This document provides definitions and examples of common English modal verbs including: can, could, must, may, might, would, have, should, will and going to. It then provides exercises for students to practice using these modal verbs in sentences. The exercises include choosing between will and going to, completing sentences with must not or don't/doesn't have to, and creating sentences using modals and past participles. The document was produced by Viviana Sandoval Arancibia, an English student at USACH, for a grammar workshop focusing on modal verbs.

1. Viviana Sandoval Arancibia
Licenciatura en educación Ingles
Estudiante USACH
Taller de gramática june 18th
“modals”
Definition: it is a type of auxiliary verb that is used to indicate modality – that is, likelihood, ability, permission, and
obligation.
Can or able to: We use can or able to say that something is possible or that someone has the ability to do something.
Could: we use could as the past of can. We also use it to say that someone had the general ability to do something. E.g.
When Joe was 16, he could run 100 meters in 11 seconds.
Must: we use must to say we are sure that something is true and with personal opinions.
e.g the government must do something
May and might: we use them to say that something is possible.may is more probably than might. They are more formal
and to say that something is possible in the past we use may have plus participle. E.g. I suppose she may have been
asleep (perhaps she was asleep)
Would: To ask somebody to do something e.g . Would you do me a favor?
For offering and inviting e.g Would you like a cop of coffe?
I’d like = it is a polite way to say something you want
Have: we use have not to express feelings but when we talk about facts
Should: We usually use it when we give a piece of advice.
For the past we use should have plus participle. E.g. you should have read it.
Will and going to: Both express future but will is less probably than going to or sometimes when
we take decitions at the very same moment we use will
Shall: we usually use it to express future as will but we normally use it with “we and I”
E.g. shall we dance?
Note: You can also mix modals with participles to indicate past

2. Exercises
1) Choose will or going to plus the verb
A: why are you turning on the tv? A: are you going shopping?
B: because I _____________ (watch) the TV. B: yes,_______________ (buy) something for you
A: I’ve got a terrible headache A: I can’t figure up how to use this camara
B: wait here I ____________ (get) some aspirins B: it’s easy I_______________ (show) you
A: Why are you feeling that bucket with water? A: where is George?
B: I________________ wash the car B: probably he ____________ arrive late
A: I’ve decided to repaint this room A: can you fix my bicycle?
B: oh, what color _____________ (you/paint) it. B: ok, but I _________________ (fix) it tomorrow
2) Complete the sentences with must not or don’t/doesn’t have to.
I can stay in bed today because I_________ work tomorrow
You________________ foret what I told you. It is very important
She_________________ get up so early.
We________________ leave yet. We have got plenty of time
I__________________ wear a suit to work but I usually do
You_______________ tell anybody what I told you
3) Create sentences with modals and past participle.
Should ______________________________________________________________________________________
Could _______________________________________________________________________________________
Would______________________________________________________________________________________
May ________________________________________________________________________________________
Might_______________________________________________________________________________________
Note: all handouts are In www.slideshare.net/talleresdeingles
Sources: Grammar in use- Raymond murphy