Legal English: Modal Verbs

Legal English: Modal Verbs

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to distinguish between the various modal verbs and their uses in the context of ability, permission, requests, possibility, and wishes. At the end of the lesson, you will be able to use modal verbs correctly in legal English contexts. At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand and formulate polite requests and ask for permission using modal verbs. At the end of the lesson, you will be able to recognize the difference in nuance between 'can', 'could', 'be able to', 'may', and 'might'.

What do you already know about modal verbs in legal English?

Introduction to Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs: Auxiliary verbs that express necessity, possibility, ability, or permission.

Modal Verbs for Ability and Capacity

Ability: The capacity to do something; often expressed with 'can', 'could', or 'be able to'.

Modal Verbs for Requests and Permission

Permission: Authorization or consent; often requested with 'may' or 'can'. Requests: The act of politely asking for something; 'can', 'could', or 'may' are often used.

Modal Verbs for Possibility and Probability

Possibility: A thing that may happen or be the case; often indicated with 'might' or 'may'.

Modal Verbs for Wishes and Preferences

Wishes: A desire or hope for something to happen; can be expressed with 'could' or 'might'.

Definition List

Modal Verbs: Auxiliary verbs that express necessity, possibility, ability, or permission. Ability: The capacity to do something; often expressed with 'can', 'could', or 'be able to'. Permission: Authorization or consent; often requested with 'may' or 'can'. Requests: The act of politely asking for something; 'can', 'could', or 'may' are often used. Possibility: A thing that may happen or be the case; often indicated with 'might' or 'may'. Wishes: A desire or hope for something to happen; can be expressed with 'could' or 'might'.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.