Mastering Modal Verbs: Must, Have to, Need to, Should, Shouldn't, Don't Have To, Needn't, Don't Need To, Can, Could, Can't Couldn't, and Mustn't

Mastering Modal Verbs: 

Must, Have to, Need to, Should, Shouldn't, Don't Have To, Needn't, Don't Need To, Can, Could, Can't Couldn't, and Mustn't

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to differentiate the use of modal verbs in English.

What do you already know about modal verbs?

Must

Used for obligation or strong necessity. e.g., I must study for my exams.

Ask students to give examples of situations where they must do something.

Have To

Used for external obligation or necessity. e.g., I have to wear a uniform to school.

Ask students to give examples of situations where they have to do something.

Need To

Used for necessity or obligation. e.g., I need to go to the dentist.

Ask students to give examples of situations where they need to do something.

Should

Used for recommendation, advice or expectation. e.g., You should take an umbrella because it might rain.

Ask students to give examples of situations where they should do something.

Shouldn't

Used for prohibition, advice not to do something. e.g., You shouldn't eat too much junk food.

Ask students to give examples of situations where they shouldn't do something.

Don't Have To

Used for no obligation or necessity. e.g., You don't have to come to the party if you don't want to.

Ask students to give examples of situations where they don't have to do something.

Needn't

Used for no necessity or obligation. e.g., You needn't come to the party if you don't want to.

Ask students to give examples of situations where they needn't do something.

Don't Need To

Used for no necessity or obligation. e.g., You don't need to bring anything to the party.

Ask students to give examples of situations where they don't need to do something.

Can

Used for ability or possibility. e.g., I can speak Spanish.

Ask students to give examples of things they can do.

Could

Used for past ability, polite request or possibility. e.g., I could swim when I was younger.

Ask students to give examples of things they could do in the past.

Can't

Used for inability or impossibility. e.g., I can't swim.

Ask students to give examples of things they can't do.

Couldn't

Used for past inability or impossibility. e.g., I couldn't swim when I was younger.

Ask students to give examples of things they couldn't do in the past.

Mustn't

Used for prohibition or strong advice not to do something. e.g., You mustn't smoke in public places.

Ask students to give examples of things they mustn't do.

Summary

Must, have to, need to, should, shouldn't, don't have to, needn't, don't need to, can, could, can't couldn't, and mustn't are all modal verbs but are used differently in English.

Ask students to summarize what they have learned about modal verbs.

Assessment

Give examples of different situations where you can use the modal verbs learned in this lesson.

Assess students' understanding of the use of modal verbs in English.

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.