Year 5 – Autumn Block 3 – Modal Verbs – Recognising Modal Verbs

About This Resource:

This PowerPoint has been designed to support your teaching of this small step. It includes a starter activity and an example of
each question from the Varied Fluency and Application and Reasoning resources also provided in this pack. You can choose to
work through all examples provided or a selection of them depending on the needs of your class.

National Curriculum Objectives:

English Year 5: (5G4.1c) Indicating degrees of possibility using modal verbs [for example, might, should, will, must]
Terminology for pupils:
• (5G4.1c) modal verb

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 Year 5 – Autumn Block 3 – Modal Verbs – Recognising Modal Verbs

Notes and Guidance

• In this step, children will learn to recognise modal verbs in sentences. The modal verbs are: can, could, may, might, shall,
should, must, will, would, ought to.
• Children need to know that modal verbs work with another verb to indicate the possibility of something. They tell you
how certain, how necessary or how able the other verb is, e.g. ‘It will rain today.’ indicates that it is certain, whereas ‘It
may rain today.’ indicates that there is also a possibility that it won’t rain.
• Children should also know that modal verbs are always in the same form such as may, can or should. Modal verbs do not
have any other forms, i.e. mayed or maying.
• Children should also be taught that most modal verbs are followed by the base form of the verb with exceptions being the
semi-modal verbs, for example, ought and used which are followed by the infinitive e.g. ought to be, used to be.

Focused Questions

• What does a modal verb tell you?

• How certain/necessary/able is the verb in this sentence?
• What word is the modal verb in this sentence?

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 Year 5 – Autumn Block 3 – Modal Verbs

Step 1: Recognising Modal

Verbs

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 Introduction

Sort the verbs into the correct place in the table.

Modal Verb Not a Modal Verb

can think may could did will

achieve try might finish do should

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 Introduction

Sort the verbs into the correct place in the table.

Modal Verb Not a Modal Verb

can think
may did
could achieve
will try
might finish
should do

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 Varied Fluency 1

Circle the modal verb below.

setting wish

might carrying

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 Varied Fluency 1

Circle the modal verb below.

setting wish

might carrying

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 Varied Fluency 2

Underline the modal verb in the sentence below.

Maria would like to go to basketball club, but it is on Thursdays.

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 Varied Fluency 2

Underline the modal verb in the sentence below.

Maria would like to go to basketball club, but it is on Thursdays.

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 Varied Fluency 3

Which sentence tells you it would be a good idea for Charlie to join the relay
team?

A. Charlie ought to join the relay team if he runs that fast every
time.

B. Charlie can join the relay team if he runs that fast every
time.

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 Varied Fluency 3

Which sentence tells you it would be a good idea for Charlie to join the relay
team?

A. Charlie ought to join the relay team if he runs that fast every
time.

B. Charlie can join the relay team if he runs that fast every
time.

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 Varied Fluency 4

Fill the gap with the modal verb which shows that the 7pm meeting is certain
to happen.

Whatever happens, I _________ meet you back here at 7pm.

shall could used

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 Varied Fluency 4

Fill the gap with the modal verb which shows that the 7pm meeting is certain
to happen.

Whatever happens, I _________

shallmeet you back here at 7pm.

shall could used

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 Reasoning 1

Dexter wants his sentence to show that winning is something he has to do at

all costs.

Whatever happens in the

match, I could beat the other
team.

Has Dexter chosen the correct modal verb to convey this?

Explain your answer.

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 Reasoning 1

Dexter wants his sentence to show that winning is something he has to do at

all costs.

Whatever happens in the

match, I could beat the other
team.

Has Dexter chosen the correct modal verb to convey this?

Explain your answer.
No. The modal verb ‘could’…

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 Reasoning 1

Dexter wants his sentence to show that winning is something he has to do at

all costs.

Whatever happens in the

match, I could beat the other
team.

Has Dexter chosen the correct modal verb to convey this?

Explain your answer.
No. The modal verb ‘could’ is not certain. ‘Must’ would be a better choice.

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 Application 1

Rewrite the sentence below so that the modal verb ‘may’ is in the correct
position in the sentence.

It rain may tomorrow so you should take an umbrella.

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 Application 1

Rewrite the sentence below so that the modal verb ‘may’ is in the correct
position in the sentence.

It rain may tomorrow so you should take an umbrella.

It may rain tomorrow so you should take an umbrella.

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 Reasoning 2

Order the sentences below based on the necessity (least to most) that the
modal verb implies. Explain your order.

A. I must order the cake for the party before tomorrow.

B. I could order the cake for the party before tomorrow.

C. I ought to order the cake for the party before tomorrow.

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 Reasoning 2

Order the sentences below based on the necessity (least to most) that the
modal verb implies. Explain your order.

B. I could order the cake for the party before tomorrow.

C. I ought to order the cake for the party before tomorrow.

A. I must order the cake for the party before tomorrow

The order would be B, C, A because …

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 Reasoning 2

Order the sentences below based on the necessity (least to most) that the
modal verb implies. Explain your order.

B. I could order the cake for the party before tomorrow.

C. I ought to order the cake for the party before tomorrow.

A. I must order the cake for the party before tomorrow

The order would be B, C, A because ‘could’ suggests a

possibility, ‘ought to’ suggests a possibility with a level of
compulsion, ‘must’ suggests compulsion.

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