This document provides a concise summary of modals and their uses in 3 sentences: Modals such as may, might, can, could express possibility, while should, ought to, had better give advice. Must, have to, have got to express necessity or obligation. The document defines the meanings and uses of various modals in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences to discuss ability, possibility, necessity, advice, past possibility and regret.

1. Moving past the passive…onto
the last grammar point!

2. Do you know Diann? Well, I just
walked by her classroom and she
wasn’t there.
Where is she?

3. Possibilities
She could be…
She might be…
She may be…

4. What the heck?
You go to your friend’s house, and you see a
brown paper bag on the table. After a minute,
it starts to move.
You hear a ‘meow’ sound coming from the bag.

5. Certain Conclusion
It has to be…
It must be…

6. What are these called?
May
Might
Can
Could
Should
Ought to
Had better
Must
Have to

7. MODALS

8. Can = Ability
A person who can speak 2 languages=

9. Can = Ability
A person who can speak 2 languages=
Bilingual
(bi = 2)

10. A person who can speak 3 languages=

11. A person who can speak 3 languages=
Trilingual
(tri = 3)

12. A person who can speak one language=

13. A person who can speak one language=
American!

14. Modals
Made by Melanie Witt
Adapted by Jessica Montgomerie

15. All Modals
S + modal + base form of verb
He might study tonight.
She has to go.
I could speak when I was 12 months old.

16. Modals of Possibility
•
Use to express possibility about the present or
future
•
May & Might have almost the same meaning
We may go to the movies.
We might go to the movies.
We could go to the movies.

17. May, Might, Could
100% certain
may
might
could
might not
may not
0% certain

18. Should, Ought To, Had Better
• Used to give advice
You should do your homework before class.
You ought to check your tire pressure.
You had better call me when you get home.

19. Necessity; It’s a Rule
Must, Have to, Have got to
100%
Must / Must not
Have to, Have got to
necessary
Don’t have to
0%

20. Must not – It is prohibited
You must not disobey the law.
You must not talk in court.
Don’t have to – It is not necessary. You have a choice.
I don’t have to do homework tonight, yay!
You don’t have to cook dinner. We are going out.

21. Modals
Affirmative – S + Modal + Verb
We should take a vacation.
Negative – S + Modal + Not + Verb
You can’t do that!
Yes/No Question –Modal + S + Verb
Can they ski?

22. Modals
Short Answer – Yes/No + S + Modal
Yes, they can.
No, they can’t.
Information Question – WHQ + Modal + S + Verb
What should I do?
When must you arrive?
Subject Question – Who + Modal + Verb
Who has to attend?
Who might attend?

23. What is possible or necessary
in your country?
- In your country, can citizens make jokes about
the president?

24. 1. Ask your partner questions about his/her
country. Use modals in your questions.
2. Make statements based on your partner’s
answers
Make sure you use
– Must
– Could
– Can
must not
could not
cannot
- Have to
- Don’t have to

25. Homework
1. Write an affirmative, negative, and question
for the following modal functions:
Possibility – 3
Necessity – 3
Advice – 3

26. Bob Dylan
Blowin’ in the Wind
A protest song - Peace, war, freedom
Listen to song and fill in the blanks

29. Bob Dylan
Blowin' In The Wind
How many roads _____________ a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
How many seas must a __________ dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times ______________ the
cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my ___________, is blowin' in the
wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

30. Yes, 'n' how many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years ___________ some
people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how ____________ times can a man
turn his head,
And pretend that he just doesn't __________?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

31. Yes, 'n' how many __________must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears ____________ one man
have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many __________ will it take till he
knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

32. How many roads must a man walk down?
Necessity
- Must
- Have to
- Have got to
How many years can a mountain exist?
Ability
- Can
- Could

33. Modals in the Past
I should have gone to bed earlier last night
because I am tired.
S + Modal + Have + Past Participle
I + should + have + gone

34. Past Possibility
What happened?

35. Past Possibility
May, Might, Could
The fisherman may have been lucky.
He might have caught the fish by himself.
He could have had help from his friends.

36. Past Probability
Must have + Past Participle
– To make statements that are deductions
or logical conclusions
The fisherman must have caught the fish.

37. Past Regret
• Should have + Past Participle
• Shouldn’t have + Past Participle
• Ought to have + Past Participle
You shouldn’t have done that!

38. Uh-oh! I spent all my money!

39. • I should have saved my money. (regret)
• I shouldn’t have gone shopping every
week. (regret)
• I ought to have been more careful with
my money. (regret)
• I could have waited until next month to
buy that jacket. (possibility)

40. Homework
Write about a mistake that you
regret. What should you have done
instead? Write a paragraph of 10
sentences.
Use each of these at least once with
the past perfect: “could,” “should,”
“shouldn’t,” and “ought to.”