Modality

Grammar
What are modals?
Modals or modal auxiliaries are verbs used to express probability, ability, permission,
giving advice…. Things you must do, can’t do and so on.

Typical for modal verbs is that they don't change with number or tense.
For example, a regular verb changes from "to work" to "he works" and to "he worked"
A modal doesn't do that: he *cans, he *caned

Step 1 – Watch the music video from the game ‘Dumb Ways To Die” using this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS9441I6OZ4

Step 2 – Write down 4 things you shouldn’t do based on the song.

For example: You shouldn’t get your toast out with a fork.

You shouldn’t eat a tube of super glue

You shouldn’t poke a grizzly bear
You shouldn’t set fire to your hair
You shouldn’t disturb a bee nest.

Step 3
+ Look online on Smart school for an extra lesson on the vocabulary seen in this
chapter.

Step 4 – Read the theory and do the exercises. You will get a test on this part of
grammar.
 Modal verbs for probability (waarschijnlijkheid) - possibility (mogelijkheid) -
(un)certainty ((on)zekerheid)
= must – can – could – might – may

Guessing game: “What might it be?”

It must be ...
It can be ... The level of certainty decreases as you go down the list:
It could be ... must = 100 % certain, might = a slight chance
It may be ...
It might be ...

Modal verbs for ability (bekwaamheid)

= can – could – be able to

We use can to say that somebody has the ability to do something:

We can see the lake from our bedroom window.
Can you speak any foreign languages?
My sister can bake a savoury vegetable pie.

You can say that somebody is able to do something, but can is more usual:
We are able to see the lake from our bedroom window.

But can has only two forms: can (present) and could (past). So sometimes it’s
necessary to use be able to. Compare:

I can’t sleep. I haven’t been able to sleep recently.

Tom can come tomorrow. Tom might be able to come tomorrow.
Maria can speak French and Applicants for the job must be able to
Spanish. speak two foreign languages.

EXERCISE 1: Complete the sentences using can or be able to. Use can if possible;
otherwise use be able to.
1 Gary has travelled a lot. He can speak five languages.
2 I haven’t been able to sleep very well recently.
3 Nicole ____can___ drive, but she hasn’t got a car.
4 I used to ____be able to________ stand on my head, but I can’t do it now.
5 I can’t understand Martin. I’ve never ____been able to___ understand him.
6 I can’t see you on Friday, but I __can_______ meet you on Saturday morning.
7 Ask Catherine about your problem. She might ___be able to___ help you.

Could is the past of can, but we also use could to say that somebody had the
general ability to do something: My grandfather could speak five languages.
EXERCISE 2: Complete the sentences with can/can’t/could/couldn’t + the
following:
Come eat hear run sleep wait
1 I’m afraid I can’t come to your party next week.
2 When Tim was 16, he _______could run________ 100 metres in 11 seconds.
3 ‘Are you in a hurry?’ ‘No, I’ve got plenty of time. I ____can wait_________’
4 I was feeling sick yesterday. I _______couldn’t eat______________ anything.
5 Can you speak a little louder? I ______can’t hear_______ you very well.
6 ‘You look tired.’ ‘Yes, I ___couldn’t sleep______ last night.

Modal verbs for permission (toestemming) – request (verzoek) – offer (aanbod)

= can - could – may - might

I can use her CD player while she is at school.

The teacher said we could copy the poems.
Yesterday I couldn’t stay up till midnight.
On Fridays we could go to the town centre after school.

can – could = more common

may – might = more polite, more formal

Can/Could/May/Might I bring my new girlfriend to the

party? Can’t I borrow your bike? Can I help you with that?
Could I be of any assistance?

Modal verbs for obligation (verplichting) - strong advice -necessity

(noodzakelijkheid)
= have to - must – need

I have to do something = it is necessary to do it, I am obliged to do it:

You can’t turn right here. You have to turn left.
I have to wear glasses for reading.
George can’t come out with us this evening. He has to work late.
Last week Tina broke her arm and had to go to hospital.

We use do/does/did in questions and negative sentences:

What do I have to do to get a new driving license?
Karen doesn’t have to work on Saturdays.
Why did you have to leave early?

We use must to give your own opinion (to say what you think is necessary, to
recommend someone to do something). Have to is also possible:
I haven’t spoken Sue for ages. I must phone her.
Mark is a really nice person. You must meet him.
 We use have to (not must) to say what someone is obliged to
do.
It’s a fact. The speaker is not giving his/her own opinion:
I have to work from 8.30 to 5.30 every day.
Jane has to travel a lot for her work.

But must is often used in written rules and instructions:

Applications for the job must be received by May 28.
You must write your answers in ink. (exam instruction)

You cannot use must to talk in the past:

We had to leave early (not we must)

EXERCISE 3: In some of the sentences, must is wrong or unnatural. Correct the

sentences where necessary.

1 It’s later than I thought. I must go. OK (have to is also correct)

2 I must work every day from 8.30 to 8.20. I have to work
3 You must come and see us again soon. ___________should____________
4 Tom can’t meet us tomorrow. He must work. ______has_____
5 I must work late yesterday evening. _______had to________
6 I must get up early tomorrow. I have lots to do. _______________________
7 You really must make less noise. I’m trying to concentrate. _______________________

Modal verbs for prohibition (verbod) - no permission (geen toestemming) -

unnecessity (onnodig, niet noodzakelijk)
= mustn’t – don’t have to – needn’t

Mustn’t and don’t have to are completely different:

You mustn’t do something = it is You don’t have to do something = you

necessary that you don’t do it don’t need to do it (but you can if you
want):
You must keep it a secret. You mustn’t
tell anyone = don’t tell anyone You don’t have to tell him, but you can if
I promised I would be on time. I mustn’t you want to.
be late (= I must be on time) I don’t have to be at the meeting, but I
think I’ll go anyway.

!! Similar to don’t have to = needn’t

You needn’t pay if you don’t want to.

EXERCISE 4: Complete the sentences with mustn’t or don’t/doesn’t have to.

1 I don’t want anyone to know about our plan. You mustn’t tell anyone.
2 Richard doesn’t have to wear a suit to work, but he usually does.
3 I can stay in bed tomorrow morning because I ______don’t have to________________ go
to work.
4 Whatever you do, you ______mustn’t ______ touch that switch. It’s very dangerous.
5 There’s a lift in the building, so we ________don’t have to_______________ climb the
stairs.
6 You ____mustn’t_____ forget what I told you. It’s very important.

EXERCISE 5: Complete the sentences and questions by using must, have to,
mustn’t or don’t have to.
1 Children ________mustn’t play_____________ (play) with cleaning liquids.
2 We _____must get________ (get) going, it’s already midnight!
3 When ___have you arrived_______ (you/arrive) for work last week?
4 You ______don’t have to do_____ (do) the cleaning up this morning, I will!

Modal verb for advice - opinion = should

You should do something = it is a good thing or the right thing to do. You can use
should to give advice or to give an opinion.

You look tired. You should go to bed.

The government should do more to reduce crime.
‘Should we invite Susan to the party?’ ‘Yes, I think we should.
You shouldn’t believe everything you read in the newspapers. (= it isn’t a good thing
to do)

Should is not as strong as must or have to:

You should apologise. (= it would be a good thing to do)
You must apologise. / You have to apologise. (= you have no alternative!)
EXERCISE 6: Mixed modals: Fill in the most suitable modal verb.

1 formal Pupil: ‘_______________________ I leave the room?’

permission
2 strong You _______________________ take off your shoes before entering this
advice mosque.
3 request Schoolboy to friend: ‘I left my book at home _______________________ I
share yours?’
4 prohibition Teacher: ‘I want you to write out ‘I _______________________ be late for
school’ one hundred times.’
5 advice You’re getting fat. You _______________________ drink less beer.
6 advice You’ve spelt it wrong. There _______________________ be another ‘s’.
7 request I’ve left my wallet at home. _______________________ you lend me £5?
8 request _______________________ you get me some aspirin when you’re at the
chemist’s?
9 strong Steve _______________________ know the address.
certainty
10 Visitors _______________________ walk on the grass.
prohibition Where did you use modals in a different type of grammar recently?
_______________________