Modal verbs are helping verbs that provide additional information about the main verb that follows. They indicate things like ability, permission, possibility, obligation, future tense, and more. Some key points about modal verbs: 1. They don't use 's' for third person singular like normal verbs. 2. They make questions through subject-verb inversion like "can she go?" 3. They are followed directly by the infinitive form of the main verb without using "to." Modal verbs have different meanings - may, can, should are used to talk about permission, advice, and possibility. Must and have to express obligation. Modal verbs also indicate levels of certainty from certain to possible.

1. Modal Verbs

2. Modal Verbs
may
can
must should
will
could
might
would
ought to
shall

3. A modal verb is also known as a helping verb.
It gives additional information about the main
verb that follows it.
Examples:
They must go out . Must: Obligation
They go out . Present simple
They should go out . Should: Advice
They may go out . May: possibility
They can go out . Can: permission
They will go out . Will: Future tense

4. A modal verb are different from normal
verbs.
Remember:
1. They don't use an 's' for the third person singular
2. They make questions by inversion ('she can go'
becomes 'can she go?')
3. They are followed directly by the infinitive of another
verb (without 'to')

5. Subject Modal verb Main verb Complement
I
We
They
You
He
She
It
must
can
should
may
will
go to sleep.
drink some water.
eat some food.
do some exercise.
Use the basic form or INFINITIVE of
the main verbs after the modal verbs.

6. Exercise 1:
1. You must (coming / come / came) back home early.
2. My mother can (cooked / cooking / cook) seafood hotpot.
3. I may (finish / finished / finishing) my homework today.
4. Should I (turning / turned / turn) off the TV?
5. My daddy will (bought / buy / buying) me a robot.
_____
_____
_____
____
____
6. Would you (give / giving / gave) me your opinion?
7. You don’t need to (finish / finished / finishing) the homework.
4. You can’t (going / go / went) to the meeting
____
____
____

7. Obligation - opinion
We can use verbs such as 'must’, ’have to’ ‘need
to’ to say when something is necessary or to
express obligation
Examples:
Children must do their homework
You have to go to school
You need to save some money

8. Ability
We use 'can' and 'could' to talk about a skill
or ability
Examples:
She can speak six languages.
My grandfather could play golf very well
I can't drive

9. Permission
We can use verbs such as 'can', 'could’ ‘may’
and ’might’ to ask for and give permission. We
also use modal verbs to say something is not
allowed.
Examples:
Could i leave early today, please?
You may not use the car tonight
Can we swim in the lake
Might i ask a question

10. Request
We can use ’may’, ’can’ ‘could’ ‘will’ or ‘would’ for
making requests. But ‘would’ and ‘could’ are more
formal than ‘will’ and ‘can’
Examples:
Will you help me with the washing-up?
Can you send me the newspaper?
Would you give this ring to Camila
Could i invite my boyfriend to the party?

11. Advice - opinion
We can use ’should’, ’had better’ ‘need to’ to
give an advice or make a suggestion.
Examples:
We should go by train
You had better tell him everything
You need to talk louder

12. Prohibition
We use ’mustn’t’ or ‘can’t’ to show that
something is prohibited or not allowed
Examples:
We musn’t use your phone in class
You can't drive here unless you are over eighteen

13. Absence of obligation
We can use ’don’t have to’ or ‘don’t need to’ to
say when something is necessary or unnecessary
Examples:
We don’t have to go to school today, it’s
sunday
You don’t need to write again the same thing

14. One of the meanings of modal verbs is to do
with degrees of certainty.
Modal verbs can be used to say for instance
that a situation is certain, probable, possible or
impossible.
Certainly (we are absolutely sure about something):
•Will
Possibility (something is possible to happen but we are not sure):
•Can, may, might, could
Positive deduction (we are almost sure that something is true):
•Must
Negative deduction (we are almost sure that something is not true):
• Can’t

15. Let’s look at the modal verbs of deduction.
Use:
• Must: when I’m 100% sure that something
is possible.
• May (not), might (not) and could : when
I’m unsure about something.
• Can’t: when I’m sure that something is not
possible.

16. Let’s practice. Look at the pictures
of some celebrities when they were
young. Guess who they are!
Use:
• Must or can’t if you’re sure
• May (not) or might (not) if you are
unsure.

17. Who is it?
can’t/
must/
may (not)/
might (not)/
He…
be…

18. He _______ be …
• Michael Jackson?
• Sasha Baron Cohen (Borat, Ali G)?
• David Beckham?
• or Eminem?
He might be Eminem

19. Who’s that?

20. Use modal verbs to make your deductions.
• Lady Gaga?
• Madonna?
• Scarlett Johanson?
• Eva Longoria?
• Or Britney Spears?
She can’t be Madonna. She must be Britney Spears

21. Who is it?

22. She _____ be …
• Lady Gaga?
• Madonna?
• Britney Spears?
• Sarah Jessica Parker?
She must be Sarah Jessica Parker

23. Who is it?

24. He ________ be …
• Tom Cruise
• Jack Nicholson
• Leonardo di Caprio
• Orlando Bloom
He may be Leonardo di Caprio

25. Who is it?

26. He ________ be …
• Paul McCartney
• Jack Nicholson
• Leonardo di Caprio
• John Lennon
He could be John Lennon

27. The End