Teacher Carolina Sepúlveda G.

Exercises 7, Introduction
8, 9, & 10

What are
Exercises the Modal
4, 5, & 6 Verbs

Modal Verbs
Exercises for Ability
1, 2, & 3

Can, Could, Modal Verbs

May & Might, for Advice
Must,
Should,
Would
Modal verbs Modal verbs
are used to to show
make polite obligation
requests. Modal verbs or necessity
Modal verbs
used to are used to
show ask for
possibility permission.
 Introduction

What are Modal Verbs?

What does MODAL mean?
modal= expressing mood. / mood= a way to express the
attitude of the speaker to what is being said.
1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.

Examples:
He can speak Chinese.
She should be here by 9:00.

2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple

Present and Simple Past.

Examples:
He should not be late.
They might not come to the party.

3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future
tenses.
Examples:
He will can go with us. Not Correct
She musted study very hard. Not Correct
 Check this…

can could may might will

would must shall should ought to

Modals are different from normal verbs:

1: They don't use an 's' for the third person singular.

2: They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she go?').
3: They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to').

Some expressions are called semi-modal verbs e.g. had better, have to,
and have got to.
 Examples

What is special about the modal verbs?

They are special because they behave differently from other

verbs in English:

1. English modal verbs are used together with the base form of
another verb.

Examples:
"He might come late."
"You may leave if you wish."
"We must finish this on time."
2. English modal verbs have only one form.
You don't add "-ing", "-ed" or "-s" to them.

Examples:

Correct: "We must go now."

Incorrect:"We are musting go now."

Correct:"They said we could park here."

Incorrect:"They said we coulded park here."

Correct:"She can help us."

Incorrect: "She cans help us."
3. To form questions use the modal verb itself, but change the order.

Examples:

"He can fix the car tomorrow."

Correct: "Can he fix the car tomorrow?"

Incorrect:"Does he can fix the car tomorrow?"

"We should start packing our things."

Correct:"Should we start packing our things?"

Incorrect:"Do we should start packing our things?"

"She will be ten years old next month"

Correct:"Will she be ten years old next month?"

Incorrect:"Does she will be ten years old next month?"
4. To form negative sentences use the modal verb itself and
add "not" or "n't" to it.

Examples:

"He can run fast enough."

Correct:"He can't run fast enough."

Incorrect: "He doesn't can run fast enough."

"She could lift a feather."

Correct:"She could not lift a feather."

Incorrect:"She did not could lift a feather."

"I thought he would come."

Correct:"I thought he wouldn't come."

Incorrect: "I thought he did not would come."
 Modal Verbs for Ability

There are three modal verbs used to show ability:

Can
Could
Be Able To
Examples:
Present
I can play the guitar.
She can speak
German.

*Can is always followed by a base verb.

Past
I could sing very well when I was young.
She could read when she was 2 years old.

Future
I will be able to drive a car in 2 years.
He will be able to buy a house next year.

"Able to" is used with many other verb tenses.

Take a look at these examples:
I have been able to visit many countries in my life.
I used to be able to dance the Tango.
I will have been able to finish by tomorrow.
Negatives

Negatives are formed by using "not".

I can not play piano.

She can't play piano.

She could not finish her homework last night.

They couldn't finish their homework last night.

I will not be able to go to the party tonight.

Susan won't be able to go to the party tonight.
Questions

Questions are formed by changing the order of the words.

Can you drive a car?
Could he swim?
Will Doug be able to bring his boots?

Notice that "will be able to" is separated when used in a question:

Will he be able to finish on time?

 Modal Verbs for Advice

Modal Verbs are used to give advice or suggestions.

There are two modal verbs used for advice:
Should and Would.

Should
Should is used for advice in the present.
The structure is as follows:

Subject + Should + Base Verb

You should eat healthy food.

You should exercise every day.
Should is used for advice in the past.
Here is the structure:

Should + Have + Past Participle

You should have gone to the party.

She should have studied more often.

It is common to use "should" to give negative advice.

In this case, add "not".

You should not smoke.

You should not eat too much candy.

The contraction is "shouldn't".

You shouldn't drive too fast.
 Would

The modal verb "would" is used to give advice. In this situation, the
speaker is giving hypothetical advice as if he/she were the listener.
Here are some examples:

If I were you, I would return the book.

If I were you, I would not wear that jacket.

It is not always necessary to include "If I were you".

I wouldn't eat that.
I would choose the red
shoes.
Usually, would is used to talk about yourself, and
should is used to talk about someone else.

Example:
I would study tonight if I were you.
You should study tonight.

It is also common to ask for advice using these modal verbs:

What should I do?

What would you do?
Modal verbs to show obligation or necessity

There are two modal verbs to show obligation or

necessity.
Must
Have to
Must

Must is for simple present and usually shows general obligations.

Travelers must show their passport before boarding a plane.
You must use a pencil on the test.

Must is formal and usually used only in writing.

All employees must wear proper safety equipment.

Have to

“Have to” is not an actual modal verb, but it is used like a

modal.

You must conjugate the verb "have" depending on the time and
subject.
I have to work tomorrow.
She has to work tomorrow.

It is used in all tenses.

I had to work last night.
She has had to work every day this week.

"Have to" is less formal than Must and

is also more common in conversation.
Must not and Don't have to

"Must not" and "don't have to" are completely different,

and their meanings are often confused.

Must not" is a negative obligation and shows something

that is prohibited.

Example:
You must not eat in the computer room.
(Food in the computer room is prohibited.)

"Don't have to" shows something that is not necessary.

Example:

I don't have to work today.

(Working is not necessary.)
 Modal verbs are used to ask for permission.

The two verbs used are May, Could, and Can.

May

May is a polite modal verb used to ask for permission.

Here are some examples:

May I use a calculator on the test?

May I have another piece of cake?

The polite answers using may are as follows:

Yes, you may.
No, you may not.
Could

Could is also used to ask for permission. It is less formal than

using may. Here are some examples with could:

Could I have some more juice?

Could I bring a friend to the party?

Can

Can is the least formal of the modal verbs used to ask

permission. Here are some examples with can:

Can I play music?

Can I wear shorts?
The examples above are all with "I". This is because it is most
common to ask permission for yourself.
However, it is possible to ask permission for another person:

May she bring a friend?

Could he try again?
Can they sleep here?

The examples are also all questions. These are very common.
But you can also give permission. Here are some examples:

You may sleep on the sofa.

You can wear my jacket.
 Modal verbs used to show possibility

There are several modal verbs used to show possibility.

They are Might, May, Could, and Must.
All of these are different ways to say maybe.

STRUCTURE
Modal Verb + Base Verb

Examples:

I may eat dinner at 7:00pm.

She might work late tonight.
They must be tired.
May
May shows possibility in the present or the future.
Present: Where are my keys? They may be in the car.
Future: I may go to the party tonight.

May is formal and is often found in writing.

Side effects of this medication may include an upset stomach
or fever.

Might
Might shows possibility in the present or future.
Where are my keys? They might be in the car.
I might go to the party tonight.

Might is less formal than may, and is more common in

conversation.
Could
Could shows that something is possible in the present or future.
Present: Where are my keys? They could be in the car.
Future: We could go to the party tonight.

Could shows options or possibility.

If I won the lottery I could buy a house. I could also buy a car.

Must
Must shows certainty, or the belief of certainty, from the speaker.
Certain:
Everyone is wearing a jacket. It must be cold.

Belief of certainty:
He was running for 2 hours. He must be tired.

(Although it seems obvious, it is not a fact that the runner is tired.)

Have to
Have to shows certainty, or the belief of certainty, from the
speaker.

Certain:
Everyone is wearing a jacket. It has to be cold.

Belief of certainty:

He was running for 2 hours. He has to be tired.

(Although it seems obvious, it is not a fact that the runner is tired.)

Have to is much less formal than must, and is common in

conversation.
Past Possibility

May, Might, and Could are all used to show possibility in

the past. Here is the structure:

Modal Verb + Have + Past Participle

He might have brought the cake.

She may have gone home early.
They could have worked late.

Must can be used in the same way to show certainty in the past.

He must have won the game.

Might Not vs. Could Not
Although Might and Could express possibility in a similar
way, the negative forms of Might and Could are different.

Might not shows that something probably is not true.

These books might not be the teachers.

Might not shows that something probably will not happen in the
future.
I might not go to the party tonight.

Could not shows that something is impossible.

This could not be the only book available.
She could not know who my friend is. They have never met.
Modal verbs are used to make polite requests

Can & Could

Can and Could are modal verbs used with other verbs to make
requests.
Can/Could + Subject + Verb
Can you help me?
Could you open the door?

Can is used to make a basic request.

Can you pass me the salt?
Can you turn off the radio?
Could is more polite than can, but has the same
function.

Could you pass me the salt?

Could you turn off the radio?

Can/Could are used to turn basic orders into questions.

This is a much more polite way of asking for something rather
than making an imperative command.

Give me the salt => Can you pass me the salt?

Turn off the radio => Could you turn off the radio?
Would

Would is used with the verb like. It is a polite way to say

want.
I want a drink. (Direct)
I would like a drink. (Polite)

Would you like is used to make offers.

Would you like something to drink?

Would you like another coffee?

I would like is used to make polite requests.

I would like another glass of water please.

We can also use I would love, I would really like, I would

enjoy, etc.
Can, Could, May & Might, Must, Should, Would

Could Should
Can

M&M
Must Would
 Can
Can is used to show ability. Can is a modal verb, and it conjugates
as follows:

Present Past Future

Can Could Will be able to

Can is used to show Can is used to make requests:

ability

I can play the piano. Can you pass the salt please?

I could play the piano 10 years ago. Can you turn off the music?

I will be able to play the piano

when I finish my piano class.
Could
Could is an important modal verb in English. It is used for ability,
possibility, and requests.

Could for Ability

"Could" is the past tense of "can." These modals are used to show
ability.
Examples:
Present: I can play guitar.
Past: I could play guitar when I was younger.

As a negative, it is "could not", and is contracted as "couldn't".

Examples:
I could not finish my work yesterday.
I couldn't swim when I was a child.
Could for Requests

"Could" is used to make polite requests.

Examples:
Could you please pass the salt?
Could you turn down the music?

Could for Possibility

Often, "could" is used to express a degree of possibility.

For example:

It could rain today, but I am not sure.

That could be Tom's brother. He looks like Tom.
"Could" is also used in the 2nd conditional and
3rd conditional to show possibility and ability.

Examples:

If I had more money, I could buy a new car.

Or….I could buy a house; I could buy a boat, etc.

If I were older I could drive. (Have the ability)

May & Might

May and Might are modal verbs that are used to show possibility.
They act like the word "maybe". This means the speaker is not
sure of the outcome.

Example:

Tom: Will you go to the party tonight?

Kathy: Maybe.

OR

Tom: Will you go to the party tonight?

Kathy: I might go to the party tonight.
May and Might are used in conditional sentences,
especially the 2nd Conditional and the 3rd Conditional.

Example:

If I won the lottery, I might travel. However, I

don’t know for sure. I might also buy a house.

The difference between may and might is that may is more

formal.
Must
Must is a modal verb used to show obligation. Like all
modal verbs, must is followed by a base verb:

MUST + BASE VERB

Examples:
He must go to class today.
They must work tomorrow.

Must is also used to show possibility, and is used in situations

where the speaker is very certain.
Examples:

He ate 3 pieces of cake. He must like cake.

They worked for 12 hours today. They must be tired.
Should
Should is one of the most important modal verbs in
English.

STRUCTURE
Present

Subject + Should + Base Verb

She should study more often.

They should go inside.

Past

Subject + Should + Have + Past Participle

She should have studied more often.
We should be quiet.
USES

Recommendations
You should see the new Spiderman movie.
You should try this ice cream.

Advice
You should eat less sugar.
You should not smoke.

Obligation
I should get back to work.
We shouldn't be here.
Questions

Reverse should and the verb to ask questions:

Advice
Should I study chapter 1 or chapter 2?
How should I invest my money?

Expectations
Should the dog be allowed in the house?

Should is commonly found in English conditionals

and suggestions in reports.
Would
Would is an important modal verb in English. It is one of the
most commonly used modals.

Here are some of its uses:

Polite form of Want

"Want" is often too direct, and can sometimes be rude.

"Would" is more indirect and also more polite.

Instead of "Do you want...?", say "Would you like...?"

Examples:

Do you want a drink? Would you like a drink?

Do you want to go? Would you like to go?
Invitations
"Would you like" is used for polite invitations:

Would you like to go to a party tonight?

Would you like to watch a movie with me?

Offers
"Would you like" is used for polite offers:

Would you like a drink of water?

Would you like another piece of cake?

Hypothetical Situations

Would is used to show situations or actions that are not real.

This includes using would in the 2nd conditional and the 3rd
conditional.

Examples:
I would buy a car if I had more money.
I would have bought a car if I had had more money.

In these situations, "would" is normally the decision you make.

If I found a wallet, I could return it or keep it. I should return it.

However, I would keep the money and return the wallet.
1.Choose the correct modal verb for these statements of
ability.
1. 8 years ago, I __________ play the piano.
a) can
b) could Could

c) will be able to
2. In 3 years I __________ drive.
a) can
Will be able to
b) could
c) will be able to
3. __________ you hear the music right now?
a) Can
Can
b) Could
c) Could not

Check
Answers
4. I __________ swim.
a) cant
Can’t
b) can't
c) cant'
5. _________ go to the party tomorrow?
a) Can you
Will be able
b) Could you to
c) Will you be able to
6. She __________ finish the homework last night.
a) could no
b) couldn't
Couldn’t
c) not could
7. The singer __________ dance very well.
a) can
b) can no
Can
c) could no
Check
8. The teacher __________ see the books right now.
a) can't
Can’t
b) couldn't
c) can no
d) could no
9. I __________ vote in the election next year.
a) could
Will be able to
b) wasn't able to
c) will be able to
10. I __________ hear you. Could you please speak louder?
a) can't
Can ‘t
b) can

Check
 2. Choose the correct modal verbs for these pieces of
advice.
1. You __________ eat more vegetables.
a) would Should
b) should

2. I __________ buy those shoes if I were you.

a) wouldn't Wouldn’t
b) shouldn't

3. She __________ pay attention in class.

a) would Should
b) should

4. The students __________ arrive on time

for class. Should
a) would
b) should

Check
5. If I were you, I __________ take a
different course.
a) would Would
b) should

6. I __________ wear those pants if I

were her. Wouldn’t
a) wouldn't
b) shouldn't

7. The children __________ play soccer

in the house. They may break something. Shouldn’t
a) wouldn't
b) shouldn't

8. How _________ make the cake? Should I

a) I should
b) should I

Check
9. You __________ change your shoes.
a) would Should
b) should x

10. My car is broken. I ________ take it

to a mechanic.
a) would
b) should x Should

Check
 3. Fill in the spaces with the correct modal verb: Could, Would,
Should, Must, Can, or Might.

1. you lend me $10 please? Could

2. I go to the party tonight, but I Might

am not sure.

3. She play the piano. She is a Can

very good player.

4. Julie like to visit Kyoto when Would

she is in Japan.

5. You take your passport Must

when you go on an airplane.
Check
6. You eat many vegetables if you Shoul
want to be healthy. should d

7. Keith not go to school

tomorrow. He does not know for sure. Might Might

8. you like another glass of juice?

would Would

9. You not smoke inside a hospital. Must

must

Shoul
10. You visit Niagara Falls when d
you go to Canada. should

Check
4. Should and Must are used differently, depending on the
sentence. Should is for advice, and Must is for obligations.
Choose the correct options to complete the sentences
about travelling.
1. You ___________ bring your passport to travel to
another country.
a) should
b) should not Must
c) must
d) must not
2. You ___________ bring a camera.
a) should
b) should not Should
c) must
d) must not
3. You __________ bring plants, food, or animals to
other countries.
a) should
b) should not Must not
c) must
d) must not
Check
4. You __________ go through customs when you enter Must
a new country.
a) should
b) should not
c) must
d) must not
5. You ___________ have a ticket to go on an airplane. Must
a) should
b) should not
c) must
d) must not
6. You ___________ bring a bathing suit if you are Should
going to the beach.
a) should
b) should not
c) must
d) must not
7. You _________ take much cash with you. Should not
a) should
b) should not
c) must
d) must not Check
8. You __________ research the places you plan to
visit. Should
a) should
b) should not
c) must
d) must not
9. You __________ check in before you get on the Must
airplane.
a) should
b) should not
c) must
d) must not
10. You __________ be at least 2 hours early for your Should
flight.
a) should
b) should not
c) must
d) must not

Check
 5. Choose the correct modal
verb.
1. _________ I have more cheese on my
sandwich?
B a) Must
b) Could
c) Would
d) Have to

2. You _________ eat more vegetables.

A a) should
b) might
c) may
d) could

3. I _________ like to buy the same

television for my house.
C a) could
b) must
c) would
d) have to
Check
 4. _________ I have a coffee please?
a) Must
C b) Have to
c) May
d) Would

5. You _________ smoke near children.

a) have to
b) may
C
c) shouldn't
d) couldn't

6. The passengers _________wear their seatbelts at all

times.
a) could
B b) must
c) can
d) may

7. We _________ go to the concert if the rain stops. We don't

know for sure. Check
a) mustn't Answers
B b) might
c) have to
 8. I _________ ice skate very well.
a) can
A b) may
c) must
d) should

9. The boys _________wake up earlier than 7:30

am. They have class at 8:00 am.
a) would
b) can't
D c) could
d) have to

10. The rock band _________play very well last

year. Now they are much better.
a) must
b) couldn't
B c) can
c) should

Check
 6. Choose the correct sentence.

1.
A a) May I go to the mall?
b) May I goes to the mall?

2.
A a) Can she try again?
b) Can she tries again?

3.
B a) She can has another glass.
b) She can have another
glass.

B 4.
a) Can drive they the car?
b) Can they drive the car?

Check
 5.
a) May I borrowing your bike?
B
b) May I borrow your bike?

6.
a) Yes, she cans.
B
b) Yes, she can.

7.
a) Could I speak with Fred please?
A
b) Could I speaked with Fred
please?

Check
 8.
a) May the children play in the garden?
A b) May the children plays in the
garden?

9.
B a) You may stay here?
b) You may stay here.

10.
A a) May I say something?
b) May I say something.

Check
7. Choose the correct option for these modal verbs of
possibility.
A 1. He left the party early.
a) He must have to work tomorrow.
b) He must to have to work tomorrow.

A 2. He has to be finished the test by now.

a) He must be finished the test.
b) He might be finished the test.

3. There is new snow outside.

B a) It might have snowed last night.
b) It must have snowed last night.

4. He didn't finish the exam on time.

a) He might not had studied.
B
b) He might not have studied.

5. She doesn't know if she will cook dinner tonight.

A a) She might cook dinner.
b) She has to cook dinner.
Check
 6. Everyone is smoking outside.
B a) You could not be able to smoke in here.
b) You must not be able to smoke in here.

7. He looks very tired.

A a) He must have stayed up late last night.
b) He might had to stay up late last night.

8. Everyone received 100% on the math exam.

A a) It must have been easy.
b) It could have been easy.

9. That book has her name on it.

A a) It has to be hers.
b) It might be hers.

10. Who fixed the chair?

a) It couldn't been Jim. He was at work.
B b) It couldn't have been Jim. He was at work.

Check
 8. Fill in the spaces with Would or Could

1. you like another drink? Would

2. you pass me the salt?

Could

3. you mind turning off

the radio? Would

4. you like to go to the

Would
movie theatre tonight?

5. you tell me where the Could

bus station is?

Check
6. she like to come with us? Would

7. you please lend me $100? Could

8. you like something to eat? Would

9. you like to go to the park? Would

10. you bring me another glass of water? Could

Check
 9. Fill in the spaces with must or might and the correct form of
the same verb as the sentence before.
For example:

He may go to the baseball game.

He might go to the baseball game.

1. Perhaps she will go to the party tonight. She Might go

2. He worked all day. He tired. Must be

3. Maybe she is at work. She at work. Might be

4. He definitely knows how to fix my bike. Must know

He how to fix it.

Check
5. They are not sure if they will come.
Might come
They to class tomorrow.

6. They know my teacher for sure. They

Must know
my teacher.

7. I don't know if I will go to see a movie tonight.

Might go
I to see one.

8. Everyone is wearing a thick jacket. It

Must be
cold outside.

9. She might be at home, or she at the

Might be
office.

10. Maybe I will have dinner late tonight.

Might have
I dinner late.

Check
10. Choose the correct modal verbs for these pieces of
advice.
1. I can't decide. __________
a) What would I do?
B
b) What would you do?

2. That was a mistake. You

__________
B
a) wouldn't have done that.
b) shouldn't have done that.

3. How __________ fix this

B
problem?
a) I should
b) should I

Check
 4. I returned the shoes for a refund. What
__________ .
A a) would you have done?
b) should you have done?

5. You __________
B a) should no smoke.
b) should not smoke.

6. Should she __________ anything?

A a) bring
b) brings

7. What __________
a) would I have done?
B b) would you have done?

Check
 8. I __________ gone to the meeting If I had been
you.
A a) would have
b) should have

9. You __________ studied for your final exam.

B a) would have
b) should have

10. I __________ do that if I were you.

A a) wouldn't
b) would no

Check
 Summary

What does MODAL mean?

Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary

verbs, modal auxiliaries) 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.
Here are some characteristics of modal
verbs:

•They never change their form. You can't

add "s", "ed", "ing"...

•They are always followed by an infinitive

without "to" (e.i. the bare infinitive.)

•They are used to indicate modality allow

speakers to express certainty, possibility,
willingness, obligation, necessity, ability
 Modal Verb Expressing Example
Strong obligation You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
must
logical conclusion / Certainty He must be very tired. He's been working all day long.
must not prohibition You must not smoke in the hospital.
ability I can swim.
can permission Can I use your phone please?
possibility Smoking can cause cancer.
ability in the past When I was younger I could run fast.
could polite permission Excuse me, could I just say something?
possibility It could rain tomorrow!
permission May I use your phone please?
may
possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!
polite permission Might I suggest an idea?
might
possibility, probability I might go on holiday to Australia next year.
lack of necessity/absence of I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of tomatoes
need not obligation in the fridge.
50 % obligation I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible
headache.
should / ought to advice You should / ought to revise your lessons
logical conclusion He should / ought to be very tired. He's been working all
day long.
had better advice You 'd better revise your lessons