Grammar - Modal verbs - Unit 6

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Think of a caption using a modal verb

Think of a caption using a modal verb

Underline all verbs

I am going to tell you the story of Helen Keller, who could neither see nor hear from the time she was a baby. Yet the brilliant girl was able to overcome all those handicaps, and graduated from a college with honors and became a useful citizen.

As a baby, Helen grew bigger and stronger. She was able to walk when she was a year old; she could even say a few words.

But one day the child fell ill. For days she was laid up with a high fever and soon the parents learned that their darling might never be able to see and hear.

Embolden all modal verbs

I am going to tell you the story of Helen Keller, who could neither see nor hear from the time she was a baby. Yet the brilliant girl was able to overcome all those handicaps, and graduated from a college with honors and became a useful citizen.

As a baby, Helen grew bigger and stronger. She was able to walk when she was a year old; she could even say a few words.

But one day the child fell ill. For days she was laid up with a high fever and soon the parents learned that their darling might never be able to see and hear.

Modal verbs

I am going to tell you the story of Helen Keller, who could neither see nor hear from the time she was a baby. Yet the brilliant girl was able to overcome all those handicaps, and graduated from a college with honors and became a useful citizen.

As a baby, Helen grew bigger and stronger. She was able to walk when she was a year old; she could even say a few words.

But one day the child fell ill. For days she was laid up with a high fever and soon the parents learned that their darling might never be able to see and hear.

The modal verbs are:

can         could

may        might

be able to

be allowed to

Usage

Ability           - "David can speak three languages."

(can, could, be able to)

Permission - "David is allowed to go to the bathroom."

(can, could, may, be allowed to)

Possibility   - "David says it might rain later today."

(may, might, can, could)

could / can / be able to / be allowed to / may / might (1x)

1. ______ I have a look at that new book, please?

2. I hope we ______ find the classroom easily, the new school is very big.

3. We'd love to ______ afford a new car, someday.

4. I ______ go to the party tonight.

5. ______ I open the window, please?
6. The weatherman said it ______ rain later today.

Answers:

1.  Could, permission

2. can, ability

3. be able to, ability

4. be allowed to, permission

5. May, permission

6. Might, possibility

I don't think I _______ go to the party tonight.

1. can
2. am allowed to
3. am able to
4. might

My mum said that the cat _______ stay with us.

1. could
2. can
3. may
4. is allowed to

We'd love it if we _______ go on vacation next summer.

1. could
2. might
3. are allowed to
4. may

Modal: Might/May/Could.            Usage: Possibility

In Pairs – one is a journalist and the other a famous actor’s manager. Both of you have diaries and the journalist needs to try to schedule an interview that will take about 2 hours. 

The manager needs to be cagey about the actor’s free time. The journalist should try to make an appointment during the week and the manager should rebuff him/her with phrases such as: “You could come on Friday morning, but only for 15 minutes”, or “He might have time Monday at 3 pm, but only for an hour”. Finally, there should be a 2 hour slot in the diary and only when the journalist guesses it can the appointment be made.