This document discusses modal verbs in Arabic such as must, can, should, and mustn't. It provides examples of how modal verbs add an extra meaning of obligation, permission, prohibition, ability, possibility, certainty, or advice to sentences. It then lists different modal verbs and the meanings they express such as must for obligation, can for ability, could for ability in the past, might for probability, may for permission, need for necessity, and should/ought to for advice. Multiple choice questions are provided testing understanding of the different modal verbs.

1. By EL Mehdi Majt
‫عربي‬ ‫ابن‬ ‫التأهيلية‬ ‫الثانوية‬

2. Modal verbs are words for example:
 Must
 Can
 should
 When we add modal verbs to a sentence; they give an extra meaning (‫إضافي‬ ‫معنى‬ ); for example:
 Muslims pray five times a day  Muslims must pray five times a
day
 Meaning of obligation
 I don’t eat fast food  I mustn’t eat fast food
 Meaning of prohibition

3. Modal Verb Expressing Example
must
I must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
He must be very tired after such enormous work
must not You must not smoke in the hospital.
can I can swim
Can I use your phone please?
Smoking can cause cancer!
could
When I was younger I could stay up all night and not get tired.
Excuse me, could I just say something?
It could rain tomorrow!
may May I use your phone please?
It may rain tomorrow!
might Might I use your phone please?
I might come and visit you in America next year, if I can save enough
money.
need Need I say more?
need not I need not buy any tomatoes. There are plenty in the fridge.
should/ought to
I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache.
You should / ought to revise your lessons
He should / ought to be very tired after such enormous work
100 % obligation
logical conclusion (deduction)
certainty
ability
permission
possibility
ability in the past
polite permission
possibility
permission
possibility, probability
more polite permission
probability
necessity
absence of obligation
50 % obligation
advice
logical conclusion
prohibition

4.  1. Abe should call the doctor for help when he’s sick. a. obligation
 2. Children must go to school. b. ability in the
past
 3. He might join us later, he is not sure. c. probability
 4. Jack couldn't write it yesterday. d. necessity
 5. Can I use your phone? e .
certainty
 6. She must be sick, she was earing a t-shirt under the rain. f. prohibition
 7. Joe needs to read more books. g. permission
 8. We mustn’t lie to others. h. advice
 9. When I was young, I could write poem. i.
inability
a
h
c
i
g
e
d
f
b

5. 1. It's a hospital. You ………………… smoke.
2. Take an umbrella. It ………………… rain tomorrow.
3. Drivers ………………… stop when the traffic lights are red.
4. …………………I ask you a question? Yes, of course.
5. I ………………… swim quite well when I was younger.
mustn ’t
may
must
can
could