Modal verbsModal verbs

Meanings and useMeanings and use

Main modal verbsMain modal verbs

Must Must Have toHave toOught toOught toNeed toNeed toShouldShouldCan/ couldCan/ couldMay/might May/might

Main values / meaningsMain values / meanings

Must – obligation imposed by the Must – obligation imposed by the speakerspeakerHave to – obligation imposed by a Have to – obligation imposed by a situation (external obligation)situation (external obligation)Ought to – moral obligation Ought to – moral obligation denoting a duty, advice or a denoting a duty, advice or a reasonable actionreasonable action

Need to – necessityNeed to – necessity

Should – suggestion, adviceShould – suggestion, advice

Can – possibility Can – possibility

- ability- ability

- permission- permission

Could – past possibility, ability, permissionCould – past possibility, ability, permission

- present conditional ( politeness)- present conditional ( politeness)

May – possibility May – possibility

- permission- permission

Might – possibility (higher degree of doubt)Might – possibility (higher degree of doubt)

- polite suggestion- polite suggestion

Affirmative / negative differencesAffirmative / negative differences

Have to (obligation) /vs/ don’t have to Have to (obligation) /vs/ don’t have to (lack of obligation)(lack of obligation)

Must (obligation) /vs/ mustn’t Must (obligation) /vs/ mustn’t (prohibition)(prohibition)

Need to (necessity) /vs/ don’t need to Need to (necessity) /vs/ don’t need to (lack of necessity)(lack of necessity)

Can (possibility) /vs/ can’t (impossibilityCan (possibility) /vs/ can’t (impossibility

Student worksheet 1Student worksheet 1Modals and Related Expressions Modals and Related Expressions must have to must have to 1. I ……….be at the meeting by 10:00. I will 1. I ……….be at the meeting by 10:00. I will

probably ………..take a taxi if I want to be on probably ………..take a taxi if I want to be on time.time.

2. You ………..submit the application if it has not 2. You ………..submit the application if it has not been completely filled out. Check that the name, been completely filled out. Check that the name, address, and background information are correct. address, and background information are correct.

3. A: Look at these flowers - they're beautiful! But, 3. A: Look at these flowers - they're beautiful! But, there's no card. Who could have sent them?there's no card. Who could have sent them?

B: It ………have been David. He's the only one B: It ………have been David. He's the only one who would send you flowers.who would send you flowers.

4. You ……….forget to pay the rent 4. You ……….forget to pay the rent tomorrow. The landlord is very strict about tomorrow. The landlord is very strict about paying on time.paying on time.

5. You ………….. be so rude! Why don't 5. You ………….. be so rude! Why don't you try saying "please" once in a while.you try saying "please" once in a while.

6. If you are over 18 in California, you 6. If you are over 18 in California, you ……. take a driver training course to get a ……. take a driver training course to get a driver's license. driver's license.

7. You …………be rich to be a success. 7. You …………be rich to be a success. Some of the most successful people I Some of the most successful people I know haven't got a penny to their name.know haven't got a penny to their name.

Worksheet 2Worksheet 2

might should mustmight should must1. Nancy said you didn't need to buy her 1. Nancy said you didn't need to buy her anything for her birthday, but I really think you anything for her birthday, but I really think you ……………at least get her some flowers or a ……………at least get her some flowers or a nice bottle of wine. nice bottle of wine. 2. Debbie said she was really busy this week, 2. Debbie said she was really busy this week, but I think she …………… show up at the party if but I think she …………… show up at the party if she doesn't have to work overtime on Friday. she doesn't have to work overtime on Friday. 3. Nina said she would come over right after 3. Nina said she would come over right after work, so she …………. be here by 6:00. work, so she …………. be here by 6:00. 4. Oh my God, he's unconscious. Don't move 4. Oh my God, he's unconscious. Don't move him - he ……….. have internal injuries. him - he ……….. have internal injuries. Somebody call an ambulance. Somebody call an ambulance.

5. You ……………be kidding! That can't 5. You ……………be kidding! That can't be true. be true.

6. A: Where's the remote control? I want to 6. A: Where's the remote control? I want to change the channel. change the channel.

B: I don't know. It …………..be under B: I don't know. It …………..be under the couch. Or, perhaps I took it into the the couch. Or, perhaps I took it into the kitchen. I'll check in there. kitchen. I'll check in there.

7. Experts agree that to speak a language 7. Experts agree that to speak a language fluently, you …………..practice the fluently, you …………..practice the language regularly.language regularly.

Worksheet 3Worksheet 3

Must / mustn’t need to/don’t need to Must / mustn’t need to/don’t need to should/shouldn’tshould/shouldn’t1 George has travelled a lot. He …………speak many 1 George has travelled a lot. He …………speak many languages.languages.2 I can hear you quite well. You ……………. not shout.2 I can hear you quite well. You ……………. not shout.3 I´m not sure where I go for my holidays but I ………… 3 I´m not sure where I go for my holidays but I ………… go to Italy.go to Italy.4 She ………… ride her bike at night without lights. It's 4 She ………… ride her bike at night without lights. It's forbidden.forbidden.5 She……………. not eat so much chocolate because 5 She……………. not eat so much chocolate because it's bad for her figure.it's bad for her figure.6 I ………….to listen to him.6 I ………….to listen to him.7 It's later than I thought. I ………….. go now.7 It's later than I thought. I ………….. go now.

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