12410 modals part 1

Modal auxiliary verbs are verbs that cannot stand alone in a sentence; they must
be followed by a main verb which is always in the infinitive.
e.g. He can speak three languages.
She must take care of her teeth.

It expresses:
• Ability to do something
e.g. Birds can fly
• Polite request
e.g. Can you help me with my grammar
exercise?
• Ask for Permission
e.g. Can I leave now?
• Forbidding doing something
e.g. You can’t smoke in this area.
• Possibility
e.g. This potion can kill anyone.

It expresses
• Ask for Permission:
May I borrow your umbrella, please?
• Future Possibility (not sure):
William didn’t come to school today. He
may be ill.
• Wish:
May God bless you.

It expresses
• Past ability
He could lift 50 kilos when he was young
Formal requests

Could you leave your luggage here, please?
•

• Ask for permission
Could I stay here, please?

It expresses
• Remote possibility (less sure):
There are no clouds in the sky but it might
rain.
• Warning
Don’t swim here; you might be attacked by
sharks
• Suggestion
“I need to buy some cloths” “well you might
come with me I’m going to do some shopping
as well.”


It expresses:
•

Obligation:

e.g. In Algeria, car drivers must attach
their security belt.
•

Prohibition (negative obligation)
e.g. You mustn’t drive so fast.

Affirmative form: “have to” expresses
• Obligation
e.g. In Algeria pupils have to wear
pinafores.
Negative form “don’t have to” expresses
• Lack of obligation
e.g. You don’t have to do all the work today,
you can finish it tomorrow.
In the past tense “had to” expresses
• Obligation in the past
e.g. I had to finish all the work before noon.

1....... God give you success in your work!
2. He ........ dance the Salsa when he was young.
3.she ........ speak four foreign languages.
4. Anyone ........ make such mistakes.
5. I'm afraid I ........ not tell you her secret.
6. They ........ not understand it because it was too difficult.
7. We ........ win this match.
8. You ........ have good manners.
9. ........ you live in prosperity!
10. An elephant........ not fly.
11. They ........ finish this work today.
12. We ........ obey our parents.
13. you shouldn’t eat too much sugar. You .... have diabetes.


Consider the situations below and choose the most appropriate modal
from the modals between brackets and put it in each of the blanks.

a. A pedestrian/ in the street
Excuse me, officer, ____________ (may/can/could) you show me the way
to Victoria Station please?
b. A pupil/ in the classroom
________ (could/can/may) I borrow your protractor, said? I’ve forgotten
mine at home.
c. Immigration officer/ at the airport
__________ (can/could/may) I see your passport?
d. In the classroom
Teacher: where’s Marry? Why is she absent?
Pupil: I don’t know. She _________ (can/may/could) be at the hospital.
e. Pupils/ in the headmaster’s office
Pupils: ___________ (can/will/may) we leave now, Mr White?
Headmaster: no, you __________(can’t/may not/couldn’t). you haven’t
answered all my questions.

Put the following modals in the right place: can, could, must, may, might
It is the Election Day, every citizen _______ vote.
It was a bad accident; we ________ have been killed
Mary _________ not be ten. Before two years, she was six years old.
She ______be eight now.
This restaurant is always full of people. It _________ be excellent
My father travelled a lot so he __________ speak five languages.
He told me a strange story but it ___________ be true.
_______ I see your passport, please?
I don’t want anyone to know about our plan. You _________keep the
secret.
It was your fault. You _________ apologize.
I am a tourist and I _____ not find Maqam El Chahid. _______ you
show me the way, sir?

Exercise 1
May – could – can- can –must- could- Can/must- must-may-can-

have to-must-might

Exercise 2:
could- can- may-may-may-may not
Exercise 3
Must- could- can- must- may – can- may- may- must – must- can could