This document discusses English modal verbs. It covers simple modal verbs like can, may, must and their functions. It also discusses past forms of modal verbs like could, would, should and might. Compound modal verbs are also mentioned. The document is divided into sections covering basic information, simple modal verbs, past forms, and a final test. It provides examples and exercises to illustrate the proper uses and functions of different modal verbs in English.

1. English Modal Verbs ?

2. Section Four
Compound Modal
Verbs and their
functions
Section Two
Simple Modal
Verbs
Section Three
Past forms of
Modal Verbs and
their functions
Section One
Basic Information
about Modal Verbs
Section Five
Final Test

3. What are Modal Verbs ?
 Modal verbs are special verbs which
behave very differently from normal
verbs. Here are some important
differences:

4. What all are modal verbs?
• Can, could, able to – modal verbs to express ability
• Can, can’t, could, may: modal verbs for permission
•Modal verbs of deduction: must, can’t, may, might, could
• Should – to express weak obligation, advice
• Should have – to express unfulfilled obligation in the
past

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 1
2
3

8. Which sentence has a modal verb?
 Now we should not argue on this topic ,lets change
the topic.
 Can you tell me about Indore . I am new here
 We may visit our grandpa, we have not seen him since Chr

9. Please choose the correct sentence
 He cans climb the rocks.
 He can climb the rocks.
 He canned climb the rocks.

10. 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 smoke fre
 He should not procrastinate his assignments, he m

11. Section Two
Simple Modal
Verbs
“Can”
“May”
“Must”

12. 1. to express general ability
2. to express possibility / impossibility
3. to ask a permission (informal)

13. 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?

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

15. EXAMPLES:
 He may come late today.
 You may use my Computer now.
 May I make a phone call?

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

17. 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.

18.  If you want to get a better feeling for how the
city is laid out, you_______________ walk
downtown and explore the waterfront.
Choose the best answer
Will DoCan

19.  Today is cloudy, it ________________ rain.
Choose the best answer
May CanDoes

20. Choose the best answer
 Ted's flight from Uzbekistan took more than
11 hours. He ________________ be
exhausted after such a long flight.
May MustCan

21. “Could”
“Would” “Should”
“Might”
Section Three
Past forms of
Modal Verbs and
their functions

22. 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

23. EXAMPLES:
 We tried hard but we could not persuade them to
come with us.
 My grandfather could not swim.
 When you go to USA, 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.

24. 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)

25. 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 to
complete my work.

26. 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

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30.  Your brother was ill, therefore he _____ go
out for a walk.
# 1. Choose the correct modal verb
Can’t Mustn’t Couldn’t

31.  Mr. Gupta said if she wasn’t busy at 10
o'clock, she ____ come to see her.
# 1. Choose the correct verb
May CanWould Must

32.  This house ____ look better if they painted it
and cut the grass and planted flowers.
# 2. Choose the correct modal verb
May Can WouldMust

33.  The Sheriff demands that all the
eyewitnesses _____ be questioned
immediately.
# 2.Choose the correct modal verb
WouldShouldMust Could

34.  He said that I ____ play any CD from your
collection while you were gone.
# 1. Choose the correct modal verb
May Should Must Might

35. For more Information about Modal
verbs please meet me in class 8th
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