can,couldmay, might

must, mustn’tshall, should

MODAL VERBS:

• 3rd person singular: no s

• to

• negative form: +not

• interrogative form: inversion

(verb+subject ……. ?)

essmo

MUST• obligation

• You must stop at the red light.

• necessity

• You must pass the test to

succeedessmo

MUSTN’T

• prohibition

• You mustn’t enter the classroom before the bell

rings.

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SHALL…?

• Suggesting

• Shall we go to the cinema?

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SHOULD• giving advice

• You look sick. You should go to the doctor.

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CAN• ability / capacity

• I can swim.

•Permission•You can play computer games after

dinner

•Asking for permission / making a

request

•Can I close the blind?essmo

COULD• Asking for permission / making a polite

request

• Could you help me, please?

•ability / capacity in the past

•We could dance very well when we were young.

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We currently can dance very well

MAY• Asking for permission (formal)

• May I come in?

Giving permission (formal)

You may leave the class

earlier

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Correct the mistakes• You look sick. You must to stay in bed today.• You look sick. You must stay in bed today.

•How long cans she stay under water? My record is one minute.•How long can she stay under water? My record is one minute.

•You have a test tomorrow. You mustn’t study.•You have a test tomorrow. You must study.

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Fill in the gaps with the appropriate modal verb

• __________ I ask for a pen?• Can I ask for a pen?• We __________ obey the school rules.• We must obey the school rules.• My mother says I __________ (neg) go out tonight.• My mother says I can’t (neg) go out tonight.• He __________ play basketball very well.• He can play basketball very well.• You __________ clean your room. It’s a mess.• You must clean your room. It’s a mess.• I’m falling asleep. I __________ go to bed.• I’m falling asleep. I must go to bed.

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Fill in the gaps with the appropriate modal verb

• The children are asleep. You __________ shout.• The children are asleep. You mustn’t shout.• I __________ surf the net with my mobile. • I can surf the net with my mobile. • __________ you post this letter for me, please?• Could you post this letter for me, please?• The sun is very hot. I __________ put on sun cream.• The sun is very hot. I should put on sun cream.• You __________ leave your classmates out of this game.• You shouldn’t leave your classmates out of this game.

essmo