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IELTS-Pearson Writing Grammar - Modal Verbs

This document provides information about modal verbs and how they are commonly used in IELTS Task 2 writing. It discusses the basics of modal verbs and their uses for discussing degrees of certainty, making suggestions, and hypothetical situations. Key modal verbs and their meanings are defined in a table. Guidelines and examples are given for the different functions of modal verbs in IELTS essays.

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271 views

IELTS-Pearson Writing Grammar - Modal Verbs

This document provides information about modal verbs and how they are commonly used in IELTS Task 2 writing. It discusses the basics of modal verbs and their uses for discussing degrees of certainty, making suggestions, and hypothetical situations. Key modal verbs and their meanings are defined in a table. Guidelines and examples are given for the different functions of modal verbs in IELTS essays.

Uploaded by

D HOL
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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IELTS-Pearson English Test Preparation

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MODAL VERBS

You are likely to use these a lot in your essay writing for task 2, particularly if you are
writing an essay which needs to give solutions to a problem. They are also important to help
in clarifying the certainty with which you are making a point, which is important for your
writing.

The examiner will expect you to be competent in using these to award you a higher band
score.

The Basics

What are modal verbs?


Modal Verbs are used commonly in English to add further information to the main
verb. They are added to a sentence to show things such as possibility, ability, regret,
or necessity.

They are auxiliary or 'helping' verbs, which means they cannot be used on their own but must
be used with the main verb.

Modal Verbs Main Verb Sentence Examples


(Bare Infinitive)

May
Might
Can  She can swim
Could  Can she swim?
Shall go  She cannot swim
Should
Will
Would
Must

‘Semi’ Modal Verbs (Infinitive) Sentence Examples

 She has to go
Ought
 Does she have to go?
Need
to go  She doesn’t have to go
Have

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IELTS-Pearson English Test Preparation
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How are they used?


As you can see from the table, these verbs are used with a main verb and are followed by
the bare infinitive (bare means no “to”). The exceptions are ‘ought’, 'need’ and ‘have’ which
are followed by the infinitive (with “to”).

Common Use in IELTS Task 2


Three important functions of modal verbs when you are writing or speaking for IELTS are:

1. Discussing degrees of certainty


2. Making suggestions.
3. Hypothetical situations

1) Degrees of Certainty
Will, may, might and could are common to make logical deductions about a situation or the
future, which you often need to do in task 2:

Children with no father as a role model will become criminals. (100%)

Children with no father as a role model may become criminals. (Possible)

Children with no father as a role model could become criminals. (Possible)

Which of these sentences do you think are incorrect?

The first one is wrong. This is a common mistake to see in IELTS essays. The grammar is ok,
but it is not possible to conclude that all children with no father as a role model will become
criminals!

Be careful when you are making assessments in this way.

‘Will' is 100% going to happen, so avoid using it to make generalisations about


everybody/everything unless you know it is 100% true. (There are other ways to make it less
certain e.g. “will possibly”).

When you are writing IELTS essays, it's unusual that you will have evidence with you or that
you can use to show 100% what you are saying is true. So, the second two are better in this
situation.

2) Suggestions

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IELTS-Pearson English Test Preparation
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Must, should, ought to, have to and could are often used to make suggestions for solving a
problem. It is common in task 2 to get a question asking you to discuss a problem and
suggest solutions.

Governments must/have to/need to take action to tackle global warming. (strong


obligation)

Parents should/ought to stop their children watching too much television. (Strong
suggestion)

Individuals could recycle more (possibility).

3) Hypothetical Situations
It is common to use would and could to discuss hypothetical situations. If something is
hypothetical, this means in effect it has not happened. You are discussing an unreal situation
in the future or imagining something.

For example:

If the government spent more money on hospitals, people would be healthier.

It is something that has not happened and you don't know if it will.

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For further information about IELTS writing, kindly contact:

[email protected]

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