Unit 5D. Modals

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Grammar unit 5

Insight intermediate

Modals

1. It's cold today. Do you think it ______ snow?

1. Should
2. Must
3. Can
4. Might

2. You _____ leave your door unlocked when you go out.

1. Shouldn't
2. Mustn't
3. Can't
4. Might not

3. Mum says we ____ watch TV after we've finished our homework.

1. Should
2. Must
3. Can
4. Might

4. This is impossible. It _____ be a mistake!

1. Should
2. Must
3. Can
4. Might

5. You should probably bring an umbrella. It _____ rain later today.

1. Should
2. Must
3. Can
4. Might

6. You ____ see that I am right.

1. Will
2. Would
3. Shall
4. Should

7. ____ I open the door?

1. Will
2. Would
3. Shall
4. Should

8. ____ you mind giving me a lift?

1. Will
2. Would
3. Shall
4. Should

9. Let's go for a walk, ____ we?

1. Will
2. Would
3. Shall
4. Should

10. ____ we go somewhere else?

1. Will
2. Would
3. Shall
4. Should

Modals

 Modals are short for modal auxiliaries (Dutch: hulpwerkwoorden van modaliteit). Modals can express obligation (Dutch: verplichting), necessity (Dutch: noodzaak) or permission (Dutch: toestemming) and prohibition (Dutch: verbod). 

Modals

Main verbs (walk, eat) can change depending on the past or present (walked, ate), but you can use modals to talk about being able to do something, permissions and requests. 

Can you walk to school?
You shouldn't walk to school.
I will walk to school. 

You are giving advice. Which modal do you use?
You really _______ ask your parents for help.

A different word for 'should', but with the same meaning. This word is more formal than should.

1. must
2. can
3. could
4. ought to

Other ways to express permission (no modals):  

- To allow someone to ..  

- To permit someone to ..  

- To let someone ..  

Examples:  

Dad allowed me to buy a new pair of jeans.  

The police permitted Jon to leave the prison.  

I let the kids play in the sandbox, even though it rained.  

will / shall / would

Will = zal (iets dat in de toekomst gaat gebeuren)
Shall = zal (bij hulp aanbieden)
Would = zou willen / zouden
(beleefde vragen & als iets zou gebeuren)

"I will come to your party"  & "Shall I help you out?"
& "I would like to help."

Weak obligation 

Should /ought to 

- Present and future 

Should have + past participle / ought to have + past participle 

- Past 

- Often used for criticism or regret, because an action didn’t happen 

Examples:   I really should visit granny more often. 

  I ought to have told John the truth sooner. 

Stong obligation:

Must    -  present and future 

- The speaker is the one who imposes the obligation. In other words he is the one who tells somebody what they must do. 

- You can also use must for laws. 

Examples:  You must clean up the mess at once. 

  You must stop when the light turns red. 

Have to / Had to

Have to / have got to (informal use only) 

- Present and future 

- The speaker is not the one who imposes the obligation. In other words somebody else tells somebody what they must do. 

Example:  The teacher told me  that I have to write down these words  

  

 

Had to 

- Past and reported speech (Dutch: indirecte rede) 

Example:  My dad said that I had to come home early. 

I had to finish my meal before I was allowed to leave the table. 

Should = zou (eigenlijk) moeten, vooral bij advies/afraden
Must = moeten (als je zelf vindt dat iets moet)
Have to = moeten (als iemand anders vindt dat iets moet)

"I must finish this book this afternoon."
"You have to be on time tomorrow." 
"You should really pay more attention in class."

Prohibition (Dutch: verbod)

 Mustn’t/ can’t  

- Present and future 

- You use this when something is forbidden 

Was not to / couldn’t 

- Past 

Examples: 

You can’t smoke in restaurants in Holland. 

I couldn’t go into that road because there were road works. 

I wasn’t to open the presents before Christmas morning. 

11. If you want to work in the USA, you ______ speak proper English

1. Should
2. Must
3. Have to

12. You look like you're ill. You ____ go to school today.

1. Shouldn't
2. Mustn't
3. Don't have to

13. Tomorrow is Sunday, so I _____ go to school!

1. Shouldn't
2. Mustn't
3. Don't have to

14. I ___ remember to feed the dog.

1. Should
2. Must
3. Have to

15. If you follow my advice, it ____ be easy.

1. Should
2. Must
3. Has to

16. I ____ like a cup of coffee, please.

1. Will
2. Would
3. Should

17. Do you think we ___ talk to Sarah about Peter?

1. Will
2. Would
3. Should

18. I ___ probably spend the holiday with my family.

1. Will
2. Would
3. Should

19. I _____ see Brad Pitt when I visit Hollywood.

1. Can
2. May
3. Might

20. I ___ run a lot faster than my brother.

1. Can
2. May
3. Might

Let's practise some more! 

Video on modal verbs of probability

Video on modal verbs of obligation 

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