
 B. ? Would please you

C. ? Would you please

3. Student: _________________ help me with my homework, please?

Teacher: Of course!

A. ? Could you please

B. ? May you

C. ? Could you

4. Sandy, ________________ photocopy these letters right away?

A. ? do you can

B. ? can you

C. ? may you

5. Teacher, ______________ explain this grammar to me again, please?

A. ? you may

B. ? you will

C. ? could you

6. A: _________ you show me how to use this computer software?

B: _________________. How can I help?

A. ? Could / I would happy to

B. ? Can / I'd be glad to

C. ? Can / I be glad to