Modals and their functions for Grade 9 Lessons

eng9

1. Modals

2. Modals can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must

3. Modals The verbs or expressions dare , ought to , had better , and need not behave like modal auxiliaries to a large extent and may be added to the above list.

4. Use of modal verbs: permission ability obligation prohibition Lack of Necessity advice possibility probability

5. Use of modal verbs: BE ABLE TO Ability / Capability (past, present, future) After the operation John was able to walk again. ( Single past occasion ) I’m able to play tennis twice a week. (Circumstances permit me to do this) I will be able to visit Paris next year. ( Nothing should prevent me from doing this )

6. Use of modal verbs: MANAGE TO Ability / Capable of doing something with a degree of difficulty (past, present, future) I managed to get two tickets for the concert. ( A degree of difficulty was involved ) I manage to play tennis twice a week. I hope you will manage to come. ( Even though you may encounter difficulty in doing this )

7. Use of modal verbs: CAN Ability/ Capability (present), Permission, Possibility, Request, Offer, Negative deduction (present), Prohibition I can swim. ( Ability ) You can go to the Cinema. ( Permission ) Smoking can cause cancer. ( Possibility ) Can I use your phone? ( Request ) Can I help you, madam? ( Offer ) You can’t be hungry; you have just eaten two pizzas. ( Negative deduction ) You can never tell anyone. ( Prohibition )

8. Use of modal verbs: COULD Ability/ Capability (past), Permission, Possibility, Request, Offer, Suggestion Negative deduction (past) I could swim when I was seven. ( Ability ) We could go to the Cinema once a week. ( Permission ) This vase could be very valuable. ( Possibility ) Could I use your phone? ( Request ) Could I be of any help? ( Offer ) You could buy Mary some flowers. ( Suggestion ) It couldn’t have been John because he has an alibi. ( Negative deduction )

9. Use of modal verbs: MAY Permission, Possibility, Request, Offer, Prohibition, Speculation You may leave the room. ( Permission ) He may be waiting for us when we arrive. ( Possibility ) May I use your phone, please? ( Formal request ) May I help you, sir? ( Offer ) You may not use your shoes inside the room. ( Prohibition ) She may have gone to Paris. ( Speculation )

10. Use of modal verbs: MIGHT Possibility, Speculation, Suggestion, Conditional Mike might come to your party. ( Possibility ) Someone might have already told his wife. ( Speculation ) You might not want to drink this because it’s very bitter. ( Suggestion ) If you invite him, he might come. ( Conditional ) If you have invited him, he might have come to your party. ( Conditional )

11. Exercise ______ you play the piano when you were a child? George is absent from class today. He____ be sick. My cat _________ jump, but it ____________ talk. ____________ I borrow your dictionary? Peter ____________ swim when he was a child, but now he ____________. In fact, he swims every day!

12. Exercise I'm going to bring an umbrella today because it ________ rain. The family can't decide where to go on vacation. They ____ go to Los Angeles or they____ go to Hawaii.

13. Use of modal verbs: MUST Deduction, Necessity, Obligation, Prohibition, Emphatic advice He failed the exam. He must be disappointed. ( Deduction ) I must study tonight. ( Necessity ) John must work harder if he wants to pass the exam. ( Subjective Obligation ) You mustn’t use this computer. ( Prohibition ) You must see this film, it’s great. ( Emphatic Advice )

14. Use of modal verbs: HAVE TO Obligation, Negative: Not necessary and not done, You have to stop when the traffic light is red. ( Imposed Obligation ) I don’t have to go to work tomorrow. ( Not done ) I didn’t have to water the flowers yesterday because it rained.( Not necessary )

15. Use of modal verbs: NEED Necessity, Negative I need to drink my medicine. ( Necessity ) You needn’t water the flowers as John will be back tomorrow. ( not necessary ) I needn’t have watered the flowers because it rained in the afternoon. ( done but not necessary )

16. Use of modal verbs: OUGHT TO Deduction, Assumption, Advice, Recommendation He has studied very hard he ought to pass the exam. ( Deduction ) He ought to have received the parcel by now. ( Assumption ) You ought not smoke so much.( Advice ) You ought to tell him the truth.( Recommendation )

17. Use of modal verbs: HAD BETTER Advice, Recommendation You had better take those wet clothes off.( Advice ) You had better tell me the truth. ( Recommendation )

18. Use of modal verbs: SHOULD Assumption/ Deduction, Advice, Recommendation, Necessity, Obligation, Prediction, Prohibition The plane should be landing now. ( Deduction/ Assumption ) You should go to the doctor. ( Advice ) You should take one of these pills every day.( Recommendation ) You should be wearing a coat, it’s very cold. ( Necessity )

19. Use of modal verbs: SHOULD Assumption/ Deduction, Advice, Recommendation, Necessity, Obligation, Prediction, Prohibition I should be studying but I’m too tired. ( Obligation ) This should be a very good film. ( Prediction ) You should never repeat what you’ve just said. ( Prohibition )

20. Use of modal verbs: SHALL Speculation, Suggestion, Decision, Question, Offer Where shall we be this time next year? ( Speculation ) I shall tell her about what happened last night. ( Decision ) Shall we invite John or not? ( Suggestion ) Shall we pick you up at 7.00? ( Offer )

21. Use of modal verbs: WILL Assumption, Deduction, Future, Offer, Promise, Intention, Obligation/ Decision, Prediction, Conditional He will have plenty of time to get to the airport. ( Assumption ) He left home an hour ago. He’ll arrive any minute now. ( Deduction ) He will be 27 next month. ( Future ) I will do the shopping. ( Offer )

22. Use of modal verbs: WILL Assumption, Deduction, Future, Offer, Promise, Intention, Obligation/ Decision, Prediction, Conditional I will marry you. ( Promise ) I will wait for you. ( Intention ) I will stay with you until we get older. ( Obligation/ Decision ) I will rain tomorrow. ( Prediction ) If it rains tomorrow, I will not go to the park. ( Prediction )

23. Use of modal verbs: WOULD Possibility, Request, Speculation, Polite Question, Offer, Past tense “will” (indirect speech, Customary Past Action, Invitation, Preference, Conditional John would visit us tomorrow. ( Possibility ) Would you please answer the question? ( Request ) We would enjoy the party. ( Speculation ) Would you, please, close the door? ( Polite Question )

24. Use of modal verbs: WOULD Possibility, Request, Speculation, Polite Question, Offer, Past tense “will” (indirect speech, Customary Past Action, Invitation, Preference, Conditional Would you like a cup of tea? ( Offer ) John said he would take me to the Cinema. ( Past tense “will” (indirect speech ) She would take the dog for a walk every morning before going to work. ( Customary Past Action )

25. Use of modal verbs: WOULD Possibility, Request, Speculation, Polite Question, Offer, Past tense “will” (indirect speech, Customary Past Action, Invitation, Preference, Conditional Would you like to come with us? ( Invitation ) I would rather have a cup of coffee. ( Preference ) If I had known you wanted to go to the concert I would have bought you a ticket. ( Conditional5 )