Mastering Modal Verbs: Understanding Different Forms and Uses

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

Welcome students!

Welcome to your English lessons!

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.

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 'could' & 'can', are often used to show ability, that you can of can't do something.

Present	Past
Can	Could
I can swim.	I could swim when i was younger.

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 Uncertainty

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 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

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

The homework for next week is:

• Unit 3
• Lesson 3
•  opdracht 1 t/m 9

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