This English lesson contains modal verbs exercises and explanations
Let’s see when and how to use modal verbs!
Modal Verbs are used to express many things.
may, might, can, could, must, ought to, shall, will, would, should
Functions of modal verbs:
1/ ability: can / could
2/ Permission: can, could, may
3/ Advice: should, ought to
4/ Prohibition, Obligation: must, have to, mustn’t
5/ Possibility: might, may, could, can
6/ Lack if necessity: needn’t
1/ English Sentence Practice .modal verbs exercises
I could sleep for a week, I couldn’t sleep at all last night and now I’m dog tired.
Could I ask you to put the dog in the kitchen? No, you couldn’t, you can do it yourself self.
I would do it but I wouldn’t have the time to finish tidying up.
You should do it in the morning, you shouldn’t disturb me when you come up the stairs.
I must finish it tonight. you mustn’t worry about me disturbing you.
You might take your shoes off then you might not make so much noise.
May I get you another cup of cocoa? It might help you to relax. I shan’t need it.
Did you see the flowers your sister brought us? She shouldn’t have bothered.
She could have bought something less expensive. Roses are really beautiful.
She ought to buy daffodils next time they are in season all the time. I think they must grow them in greenhouses.
They mustn’t be that difficult to grow.
I would get to bed if I were you, sleep cures everything. I shouldn’t be too long.
I wouldn’t worry too much If I was you. You may not have anything at all.
See you shortly.
English Vocabulary
2/Vocabulary Practice
- Modal verbs
- I could sleep
- I couldn’t
- I’m dog tired.
- Could I ask you?
- No, you couldn’t
- I would do it
- but I wouldn’t have the time to finish.
- to tidy up.
- You should do it
- You shouldn’t disturb me
- to come up the stairs.
- I must finish it
- you mustn’t worry
- to take your shoes off
- you might not make
- so much noise.
- May I get you
- another cup of cocoa
- It might help you
- to relax.
- I shan’t need it.
- She shouldn’t have bothered.
- She could have bought
- She ought to buy daffodils
- next time
- they are in season
- all the time
- to grow them in greenhouses.
- They mustn’t be that difficult to grow.
- I would get to bed if I were you
- to cure everything
- I shouldn’t be too long.
- I wouldn’t worry too much
- You may not have anything at all.
English Grammar modal verbs exercises.
English Modal Verb Exercises
All Modals
Let’s see when and how to use modal verbs!
Modal Verbs are used to express many things.
may, might, can, could, must, ought to, shall, will, would, should
Functions of modal verbs:
1/ ability: can / could
2/ Permission: can, could, may
3/ Advice: should, ought to
4/ Prohibition, Obligation: must, have to, mustn’t
5/ Possibility: might, may, could, can
6/ Lack if necessity: needn’t
7/ Request: can, could, will
8/ Logical assumption: must, can’t
9/ Offer: shall, would
10/ Suggestion: can, could, shall
WOULD is used to express:
1/ offers
Would you like a cup of tea?
2/ preference
I would like to eat out tonight.
SHALL is used to express:
1/ offers
Shall I close the window?
2/ suggestions
Let’s go, shall we?
SHOULD is used to express:
advice
You should avoid driving into town at this time of day.
COULD
COULD expresses:
1/ permission
You could leave now.
2/ request
Could you lend me your phone?
3/ suggestion
We could go to the cinema tomorrow.
4/ ability in the past
I could run much faster when I was younger.
CAN
“can” is a very useful verb. It is a modal verb which means that it is used to denote the mood of a verb, giving it more nuance, more subtle meaning(s).
“Can” can be used to express:
- general ability: I can speak English and Spanish.
- a request: Can you pass me the salt?
- an offer: Can I help you?
- possibility: I can come to your party. or impossibility: It can’t be Fred’s car. His car is red.
- permission: You can use my pen (you are allowed to use my pen).
- prohibition: You can’t do that! (you are not allowed to do that)
“can” has two negative forms:
- cannot
- can’t
“CAN” in the present simple
I can
you can
he / she / it can
we can
you can
they can
Examples:
Affirmative > Negative > Question
I can speak English and Spanish > I can’t speak Portuguese and Chinese > Can you speak several languages?
You can drive my car. > You can’t drive my car. > Can I drive your car?
I can come to your party. > I can’t come to your party. > Can you come to my party?
MAY and MIGHT
MAY
“may” is a very useful verb. It is a modal verb which means that it is used to denote the mood of a verb, giving it more nuance, more subtle meaning(s).
“May” can be used to express:
- a request or permission: May you pass me the salt? You may eat in here (you are allowed to do that)
- possibility: It may rain tomorrow. He may be right.
- prohibition: You may not eat in here (you are not allowed to do that). You may not repeat this to him.
- a wish: May the Force be with you! (Star Wars quotation) / May the New Year bring you happiness!
“may” has two forms. It does not have a short form:
- may
- may not
“may” is very similar to another modal verb, “might”. They can normally be interchanged as there is no significant difference in meaning between the two.
“might” simply implies a smaller chance of something happening (when expressing possibility) than “may”:
It may snow. (high chance)
It might snow. (lower chance)
Examples:
Affirmative > Negative > Question
- Requests or Permission
May I sit here?
May I ask you a personal question?
- Possibility
I may leave tomorrow.
I may not leave until Tuesday.
- Prohibition
You may not leave that there.
You may not leave early.
- A Wish
May you have a safe trip!
May this year bring you happiness!
WILL
The modal verb “will” enables us to create the future simple tense:
subject + will + verb + object.
I will leave tomorrow morning.
I will learn English this year.
Forms:
I will learn
I’ll learn
I will not learn
I won’t learn
Will I learn?
Will I not learn?
Won’t I learn?
You will learn
You’ll learn
You will not learn
You won’t learn
Will you learn?
Will you not learn?
Won’t you learn?
He will learn
He’ll learn
He will not learn
He won’t learn
Will he learn?
Will he not learn?
Won’t he learn?
She will learn
She’ll learn
She will not learn
She won’t learn
Will she learn?
Will she not learn?
Won’t she learn?
It will learn
It’ll learn
It will not learn
It won’t learn
Will it learn?
Will it not learn?
Won’t it learn?
We will learn
We’ll learn
We will not learn
We won’t learn
Will we learn?
Will we not learn?
Won’t we learn?
You will learn
You’ll learn
You will not learn
You won’t learn
Will you learn?
Will you not learn?
Won’t you learn?
They will learn
They’ll learn
They will not learn
They won’t learn
Will they learn?
Will they not learn?
Won’t they learn?
He will not – he won’t – he’ll not
She will not – she won’t – she’ll not
It will not – it won’t – it’ll not
We will not – we won’t – we’ll not
You will not – you won’t – you’ll not
They will not – they won’t – they’ll not
The modal verb “will” is also used to express:
- a request: Will you help me with this? / Won’t you lend me the car?
- an offer: I will drive you home. / We will help you with the move.
- a refusal: I will not let you down. We won’t accept these terms.
- a conditional: If it snows, I will cancel the trip. I won’t arrive on time if there is traffic.
English Speaking Practise
Questions and Answers
Did you know modal verbs were of German origin?
No, I did not know that about modal verbs.
How do you know they were?
Because I studied German.
Do they have the same words?
Almost, they sound the same but they are spelt differently.
Can you give me some examples?
Yes, can, will, must for example.
Must you make such a noise?
I can if I want to.
Could you try not to?
I suppose I could, if you asked me nicely.
Will you come tonight?
Sorry, I won’t be able to.
May I ask you a question?
You may but be quick, I am about to go out.
Do you think you ought to be more careful?
I suppose I ought to but it’s not easy.
Couldn’t we go out tonight?
We could but it is already late.
English Pronunciation
YY
and welcome. Today let’s look at a long vowel sound “ir” Let’s get ready to pronounce, your lips are relaxed, yourtongue is flat down , your jaws are a part, your lips form a slight tunnelshape. Let’s practice “ir”: birthday, fur, learning, word, circle, journey, teacher.Let’s repeat: birthday, fur, learning, word, circle, journey, teacher. Now test time.How would you pronounce these words?but, early, weren’t That’s it for today, see you soon.
Lesson 45 recap with Julia.
Modal verbs exercises Lesson 45
Comprehension Practice
Vocabulary Practice
Grammar Practice
El Camino College Compton Center
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