Mastering Modal Verbs: Understanding Different Forms and Uses

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

Welcome students!

Welcome to your English lesson!

Today's lesson: Modal verbs: The different forms and uses.

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to identify different forms and understand the various uses of modal verbs in English.

Recap of last lesson(s)

Adverbs (bijwoord) & adjectives (Bijvoegelijk naamwoord)

Which is an adverb and which is an adjective?

The smart student sang beautifully.

The quick car drove recklessly.

P 135 in workbook

Summary

Find the modal verbs

Introduction to Modal Verbs

For now you only need to know:

• Ability
• Permission
• Politeness
• Obligation

Forms of Modal Verbs

Modal verbs do not change their form according to the subject. They are always followed by the base form of the main verb. 

For example:

• 'She can sing.'
• 'I should study more for the test'

Modal Verbs for Ability

The modal verbs 'can', 'could' and 'be able to' are used to show ability, that you can of can't do something.

Present	Past
Can (kunnen, mogelijk zijn)	Could (zou kunnen)
I can swim.	I could swim when I was younger.

To be able to (kunnen, in tstaat zijn

I was able to swim for two hours non-stop.

Modal Verbs for Politeness

You can also use 'could' or 'can', to ask permission to do something. 

For example

Could I join you guys for the cinema?

Can I go to the toilet please?

Modal Verbs for Politeness

Modal verbs like 'could', 'can', 'may' & 'might' 

May and Might are more formal than can/could

Might is the most polite form of them all:

• 'May I borrow your pen perhaps?'
• 'Might I bother you for a minute?'

Modal Verbs for Probability

Modal verbs such as 'might', 'may', and 'could' are used to express uncertainty or probability about a situation or an event.

For example:

• 'The students might be late.'
• 'It may rain this afternoon.'
• 'We could get wet when we go out.'

Modal Verbs for Permission

Modal verbs such as'to be allowed to' , 'can' an 'could' express whether  you are allowed to go an event.

(can > alleen in present simple)

Modal Verbs for obligation

Modal verbs like 'have to', 'must', and 'should' are obligations.

• Must is the strongest form
• Followed by Have to
• Should is just used for advice

Modal Verbs for obligation

Modal verbs like 'have to', 'must', and 'should' are obligations.

For example:

• 'Students must be in class on time.'
• 'You have to be finished with your homework.'
• 'We should exercise more during the week.'

An overview

Assessment and Review

Do the practice test

Continue on with your homework where you left off last lesson.

The homework is:

• see planner U3.5
• prepare for Unit test

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to identify different forms and understand the various uses of modal verbs in English.

Learning Objective

What do the following Modal verbs mean?

• Can
• Might
• Should
• Must