Choosing the Right Modal: Should, Must, Have to, Need to, Can

Choosing the Right Modal: Should, Must, Have to, Need to, Can

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to differentiate between the modals 'should', 'must', 'have to', 'need to', and 'can', and identify the hint words that can help you decide which modal to use.

Introduce the objective of the lesson and what students will be able to do by the end of it.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are words that express an attitude towards a proposition. They are used to indicate possibility, probability, necessity, obligation, permission, and ability.

Introduce the concept of modal verbs and their functions.

Should

We use 'should' to give advice or make recommendations. It is also used to express obligation, expectation, and probability.

Explain the different uses of 'should' and provide examples.

Must

We use 'must' to express strong obligation or necessity. It is used to indicate a rule, law, or requirement.

Explain the different uses of 'must' and provide examples.

Have To

We use 'have to' to express external obligation or necessity. It is used to indicate a duty or responsibility.

Explain the different uses of 'have to' and provide examples.

Need To

We use 'need to' to express internal obligation or necessity. It is used to indicate a desire or requirement.

Explain the different uses of 'need to' and provide examples.

Can

We use 'can' to express ability or possibility. It is used to indicate a skill, talent, or availability.

Explain the different uses of 'can' and provide examples.

Hint Words

Hint words are words that can help you decide which modal to use. For example, 'should' is often used with 'advice', 'recommendation', or 'suggestion'. 'Must' is often used with 'rule', 'law', or 'requirement'.

Introduce the concept of hint words and provide examples.

Conclusion

Now that you know the differences between the modals 'should', 'must', 'have to', 'need to', and 'can', and how to use hint words to choose the right modal, you can communicate more effectively in English!

Summarize the key points of the lesson and encourage students to practice using modal verbs in their own communication.

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.