Encourage Use of Modals

Getting the students to use modal verbs in speech shouldnt be too difficult. Pose various
questions such as, What will you do tonight? The student will then be likely to answer with,
I will watch TV. Retort with, What should you do tonight? The appropriate answer should
then be, I should do my homework. Simple questions like this will allow the students to use
them more and get them into their heads more easily.

2
Point Out Mistakes
When speaking or writing, it is always important to point out mistakes. For small ones, this is
easy to forget. Particularly for beginner teachers, one might not want to do this for a number
of reasons. Perhaps they feel bad about constantly interrupting the student when he or she is
speaking. Regardless, it is important to make sure that they are aware of where they went
wrong in order for them to improve. See our other article 5 Non-Verbal Ways to Do Error
Correction.

3
Practice and Repeat
When it comes to language learning, repetition is definitely the key. Telling a story or reading
an article will probably help in this regard. Post questions as to why a specific modal goes in
one place, rather than another. This will get them thinking about the logic that goes with it.

4
Fill in the Blanks Exercise
Often a very simple way of teaching any form of grammar structure. The students will then
have to think about why a specific verb goes in certain places. Try and get them to construct
their own sentences as well.

5
Advice Column
This can be a very effective method. Try and print off articles from the Internet which come
from magazine advice columns and agony aunt pages. By reading this, one will be able to
highlight the importance of modals and point out where they are used most frequently.

6
Tell a Story
Another great method is in the art of storytelling. Allow the students to make up their own
story. Get them to put the character in specific situations, whereby they will have a choice
between, for example, what theyshould do and what they cant do.

Travel Tips
Another exercise would be to read an article or travel document about a specific area. This
will often be filled with plenty of modals for students to practice on.

8
Asking for Directions Role Play
A directions role play often helps. When the students are proficient enough, get them to
construct their own using the modals. This will give them a chance to show off their production
skills.

9
Conclusions
Putting a sentence on the board, such as, Larry walked into the warehouse and found a dead
body. Get the students to find a conclusion e.g.: There might have been a killer on the
loose. Someone may have had an accident. Etc.

10
Songs
Song is of course another great way of teaching language. Have a look for some catchy tunes
on the Net, as there are plenty that are rife with modal verbs. Teaching them to students will
add a little bit of fun to the class and allow them to practice using the modals as well! See our
section ESL Songs For Teaching English for some ideas.
Modal Verbs Using CANT & MUST
Section A:

Modals of probability and deduction Using CAN and MUST

Fill in the gaps with the right modal of deduction. Use CANT or MUST.
1. You've been working all night long. You ______ be tired.
2. That doctor _______ be pretty famous in the town. Everyone knows him.
3. That restaurant _________ be very good. It is always empty.
4. The weather was stormy everyday during their holiday, so they _______ have had a very nice holiday.
5. Despite his wife's illness, the baby was delivered safely. The couple ______ be very happy and
relieved.
6. You got here very quickly. You _______ have taken a taxi.
7. Tim and Lucy go away on holiday very often, so they _______ have a lot of savings in their account.
Section B:

Modals of deduction Using CANT HAVE, MUST HAVE

Choose the best answer to explain these given situations.

1. The coat you bought is of very good quality.

a) It must have been very expensive.

b) It can't have been very expensive
2. My friend Christine walked past me without speaking.
a) She must have seen me.
b) She can't have seen me.
3. The phone rang but I didn't hear it.
a) I must have been asleep.
b) I can't have been asleep.
4. I haven't seen our neighbours for ages.
a) They must have gone away.
b) They can't have gone away.
5. I can't find my mobile phone.
a) I can't have left it in the restaurant we had dinner at last evening.
b) I must have left it in the restaurant we had dinner at last evening.
6. Dan passed his exams with excellent grades, despite not having prepared for it.
a) The exam must have been very difficult.
b) The exam can't have been very difficult.
7. The police knew every detail of their phone conversation.
a) They can't have done some wiretapping.
b) They must have done some wiretapping.
1. CAN and COULD
Can and could are modal verbs. They are used with other verbs to convey ideas such as possibility, permission, etc.
We use can:

to talk about possibility and ability;

EXAMPLE: I can ride a horse.

EXAMPLE: He can speak three languages.

to make requests or give orders;

EXAMPLE: Can you buy me a can of beer?

EXAMPLE: Can you complete now what you are doing?

to ask for or give permission.

EXAMPLE: Can I come in now?

Note: we may also use could, may and might for permission.

when we decide we are able to do something for the present orfuture.

EXAMPLE: We can have our dinner now.

EXAMPLE: We can go swimming tomorrow.
Could is one of the modal verbs. We use could:

as the past tense of can.

EXAMPLE: Jane said she could get the tickets for us.

when we wish to be very polite.

EXAMPLE: Could I go now, please?

to show what was possible in the past.

EXAMPLE: He could cycle when he was four years old.

to ask someone to do something.

EXAMPLE: Could you buy some cigarettes for me?

to show the ability to do something.

EXAMPLE: My grandmother could speak Spanish.

to show that one is allowed to do something.

EXAMPLE: We could choose to do the course we wanted.

for an action now or in the future.

EXAMPLE: It's a nice day. We could go for a walk.

EXAMPLE: When I go to London next week, I could stay with my uncle

for something that should have been done in the past.

EXAMPLE: I was so tired. I could have slept the whole day.

with present perfect tense for things which were possible to happenbut didn't or an event which we are not sure a

EXAMPLE: You could have taken a different route to avoid the traffic jam.
EXAMPLE: He could have broken the glass. / She couldn't have broken the glass.
Points to note:

We do not use can with infinitive verb.

EXAMPLE: We can play football today. (NOT: We can to play football today.)

We commonly use Can I to offer to do something

EXAMPLE: Can I help you to do it?

Sometimes it is necessary to use (be) able to in place of can.

EXAMPLE: I can't contact him. / I haven't been able to contact him for two days. (It is not possible to use can with prese

Where the subject is singular, we do not add s to the verb followingcan or could

EXAMPLE: He can swim. (NOT: He can swims.)

EXAMPLE: We could smell burning. (NOT: We could smells burning)

Could is less sure than can, so we use could when we do not really mean what we say.

EXAMPLE: I am so hungry. I could eat the whole chicken. (NOT: I can eat the whole chicken)

MAY and MIGHT

We use may or might to:

make a suggestion or an assumption.

EXAMPLE: Everyone is looking for George. He may/might be in the toilet.

indicate that something is a possibility.

EXAMPLE: What we are told may/might be true

possibly take the place of could.

EXAMPLE: That man over there looks like Mike. He could/may/might be Mike.

say about something that is possible to happen in the future.

EXAMPLE: We may visit them in Birmingham for the summer holidays.

EXAMPLE: They might go out later when the weather improves.
(For these two examples, we can also use might visit or may go.)

For something that happened in the past, we can use may have ormight have.

EXAMPLE: She may have been asleep when the burglar entered the house.
EXAMPLE: The police think he might have seen the robbery and are looking for him.

We use might, and not may, for an unreal situation.

EXAMPLE: If I met her again, I might ask for her telephone number.
(It is quite unlikely that I meet her again, so I dont get to ask for her telephone number. We do not
use may here.)

We can use the continuing form with may/might.

EXAMPLE: I may/might be reading in the library this evening.

We can use be going with may/might.

EXAMPLE: We may/might be going to Australia next month. // Wemay/might go to

Australia next month. (These sentences do not change in meaning)
WILL and WOULD
We use will and would

for polite questions.

EXAMPLE: Will/would you phone me later?

for invitations

EXAMPLE: Will/would join us for a drink?

for offering something

EXAMPLE: Would/wouldn't you like a coffee or tea?

for asking someone to do something

EXAMPLE: Will/would you please top grumbling about the weather?

SHOULD
We use should

for a strong suggestion.

EXAMPLE: You should go back to him. (It's not a 'must' but it would be good to do so.)

for advice and recommendations.

EXAMPLE: You should not be going now. It's going to rain anytime.

for something that is right or morally right to do.

EXAMPLE: You should cut down on your heavy drinking.

when something is not right or normal.

EXAMPLE: They should be queuing up

for something or something fair to happen.

EXAMPLE: She has been shoplifting, so she should be caught.

for the present moment.

EXAMPLE: You look tired. You should go to bed now.

in place of ought to. (No difference in meaning here.)

EXAMPLE: I think you should/ought to make more time for yourself to relax.

with if.

EXAMPLE: If Jane should come while I'm out, please tell her to wait

MUST

We use must when we feel something is true.

EXAMPLE: You have been talking for so long your mouth must be very dry now

We use must when it is necessary to do something.

EXAMPLE: I haven't seen my parents for a long while. I must visit them at the weekend.

We can use must for the present or future.

EXAMPLE: We must leave now before the weather gets worse.

EXAMPLE: We must leave very early tomorrow or we will be late.

We use must have for something that we think happened in the past.

EXAMPLE: He must have gone out while I was sleeping

HAD BETTER

We usually use had better to give advice or warning or make asuggestion about something bad
that is likely to happen.

EXAMPLE: You are coughing loudly. You had better see a doctor.
EXAMPLE: I am overeating. I had better go on a diet.
EXAMPLE: We think she had better not befriend him. He is a drug addict.

Had better can be replaced by should/ought to and retain the meaning.

EXAMPLE: You are coughing loudly. You should/ought to see a doctor.

EXAMPLE: I am overeating. I should/ought to go on a diet.
EXAMPLE: We think she should/ought to befriend him. He is a drug addict
HAVE TO
We use have to:

to show it is necessary to do something.

EXAMPLE: I have to leave now as they are waiting for me.

when circumstances dictate that we do something.

EXAMPLE: He has to see the doctor every month to treat his skin disorder.

for the present or future.

EXAMPLE: All of us have to attend a meeting now.

EXAMPLE: We have to work late tomorrow.

with the past tense.

EXAMPLE: We had to do the training in order to be eligible.

in place of have got to. There is no difference in meaning.

EXAMPLE: I have to/have got to give a talk tomorrow.

Modals - English Grammar

1) can
Use

Examples

ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to

be able to)

I can speak English.

permission to do sth. in the present (substitute

form: to be allowed to)

Can I go to the cinema?

request

Can you wait a moment, please?

offer

I can lend you my car till tomorrow.

suggestion

Can we visit Grandma at the weekend?

possibility

It can get very hot in Arizona.

2) could
Use

Examples

ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be

able to)

I could speak English.

permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to

I could go to the cinema.
be allowed to)
polite question *

Could I go to the cinema, please?

polite request *

Could you wait a moment, please?

polite offer *

I could lend you my car till tomorrow.

polite suggestion *

Could we visit Grandma at the weekend?

possibility *

It could get very hot in Montana.

3) may
Use

Examples

possibility

It may rain today.

permission to do sth. in the present (substitute

form: to be allowed to)

May I go to the cinema?

polite suggestion

May I help you?

4) might
Use

Examples

possibility (less possible than may) *

It might rain today.

hesitant offer *

Might I help you?

5) must
Use

Examples

force, necessity

I must go to the supermarket today.

possibility

You must be tired.

advice, recommendation

You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.

6) must not/may not

Use

Examples

prohibition

You mustn't work on dad's computer.

You may not work on dad's computer.

7) need not
Use

Examples

not necessary

I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the

restaurant tonight.

8) ought to
Use

Examples

advice

You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.

obligation

You ought to switch off the light when you leave

the room.

9) shall

instead of will in the 1st person

Use

Examples

suggestion

Shall I carry your bag?

10) should
Use

Examples

advice

You should drive carefully in bad weather.

obligation

You should switch off the light when you leave the
room.

11) will
Use

Examples

wish, request, demand, order (less polite than

would)

Will you please shut the door?

prediction, assumption

I think it will rain on Friday.

promise

I will stop smoking.

spontaneous decision

Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will.

habits

She's strange, she'll sit for hours without talking.

12) would
Use

Examples

wish, request (more polite than will)

Would you shut the door, please?

habits in the past

Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.

* no past forms - future forms

Worksheet: Modal Verbs for Expressing Obligation
Directions: Write the missing word in each sentence. Choose from the modal verbs in the box below.
will

must

should

can

may

could

might

1. You _______________ borrow the books in this section of the library.

2. To apply for financial aid, you _______________ fill out an application form.
3. We _______________ need to get some milk on the way home.

4. Students _______________ stay home if they have the flu.

5. You _______________ leave your coats on the bed in the other room.
6. You _______________ clean up your room before you go outside.
7. He _______________ take a biology class in the spring.
8. I think you _______________ wear your blue shirt with those pants.
9. You _______________ fix those shoes with some shoe glue.
10. You _______________ want to try on some of the salad.
11. You _______________ check to see if that book is available on-line.
12. You _______________ make a copy of this document.
13. You _______________ be nice to your little brother.
14. You _______________ have automobile insurance to drive a car in California.Worksheet: Modal
Verbs for Expressing Obligation
Answer Key
Directions: Write the missing word in each sentence. Choose from the modal verbs in the box below.
will

must

should

can

may

could

might

1. You may borrow the books in this section of the library. (can is also acceptable. Discuss.)
2. To apply for financial aid, you must fill out an application form.
3. We might need to get some milk on the way home. (may is also acceptable. Discuss.)
4. Students should stay home if they have the flu. (must is also acceptable. Discuss.)
5. You can leave your coats on the bed in the other room.
6. You will clean up your room before you go outside. (should and must are also acceptable.
Discuss)
7. He may take a biology class in the spring. (must and will are also acceptable. Discuss.)
8. I think you should wear your blue shirt with those pants.
9. You could fix those shoes with some shoe glue.
10. You might want to try on some of the salad.
11. You could see if the book is available on-line. (might and should are also acceptable. Discuss)
12. You can make a copy of this document.
13. You will be nice to your little brother. (must and should are also acceptable. Discuss.)

14. You must have automobile insurance to drive a car in California.