Unit 3

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Unit 3

Modals [1]

ability; possibility; conclusions; willingsness; habitual events; necessity; deduction; 'not necessary'; obligation

Exercise 1.3 (page 25)

Listen to a radio news summary and fill in the gaps.

Gap 2
(do not use shortened forms)

Gap 3
(do not use shortened forms)

Gap 4
(do not use shortened forms)

Gap 5
(do not use shortened forms)

Gap 6
(do not use shortened forms)

Gap 7
(do not use shortened forms)

Gap 8
(do not use shortened forms)

Exercise 1.4 (page 25)

In which of the extracts do the words you have written refer to:

ability

necessity

obligation

possibility

prediction

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Modal verbs

Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verbs, which defines

• ability
• necessity
• obligation
• possibility
• predictions
• and more!

Are there other
modal verbs that
come to mind?

Why are they important?

They convey a different message:

Look at the following four examples:

• You can talk English.
• You must talk English. 
• You may talk English. 
• You should talk English.

What is the context?

Connect the context of the modal verb to the correct sentence.

We can talk English.

We must talk English.

We may talk English.

We should talk English.

ability

advice

obligation

permission

Let's continue

By taking a look at some functions of modal verbs.

Ability

We use:

• Can to talk about general ability in the present
  I can talk English.
  
  
• Could to talk about general ability in the past
  I could already count to 100 when I was two years old.
  
  
• To be able to as a subsitute for can or could
  I am able to speak English.
  I was already able to count to 100 when I was two years old.

Ability

We (normally) use can or could with:

• verbs of sense (e.g. feel, hear, smell, taste)
  He could feel his heartbeat in his throat.
  
  
• verbs of thinking (e.g. believe, remember, understand)
   I cannot believe he is so rude.
  
  
• the passive voice
   The news can be read on our website.

Ability

We use to be able to:

• in formal language
  I am able to speak English.
  
  
• to talk about a specific occasion in the past
  They were able to bring the fire under control quickly.
  
  
• in perfect tenses
   She hasn’t been able to find a new job yet.
  
  
• in future tenses
   They won’t be able to go there as it is closed.

• after -ing forms
  I hate not being able to go where I want to.
  
  
• after other modals 
  You might be able to help me.
  
  
• as an infinitive
  You have to be able to adapt to changes

Possibility

We use the words can, may, could and might to talk about possibility.

• Use may or can if you are pretty sure something will happen:
  Passengers may / can experience delays.
  
  
• Use could if you are less certain:
  Passengers could experience delays.
  
  
• Use might if there is a possibility, but nobody is very sure:
  Passengers might experience delays.

Possibility

Do not use may in questions about the possibility of something happening, but use could instead.

Could lessons finish early today, do you think?

Will

Use will to:

• draw conclusions: No doubt you will have heard it by now.
  
• talk about (un)willingness: He will help you if you ask him.
  
• talk about refusals:  She won’t be bullied any longer.
  
• make future predictions: He will spend all his money once he gets his salary.
  
• talk about present characteristic behaviour: Some parents will always be protective.
  
• talk about present habits: He will go out to smoke two times per hour.

Would

Use would to:

• make a prediction about an imaginary situation: He would spend everything if he ever won the lottery.
  
• talk about willingness, but your unable to do it: I would love to help you, but I can’t.
  
• talk about past characteristic behaviour: Some parents would be very neglectful.
  
• talk about past habits: He would go out to smoke two times per hour.
  
• things that happened repeatedly in the past:  They would need 10 minutes to get out of their wetsuit.

Necessity & deduction

Use must or have (got) to to talk about necessity or to deduce

• You must / have to be there on time.
• This must / has (got) to be a lie.
  
  
• Use have (got) to with:
  
• future tenses: You will have to tell him the truth some day.
  
• past tenses:    He had to go to the toilet really badly.
  
• questions:  Have we really got to do this?
  
  
• Use must:
  
• if you believe something is very important: People must not go there alone.
  
• If you conclude that something is true: This must be a lie.

Obligations & advice

Use should or ought to to talk about obligations and advice.

• You should / ought to never leave your bike unlocked.
  

I think I understand the different modal verbs and how to use them.

Yes

Mostly. but I don't need any help.

Mostly, but I still would like some help.

Not at all and need some help.

Continue

In pairs / groups of three:
Continue working on exercises 3.1 - 3.4 on pages 29 & 30.

Check the answers with the key in the back of your book.