MODAL VERBS 4º

MODAL VERBS

Ability

Obligation

Prohibition

Permission

Advice

Possibility

Lack of Necessity

ABILITY

I can speak English, Basque, Spanish, Italian and French.

What languages can you speak?

My name is Isabel.Nire izena Isabel da. Me llamo Isabel. Mi chiamo Isabel. Je m'appelle Isabel.

I can't ride a bike.I can't play any instrument.

I can swim very well.I can cook a lot of meals.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?I CAN... I CAN'T...

RULES OF MODAL VERBS

He can't play the guitar.

Choose the right answer:

I can swim very well.

Can you ride a bike?

A) Modal verbs are followed by a verb in the gerund / infinitive.

B) Modal verbs add / don't add +s in the 3rd person singular.

C) Modal verbs take / don't take the auxiliary "don't" or "doesn't" for the negative and for the interrogative sentences.

PERMISSION

Can I...? (informal)May I...? (formal) Could I...? (+formal)

WHO WOULD YOU ASK...?

May I have a cup of coffee, please?

May I borrow your pen, please?

Can I go to Laura's house next Saturday, please?

POSSIBILITY

Will / May / Might

IT WILL RAIN TOMORROW. (100%)

It's almost sure that it rains tomorrow. (very likely event)

IT MAY RAIN TOMORROW. (70%)

IT MIGHT RAIN TOMORROW. (40%)

It's possible that it rains tomorrow. (possible event)

There's a slight possibility that it rains tomorrow. (possible event but very unlikely)

POSSIBILITY

Will / May / Might

IT WILL RAIN TOMORROW. (100%)

It's almost sure that it rains tomorrow. (very likely event)

IT MAY RAIN TOMORROW. (50%)

IT MIGHT RAIN TOMORROW. (20%)

It's possible that it rains tomorrow. (possible event)

There's a slight possibility that it rains tomorrow. (possible event but very unlikely)

WILL, MAY OR MIGHT?

It's sure she will come to my party.

She ____________ come to my party.

There's a slight possibility that my mother gives me some money today.

My mother _____________ give me some money today.

It's possible that I don't pass all my exams.

I ____________ pass all my exams.

WILL, MAY OR MIGHT?

It's sure she will come to my party.

She will come to my party.

There's a slight possibility that my mother gives me some money today.

My mother might give me some money today.

It's possible that I don't pass all my exams.

I may not pass all my exams.

PROHIBITION

OBLIGATION

You mustn't / can't buy alcohol because you are under 18.

You must / have to go to school until you are 16.

You mustn't / can't smoke in public transport.

You must / have to be kind to your classmates.

Mustn't/Can't

Must/Have to

"Must" and "Have to" express the idea that something is important or obligatory because of a rule or law.

"You must be back home by 12 o'clock". (rule) "I must write to Aunt Julia. I haven't written for months". (important)

"Mustn't" and "Can't" express the idea that something is forbidden (prohibido) or important not to do.

"You mustn't make noise in the library". (rule)

" I mustn't forget to call my mum". (important)

WHAT RULES MUST YOU FOLLOW AT SCHOOL?

I MUST / HAVE TO...

I MUSTN'T / CAN'T...

LACK OF NECESSITY

don't have to = don't need to = needn't

"Mustn't" expresses prohibition BUT "don't have to" is used when something is not necessary to be done.

"I'm not working tomorrow, so I don't have to get up early."

MATCH THE TWO PARTS OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES:

1. I don't need to do this homework because

A) I'm feeling better now.

2. You needn't go to the party

B) it is not compulsory.

3. I needn't go to the doctor because

C) if you don't want.

4. I don't need to pay for the ticket because

D) we have already bought one.

5. You don't have to buy a present because

E) it is free.

SHOULD / SHOULDN'T OUGHT TO / OUGHT NOT TO

GIVE ADVICE

She has a headache.

She had an argument with her best friend yesterday.

GIVE ADVICE

SHOULD / SHOULDN'T

She doesn't want to do her homework.

She never brushes her teeth.

ABILITY

You should do more sport.

PERMISSION

You don't have to wear a tie to school.

POSSIBILITY

Could we leave early today, sir?

OBLIGATION

Children have to start school when they are 6.

PROHIBITION

I'm afraid of water because I can't swim.

LACK OF NECESSITY

We may go to the beach tomorrow.

We mustn't be late.

ADVICE

ABILITY

You should do more sport.

PERMISSION

You don't have to wear a tie to school.

POSSIBILITY

Could we leave early today, sir?

OBLIGATION

Children have to start school when they are 6.

PROHIBITION

I'm afraid of water because I can't swim.

LACK OF NECESSITY

We may go to the beach tomorrow.

We mustn't be late.

ADVICE