MODAL VERBS

us y i . . .?
I m t... I c an . . . Ma
hou l d . . .
Is
 MODAL VERB
is an auxiliary verb that
expresses necessity or
possibility.
 O D ALS
M 1 Expressing
Possibility

2 Expressing
Obligation

3
Expressing
Ability

4 Asking
for/Giving
Permission
 sing
s
re
LI T Y I can speak
p
Ex

three
ABI

languages.
Modals: can, could
I can play the piano. Can you swim?

CAN
I can’t speak Polish.
Truths and a Lie

I can make homemade kimchi.

I can run for a really long time without
stopping.
I can study for 6 hours without taking a break.

Two are true but the other one is false. Students

surf
have to grill with questions for 2-3 minutes to
find out which! Then, students take turns playing speak Spanish

with each other.

write a blog
record video
kayaking bake a cake
 ssing
re
T I O N
p

A
Ex

I should visit
OBL I G

a dentist.
Modals: should, have to, must
 You should buy a new laptop. Should I call him?

SHO
ULD

You shouldn't launch this project

 It’s too late. I must go home.
F O RM You have to follow the rules.

You don't have to come to

You mustn't smoke here.
school on Sundays.

Must you spoil everything? "Do you have to go?" "Yes, I'm
afraid I really have to."

MU E T O
HAV
ST
 There is a BIG difference in meaning between
Mustn’t and Don’t have to.

Mustn’t means something is Don’t have to means there is NO

prohibited or it is not allowed. obligation to do something.
It is important that you do You are not required to do
NOT do something something.

You mustn’t tell John. You don’t have to tell John.

= Do not tell John. = you can tell John if you want
= You are not allowed to to but it is not necessary. You
tell John. decide if you want to.
MU E TO
HAV
ST
Guess the Job.

You can start this activity by brainstorming a

job. After that you should construct
sentences like “you must take care of
students,” “you don’t have to wear a uniform”
and “you mustn’t be late for class.”. Your
work shifts
opponent has to guess the job.
do overtime

wear uniform

have special
work in a team work outdoors
qualification
Let’s practice. Complete the sentences with MUSTN’T or
DON’T HAVE TO.
1. You ________ come if you don’t want to.
2. I ________ be at the meeting but I think I’ll go anyway.
3. Passengers ________ speak to the driver.
4. You ________ eat it if you don’t like it.
5. In boxing, you ________ hit your opponent below the belt.
6. They ________ talk to each other during the exam.
7. You ________ pay for your tickets now but you can if you want.
8. You ________ play with those wires. They’re dangerous.
9. The entrance is free of charge, so you _______ buy a ticket.
10. You ______sleep late today, you have an essential meeting in the morning.
11. This is our gift to you. You _______need to give it back to us.
12. The sign said that one ______ eat in the library.
13. It's Friday today. I_______ do any homework.
 essing
pr
B I L I T Y
Ex
POSSI

It might rain
today!
Modals: may, might,
There is a chance of something being true or there is a possibility of
something happening.

Note: Might is used more frequently than May in spoken English.

I think she may win the singing competition There is a chance of

because her voice is amazing. something being true
or there is a possibility
Take an umbrella, it might rain later.
of something
They might be late because of the bus strike. happening.
 r giving
o
or
S I O N
IS
f
g

Can I take
Askin

P E RM

your charger?

Modals: may, can, could

 How To Use Permission Words: Can, Could, May

Note: May sounds more polite than using Can or Could when asking for permission.

May I have some water, please?

May I borrow your dictionary?
‘May’ is used in more formal
May I use the bathroom, please?
contexts to indicate that someone is
allowed to do something.
You can travel oversea because Example: Students may bring
Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. English dictionaries for the
Can I ask a question? exams
Students could use the
swimming pool.
 Choose the correct words to complete the rules below.

a) We use can when we talk about something which is possible/not possible.

b) We use can’t when we talk about something which is possible/not possible.
c) We use should/shouldn’t when we give advice/allow something.
d) We use have to when we talk about rules/advice or something necessary/not
necessary.
e) We use don’t have to when we talk about something necessary/not necessary,
but possible/not possible

You can always ask for help if you need it. May I borrow your pen? I have to finish this task quickly.

You don’t have to pay. The tour is free. If you want to get to university, you should study harder.
Choose a topic and give tips and rules by completing the sentences below.

You can ............

You can’t ………
You should ………… Travelling to
You shouldn’t ……… another country
Visiting your
You have to ………… relatives
Going to the job
You don’t have to …... interview

First day at work

Going on the date

Flying for the first Going on safari
time
might, have to, can, could, should, must
01 02 03 04
Mum ____ take You ____ eat a We ____ go the You____ go to
us swimming banana other way – it’s bed earlier.
after school. instead of quicker.
those sweets.

05 06 07
You ____ be He’s so fast, he I’m fed up with
hot in that _____ win the my long hair. I
thick coat. race. _____ have it cut.
might, have to, can, could, should, must
01 02 03 04
Mum might You could eat a We can go the You have to go
take us banana other way – it’s to bed earlier.
swimming instead of quicker.
after school. those sweets.

05 06 07
You must be He’s so fast, he I’m fed up with
hot in that should win the my long hair. I
thick coat. race. might have it cut.
Choose The Right Modal Verb
1. There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. You mustn't/should not buy any.
2. This is a hospital. You mustn't/don't have to smoke here.
3. He had been working for more than 11 hours. He must/had be tired after such hard
work. He should/must better prefer to get some rest.
4. I could/can/must speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Morocco.
5. The teacher said we can/should read this book for our own pleasure as it is
optional. But we couldn't/mustn't read it if we don't want to.
6. May/Can you stand on your head for more than a minute? No, I may not/can't.
7. If you want to learn to speak English fluently, you shouldn't/mustn't worry. We will
help you become a fluent speaker but you have to work hard.
8. Take an umbrella. It should/might rain later.
9. You shouldn't/may not leave small objects lying around. Such objects
must/may/mustn't be swallowed by children.
10. People couldn't/mustn't walk on the grass.
11. Drivers could/must stop when the traffic lights are red.
12. May/Must I ask a question? Yes, of course.
13. You couldn't/may not take your umbrella. It is not raining.
14. Can/May you speak Italian? No, I may not/can't.