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Modal_Verbs_Theory_and_Practice

The document explains modal verbs, which are auxiliary verbs that convey necessity, obligation, prohibition, or advice, and provides examples for each category. It categorizes modal verbs into four groups: obligation and necessity, no obligation or necessity, prohibition, and advice. Additionally, the document includes a practice section with sentences to complete using the appropriate modal verbs, along with an answer key.

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Susana Azpeleta
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6 views

Modal_Verbs_Theory_and_Practice

The document explains modal verbs, which are auxiliary verbs that convey necessity, obligation, prohibition, or advice, and provides examples for each category. It categorizes modal verbs into four groups: obligation and necessity, no obligation or necessity, prohibition, and advice. Additionally, the document includes a practice section with sentences to complete using the appropriate modal verbs, along with an answer key.

Uploaded by

Susana Azpeleta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modal Verbs – Theory and Practice

Theoretical Explanation
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that express necessity, obligation, prohibition, or advice.
They are used with the base form of the main verb (without 'to'). Below is a summary of the
key modal verbs:

1. Obligation and Necessity


• must – strong personal obligation (present)
- Example: You must go to school.
• have to – external obligation (used in all tenses)
- Example: You have to be 18 to drive a car.
• need to – necessity (used in all tenses)
- Example: I need to clean my room.

2. No Obligation or Necessity
• don’t/doesn’t have to – not necessary
- Example: You don’t have to come so early.
• don’t/doesn’t need to – not necessary
- Example: You don’t need to worry.
• needn’t – not necessary
- Example: You needn’t come back tomorrow.

3. Prohibition
• mustn’t – something is not allowed
- Example: You mustn’t smoke in hospitals.

4. Advice
• should / shouldn’t – general advice
- Example: You should do more physical exercise.
- Example: You shouldn’t smoke so much.
• ought to / ought not to – formal advice
- Example: You ought to exercise regularly.
• must / have to – strong recommendation
- Example: You must see the film!

Practice – Complete the Sentences


1. You ________ go to school. [obligation]

2. I ________ clean my room. [necessity]


3. You ________ be 18 to drive a car. [obligation]

4. You ________ smoke in hospitals. [prohibition]

5. You ________ do more physical exercise. [advice]

6. You ________ come so early. You can arrive at nine. [no obligation]

7. You ________ worry. Everything is under control. [no necessity]

8. You ________ come back tomorrow. [no necessity]

9. You ________ see the film! It’s excellent. [recommendation]

10. You ________ smoke so much. It’s bad for your health. [advice]

Answer Key
1. must

2. need to

3. have to

4. mustn’t

5. should

6. don’t have to

7. don’t need to

8. needn’t

9. must

10. shouldn’t

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