English Modal Verbs ?By Bahrom Almardanov

What are Modal Verbs ? Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences:

1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.

EXAMPLES: He can speak Russian. She should go now. My wife may join us for the dinner.

2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.

EXAMPLES: You should not be late. I can not come to at 6pm. He may not like this idea. You must not disturb him now, he is busy. They didnt must do it. NOT CORRECT

3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.

EXAMPLES: He will can go with us.NOT CORRECT She musted study very hard. NOT CORRECT It mayed show yesterday. NOT CORRECT

Which sentence has a modal verb?We have been arguing over this issue for half and hour, lets change the topic.Do not turn on that computer, it is not working properly. We need to fix it.Lets visit our grandpa, we have not seen him since Christmas.

Well Done!

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Please choose the correct sentenceHe cans climb the rocks.

He can climb the rocks.

He canned climb the rocks.

Fantastic!

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Please choose correct negative form of modal verbI dont can do it now, I am very busy till 5pm.You must dont smoke here, this place is smoke free.He should not procrastinate his assignments, he may not get good grades.

Great!

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to express general ability to express possibility / impossibility to ask a permission (informal)

EXAMPLES:I can sing and play the guitar.Anyone can learn how to use Computers if they want to.Can you help me to fix my door?

Take the test

to express possibilityto ask or to give a permission (formal)to make requests

EXAMPLES:He may come late today.You may use my Computer now.May I make a phone call?Take the test

to express certainty to express necessity to make a strong recommendation

EXAMPLES:You must be tired now, you have worked all day long.I must have a visa to go to Canada.CEP 811 is a very interesting class, you must take it too.Take the test

If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out, you_______________ walk downtown and explore the waterfront.

Choose the best answer

See the rules

CanMayMust

Today is cloudy, it ________________ rain. Choose the best answer

CanMayMust

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Choose the best answerTed's flight from Uzbekistan took more than 11 hours. He ________________ be exhausted after such a long flight.

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CanIf you have not studied one of these verbs, click on it.MayMustIf you have, click here

to express general ability in the past, because it is the past form of the Can to express possible future actions similar to May and Might in meaning to make a request or ask somethingto express unreal or impossible actions

EXAMPLES:We tried hard but we could not persuade them to come with us.My grandfather could not swim.When you go to Uzbekistan, you could stay with me.Could you tell me what time it is?I dont know how she works 14 hours a day in front of the computer, I could not do this.

to express future in the past because it is the past form of Willto express unreal action in the presentto ask someone to do something (formal), (structure: If + you + would+ verb)

EXAMPLES:He told me that he would come and fix this computer yesterday.I would be very frightened if someone pointed a gun at me.If we did not go to their party next week, she would be very upset.Id be very grateful if you would come and help me move to my new apartment.

to ask or give advice or recommendation often after these verbs: suggest, propose, recommend, insist, demand.If you think that if person is likely to do something with less certainty or accidentally, you can use this structure: If + you + should+ verb or Should + you + verb

EXAMPLES:I think you should stop smoking, drinking and messing around, instead you should do sometime useful.They insisted that we should have dinner with them.He recommended that I should apologize to her for what I said.If you should see Tom this evening, could you tell him to call me? or Should you see Tom..Dont worry if I should be late tonight.

to give or ask permission, or possibility in the past, because it is the past form of Mayto express future or present possibility and probabilityInterchangeably with May quite often with no difference in meaning.

EXAMPLES:She told that he might come in and use her stove.He might be having lunch now.It might rain tomorrow.There may/might not be a meeting tonight, because the director is ill.I may/might go to Italy this summer.

Your brother was ill, therefore he _____ go out for a walk.# 1. Choose the correct modal verb

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Outstanding!!!

If he were here, he ____ help you.# 2. Choose the correct modal verb

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Terrific !!!

Mr. Bond said if she was busy at 10 o'clock, he ____ come to see her later.# 1. Choose the correct verb

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Super!!!

This house ____ look better if they painted it and cut the grass and planted flowers.# 2. Choose the correct modal verb

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Well done!!!

Oh, you are seriously ill. I think you ... consult a doctor.# 1. Choose the correct modal verb

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Good Job!!!

The Sheriff demands that all the eyewitnesses _____ be questioned immediately.# 2.Choose the correct modal verb

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Outstanding!!!

He said that I ____ play any CD from his collection while he was gone.# 1. Choose the correct modal verb

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Good Job!!!

Dont call me at 8:30. I ____ be watching the football match on television.# 2. Choose the correct modal verb

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Good Job!!!

Modal Verbs + Perfectives?

Modal Verbs + Perfective

Examples:When I was sleeping last night, it may/might/could have rained.I cant find my notebook in my office, I may/might/could have left it in the cafeteria.

to express the possibility or probability in the past, it is not certain if it happened or not. May/Might/Could + Have + Past Participle

A) Why didnt Tom answer the doorbell? I am sure he was in the house at the time.B) He ____ have been in the bath.Choose the incorrect answer

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Outstanding!!!

Examples:Amira made an excellent presentation, she must have prepared a lot for it.When I came home in the middle of the night, I unintentionally made a lot of noise, you must have heard me. to express the certainty in the past. Must + Have + Past Participle

When I woke up this morning, the light was on. I _____ have forgotten to turn it off.Choose the correct modal verb

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Awesome!!!

Examples:I feel sick now, I should not have eaten so much chocolate.I am so sorry to hear that you got a bad grade for this class, you should have studied more.

to criticize some action in the past that did not happen. Should + Have + Past Participle

The driver in the front stopped so suddenly without warning, I drove into the back of his car. It wasnt my fault. He ______ have stopped so suddenly.Choose the correct modal verb

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Well Done!!!

Examples:Why didnt you call me? I would have come and helped you, and you wouldnt have received this bill.If I had known that you were in Washington DC,I would have made arrangements to see you.

to talk about unreal situations in the past, usually in If sentences.Would + Have + Past Participle

If you had been more careful, you _____ have broken this vase.Choose the correct modal verb

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Yey!!!

I challenge you to take this

Choose a Test Question Number

#1. Choose the best answerYou _____ break the body but you _____ break the spirit.

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Good Job!!!

#2. Choose the best answerHe knew perfectly well that he ______ it but he wouldn't admit it.

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Outstanding!!!

#3. Choose the best answerOh, Mary, you ______ a lie to your mother. She _______ you.

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Bravo!!!

#4. Choose the best answerIf I had gone to the University of Miami, I ________ participated in their Spanish immersion program.

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Spot on!!!

#5. Choose the best answerYou have no temperature now, so you needn't stay in bed any longer. You ___ eat what ever you like, but you ... drink any alcohol until you have finished taking tablets. And you ... stay indoors for three-four days. After you ... go out for short walks. If you want to get well soon you ... to follow all these instructions.

Back to review section twoBack to review section threeBack to review section four

Wow!!!

For more Information about English Modal verbs please Click here

*My audience is a 9th grade of Uzbekistan High schools. At this grade modal verbs are taught at schools. It is the national Standard in Uzbekistan.*In this Power point, I use the Deductive Instructional Strategy for my class, I give the grammatical usage rules of the modal verbs and then give them examples from everyday speech of the English language. Moreover, I try to incorporate Scaffolding Instructional Method into my teaching. Firstly I would like to teach the simple modal verbs one by one, and once they learn them, I will switch to compound modal verbs tests. *I am giving a general information about modal verbs here.

*Three basic modal verbs in English.*Rules and examples.*Rules and examples.*Rules and examples.*Multiple choice test.*Multiple choice test.*Multiple choice test.*Here I give website link for more information about English Modal verbs.