English Modal Verbs ?

By Mr. Varela
 Section One
Basic Information
about Modal Verbs

Section Two Section Five

Simple Modal Final Test
Verbs

Section Three Section Four

Past forms of Compound Modal
Modal Verbs and Verbs and their
their functions functions
 What are Modal Verbs ?

 Modal verbs are special verbs which

behave very differently from normal
verbs. Here are some important
differences:
1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the
third person.

 EXAMPLES:
He can  speak Russian.
She should  go now.
My wife may join us for the dinner.
2. You use "not" to make modal verbs
negative, even in Simple Present and
Simple Past.
 EXAMPLES:
You should not be late.
I can not come to at 6pm.
He may not like this idea.
You must not disturb him now, he is busy.
They didn’t must do it. NOT CORRECT
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
It mayed show yesterday. NOT CORRECT
1
3

2
Which sentence has a modal verb?

 We have been arguing over this issue for half and ho

ur, let’s change the topic.

 Do not turn on that computer, it is not working proper

ly. We need to fix it.

 Let’s visit our grandpa, we have not seen him since

Christmas.
Well Done!
Back to the
Rule
Please choose the correct sentence

 He cans climb the rocks.

 He canned climb the rocks.

 He can climb the rocks.

Fantastic!
Back to the
Rule
Please choose correct negative form of
modal verb

 I don’t can do it now, I am very busy till 5pm.

 You must don’t smoke here, this place is smo

ke free.

 He should not procrastinate his assignments,

he may not get good grades.
 Great!

Quit Continue
Back to the
Rule
 Section Two
Simple Modal
Verbs

“Can” “Must”

“May”
1. to express general ability
2. to express possibility / impossibility
3. to ask a permission (informal)
 EXAMPLES:

 I can sing and play the guitar.

 Anyone can learn how to use Computers if
they want to.
 Can you help me to fix my door?

Back to section two Take the test

1. to express possibility
2. to ask or to give a permission (formal)
3. to make requests
 EXAMPLES:

 He may come late today.

 You may use my Computer now.
 May I make a phone call?

Back to section two Take the test

1. to express certainty
2. to express necessity
3. to make a strong recommendation
 EXAMPLES:

 You must be tired now, you have worked all

day long.
 I must have a visa to go to Canada.
 CEP 811 is a very interesting class, you must
take it too.
Back to section two Take the test
Choose the best answer

 If you want to get a better feeling for how the

city is laid out, you_______________ walk
downtown and explore the waterfront.

Can Will Do
See the rules
Can May Must
Choose the best answer

 Today is cloudy, it ________________ rain.

Does May Can

Can May Must
See the rules
Choose the best answer

 Ted's flight from Uzbekistan took more than

11 hours. He ________________ be
exhausted after such a long flight.

Can May Must

See the rules
If you have not studied one of these verbs, click on it.

Can May Must

If you have, click here

Quit Continue
 Section Three
Past forms of
Modal Verbs and
their functions

“Could” “Might”

“Would” “Should”
1. to express general ability in the past, because it is
the past form of the “Can”
2. to express possible future actions similar to “May
and Might” in meaning
3. to make a request or ask something
4. to express unreal or impossible actions
 EXAMPLES:

 We tried hard but we could not persuade them to

come with us.
 My grandfather could not swim.
 When you go to Uzbekistan, you could stay with me.
 Could you tell me what time it is?
 I don’t know how she works 14 hours a day in front
of the computer, I could not do this.
Back to section three Take the test #1 Take the test #2
1. to express future in the past because it is the past
form of “Will”
2. to express unreal action in the present
3. to ask someone to do something (formal),
(structure: If + you + would+ verb)
 EXAMPLES:

 He told me that he would come and fix this computer

yesterday.
 I would be very frightened if someone pointed a gun
at me.
 If we did not go to their party next week, she would
be very upset.
 I’d be very grateful if you would come and help me
move to my new apartment.
Back to section three Take the test #1 Take the test #2
1. to ask or give advice or recommendation
2. often after these verbs: suggest, propose,
recommend, insist, demand.
3. If you think that if person is likely to do something
with less certainty or accidentally, you can use
this structure: If + you + should+ verb or Should +
you + verb
 EXAMPLES:
 I think you should stop smoking, drinking and messing
around, instead you should do sometime useful.
 They insisted that we should have dinner with them.
 He recommended that I should apologize to her for
what I said.
 If you should see Tom this evening, could you tell him
to call me? or Should you see Tom…..
 Don’t worry if I should be late tonight.

Back to section three Take the test #1 Take the test #2

1. to give or ask permission, or possibility in the past,
because it is the past form of “May”
2. to express future or present possibility and
probability
3. Interchangeably with “May” quite often with no
difference in meaning.
 EXAMPLES:

 She told that he might come in and use her stove.

 He might be having lunch now.
 It might rain tomorrow.
 There may/might not be a meeting tonight, because
the director is ill.
 I may/might go to Italy this summer.

Back to section three Take the test #1 Take the test #2

# 1. Choose the correct modal verb

 Your brother was ill, therefore he _____ go

out for a walk.

Can’t Mustn’t Couldn’t

Back to the
Rule
 Outstanding!!!

Back to section three

# 2. Choose the correct modal verb

 If he were here, he ____ help you.

May Couldn’t Can Could

Back to the
Rule
 Terrific !!!

Back to section three

# 1. Choose the correct verb

 Mr. Bond said if she was busy at 10 o'clock,

he ____ come to see her later.

May Would Can Must

Back to the
Rule
 Super!!!

Back to section three

# 2. Choose the correct modal verb

 This house ____ look better if they painted it

and cut the grass and planted flowers.

May Must Can Would

 Back to the
Rule

Quit
 Well done!!!

Back to section three

Quit Continue
# 1. Choose the correct modal verb

 Oh, you are seriously ill. I think you ... consult

a doctor.

Could Would Should May

Back to the
Rule
 Good Job!!!

Back to section three

# 2.Choose the correct modal verb

 The Sheriff demands that all the

eyewitnesses _____ be questioned
immediately.

Must Should Would Could

Back to the
Rule
 Outstanding!!!

Back to section three

# 1. Choose the correct modal verb

 He said that I ____ play any CD from his

collection while he was gone.

May Should Must Might

Back to the
Rule
 Good Job!!!

Back to section three

# 2. Choose the correct modal verb

 Don’t call me at 8:30. I ____ be watching the

football match on television.

Might Can Would Should

Back to the
Rule
 Good Job!!!

Back to section three

 Section Four
Compound Modal
Verbs and their
functions

Modal Verbs + Perfectives?

Quit Continue
 Modal Verbs + Perfective

May/Might/Could + Have + Past Participle

Must + Have + Past Participle

Should + Have + Past Participle

Would + Have + Past Participle

May/Might/Could + Have + Past Participle

 to express the possibility or probability in the

past, it is not certain if it happened or not.
Examples:
 When I was sleeping last night, it may/might/could
have rained.
 I can’t find my notebook in my office, I
may/might/could have left it in the cafeteria.
Back to section four Take the test
Choose the incorrect answer

 A) Why didn’t Tom answer the doorbell? I am

sure he was in the house at the time.
 B) He ____ have been in the bath.

May Might Could Can

Back to the
Rule
Outstanding!!!
 Must + Have + Past Participle

 to express the certainty in the past.

Examples:
 Amira made an excellent presentation, she must
have prepared a lot for it.
 When I came home in the middle of the night, I
unintentionally made a lot of noise, you must have
heard me.
Back to section four Take the test
Choose the correct modal verb

 When I woke up this morning, the light was

on. I _____ have forgotten to turn it off.

Can Should Couldn’t Must

 Back to the
Rule

Quit
 Awesome!!!

Quit Continue
 Should + Have + Past Participle

 to criticize some action in the past that did

not happen.
Examples:
 I feel sick now, I should not have eaten so much
chocolate.
 I am so sorry to hear that you got a bad grade for
this class, you should have studied more.
Back to section four Take the test
Choose the correct modal verb

 The driver in the front stopped so suddenly

without warning, I drove into the back of his
car. It wasn’t my fault. He ______ have
stopped so suddenly.

Can’t Shouldn’t Wouldn’t May not

Back to the
Rule
Well Done!!!
 Would + Have + Past Participle

 to talk about unreal situations in the past,

usually in If sentences.
Examples:
 Why didn’t you call me? I would have come and
helped you, and you wouldn’t have received this bill.
 If I had known that you were in Washington DC,I
would have made arrangements to see you.
Back to section four Take the test
Choose the correct modal verb

 If you had been more careful, you _____

have broken this vase.

Wouldn’t Can’t Shouldn’t May not

Back to the
Rule
Yey!!!
 Section Five
Final Test

I challenge you to take this

Quit Continue
Choose a Test Question Number

One Five

Two Four

Three
#1. Choose the best answer

 You _____ break the body but you _____

break the spirit.

may / can not

could / can not

must / should

can / might not

Back to the
Rule
 Good Job!!!

Back to section five

#2. Choose the best answer

 He knew perfectly well that he ______ it but

he wouldn't admit it.

shouldn't have done

Should do

Must have done

Can do
Back to the
Rule
 Outstanding!!!

Back to section five

#3. Choose the best answer

 Oh, Mary, you ______ a lie to your mother.

She _______ you.

shouldn't tell / could have helped

should tell / might have helped

mustn’t have told / could help

shouldn't have told / could have helped

Back to the
Rule
 Bravo!!!

Back to section five

#4. Choose the best answer
 If I had gone to the University of Miami, I ________
participated in their Spanish immersion program.

Could have

Should have

Must have

Can have
Back to the
Rule
 Spot on!!!

Back to section five

#5. Choose the best answer
 You have no temperature now, so you needn't stay in bed any
longer. You ___ eat what ever you like, but you ... drink any
alcohol until you have finished taking tablets. And you ... stay
indoors for three-four days. After you ... go out for short walks.
If you want to get well soon you ... to follow all these
instructions.
could/need/don't have to/must/must

might/could/had to/could/are able

have to/might/had to/could/should

can/mustn't/should/can/will have
 Back to
review
section two

Back to
review
section three

Back to
review
section four
 Wow!!!

Back to section five

For more Information about English
Modal verbs please

Click here
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