MODAL VERBS

1) Choose the correct alternative:

1-You MUSTN'T / NEEDN'T go to all the skiing classes, but you'll improve quicker if you do.
2-You SHOULD / HAVE TO take some snowboarding lessons and then you won't fall over so
often.
3-The mountain is dangerous in bad weather, so you MUSTN'T / DON'T HAVE TO climb it.
4-You HAVE TO / SHOULD try a new sport, then you won't be bored in the holidays.
5-You MUST / CAN’T go to a few classes, then you won't feel so nervous when it's your turn to
do the sky-diving.
6-All racing drivers SHOULD / HAVE TO wear crash helmets in this competition.
7-You MUST / CAN be tired if you didn't sleep last night.
8-He hasn't got a ring, so he CAN'T / MUSTN'T be married.
9-James isn't here. He CAN / COULD be in his room. I'm not sure.
10-Dan MIGHT NOT / CAN'T get the job. He hasn't got much experience.
11-I don't believe in the paranormal. Ghosts CAN'T / MIGHT NOT exist, it's impossible.
12-Everyone is laughing! The film MUST / MIGHT be really funny.
13-You MUST / CAN'T be hungry again. We've just eaten.

2) Complete the sentences with the modals below.

shouldn’t ■ mustn’t ■ might ■ don’t have to■ must ■

could ■ can’t ■ have to

1. That. .. .. . .. . .be Mary. She’s away on holiday. But that girl really resembles her.
2. Remember – you.. .. . .. . .use your mobile phone on the plane. It’s not allowed.
3. ............ I have a glass of water, please?
4. In my opinion, she........... leave her job. She hates it.
5. We. .. .. . .. . . give the dog so much food. I think he’s getting a bit fat.
6. They. .. . .. . .. .share a flat again next year but they’re still not certain.
7. I……………get up early. It is Sunday.
8. You.. .. . .. . .. . be so hungry! Otherwise, you wouldn’t be eating these disgusting chips!
 Modal Verbs
We never use them on their own, but always with another 'main' verb. They are auxiliary verbs
which indicate attitudes of the speaker toward another verb.
Modal verbs don't take ‘s’ in the third person: She may like to go to cinema. ( not She mays)
After modal verbs, we use the infinitive without ‘to’: I must go home.
To make a modal verb negative, we use 'not' (or the contraction: 'n't'). e.g. She can't sing.
To make a question, we invert the modal verb and the subject. Can I help you?
The meaning of modal verbs can be difficult because they all have more than one meaning,
e.g. She can't swim. (she does not have the skill or ability).
You can't eat in here. (You are not allowed to)

MODAL VERBS FUNCTIONS EXAMPLES

CAN/CAN’T Expresses:
• Ability She can play the piano.
I can’t dance.
• Request Can I borrow your book?
• Offer Can I help you?
• permission You can leave earlier.
COULD Expresses:
• ability I could play the piano when I was
• permission four.
• request Could I use your phone?
Could you open the door?
MAY Expresses:
• permission You may go outside.
• request May, I open the window please?
• probability It may snow tomorrow.
MUST Expresses:
• obligation You must obey the rules.
• necessity I must stay at home because is
raining.
MUSTN’T Expresses:
• prohibition You mustn’t shout in the class.
SHOULD Expresses:
• advice You should study more.
• moral duty We should protect the environment.
WOULD Expresses:
• offer Would you like some coffee?
• invitation Would you like to go to the book
shop?
HAVE TO/HAS TO Expresses:
• obligation I have to wear uniform at work.
DON’T HAVE TO • absence of You don’t have to pay for the course.
obligation It’s free.