Pre-intermediate Level

At pre-intermediate level we often introduce modal verbs of permission and obligation.

Modal verbs are verbs such as can, must, may etc. which are always followed by another verb but they tell us
the function of that main verb.

For example, ‘you can run’ is very different in meaning from ‘you must run’. Many pre-intermediate students
will have heard a lot of these verbs before but may not be completely sure of their meaning.

Especially because some of the modals of permission/obligation (must, may, can, should, have to) have
negatives (must not, may not, don’t have to etc.) which aren’t exactly opposite in meaning.

There are numerous resources online and in EFL books which cover this topic but an idea of how to present
the lesson is shown below.

 Write the title ‘School Rules’ on the board and try to elicit as many as possible from the students e.g.
‘you must switch off mobile phones in class’, ‘you have to wear a school uniform’ etc.
 Go back through the rules and highlight all the modals of permission/obligation. If there are any
missing you can try to elicit them by writing the first letter of each in hangman-style (e.g. m_ _ ) until
all are on the board.
 Write a list of definitions on the board or have a handout prepared and ask students to match the
modals (positive and negative versions) up with each definition.

Lets look at some modal verbs. Please note, as will all these question types, you need to drag all the answers
into the correct zones.

Drag and drop the modal verbs.

It is obligatory
It is possible
It is advisable
It is forbidden
It isn't necessary
It is inadvisable
must
may not
may
cannot
must not
should
can
have to
shouldn't
don't have to
Check answer
It’s then important to highlight that whilst certain modals have the exact opposite meaning in the negative form
(should/shouldn’t) others change meaning in the negative (have to=obligation/don’t have to=possible but not
necessary NOT forbidden).
 After this you can ask students to imagine their ideal school and write their own set of rules using a
variety of the modals covered, bringing together ideas from each individual/group to make a full set
which have a general consensus.