Modal Verbs - Activities

Teens 4 – Modal verbs

Modal verbs share some characteristics:

• They have the same form in all persons singular and plural.
• Questions are formed with inversion: Must/Should she leave now? /Ought she to leave now? / Can
you write with your left hand?

BE ABLE TO Ability / capability After the operation John was able to

walk again.
I’m able to play tennis twice a week.
I will be able to visit Paris next year.
CAN Ability I can speak English very well.

Permission You can go to the party tonight.
Offer Can I help you, sir?
Possibility (We think something is true) Smoking can cause cancer.
CAN’T Lack of ability I can’t speak Japanese.

Prohibition You can’t use your phone here.
Certainty (We are sure something is NOT true) That can’t be John. He’s in Paris now.
MUST Obligation (When the speaker feels sth. is I must go now. I don’t want to be late.
necessary)
Emphatic advice You must see this film. It’s amazing.
Certainty (We strongly believe sth. is true) She must feel exhausted after the trip.
MUSTN’T Prohibition You mustn’t smoke during the flight.
HAVE TO Obligation (external, imposed obligation) You have to wear uniforms at work.
When I was at school, I had to wear blue socks.
DON’T HAVE TO Lack of necessity You don’t have to work in July.

I didn’t have to water the plants yesterday.
SHOULD Give advice You should take an umbrella. It’s going to rain.
You should go to the doctor.
SHOULDN’T
You shouldn’t wear warm clothes. It’s quite hot.
OUGHT TO Give advice (more formal) You ought to pack your luggage now.
MIGHT / MAY Possibility (When you think sth. is possibly It might/ may be cold outside. (it’s possibly or
true) probably cold)
Permission (may) May I go to the toilet, please?
Could Ability (in the past) I could speak when I was 10 months.
Possibility (When you think sth. is possibly This vase could be very valuable.
true)
Teens 4 Modal verbs Miss Hildi

Activities
a. Fill in the blanks using MUST, MUSTN’T, DON’T HAVE TO, SHOULD, SHOULDN’T, MIGHT, CAN, CAN’T.
1. Rose and Ted _________________ be good players. They have won hundreds of cups!
2. You _________________ pay to use the library. It’s free.
3. I’m not sure where my wife is at the moment. She _________________ be at her dance class.
4. Jerry _________________ be working today. He never works on Sundays.
5. You _________________ be 18 to see that film.
6. You _________________ hear this story. It’s very funny.
7. Dad _________________ go and see a doctor. His cough is getting worse all the time.
8. You don’t have to shout. I _________________ hear you very well.
9. It _________________ be him. I saw him a week ago, and he didn’t look like that.
10. You look pretty tired. I think you _________________ go to bed early tonight.
11. Let me look. I _________________ be able to help you.
12. “Children, you _________________ cross the street if the lights are red!”
13. You _________________ sit so near the TV. It’s bad for your eyes.
14. I’m sorry but I _________________ give you a lift because my car is broken.
15. I _________________ stop and talk to you now. I have to get to the library.
16. You really _________________ go to the Louvre if you’re in Paris. It’s wonderful.
17. You _________________ come to the party if you don’t feel well.
18. I don’t know where Kelly is. She _________________ be at her sister’s.
19. You have passed all your tests. You _________________ be very pleased with yourself.
20. You _________________ smoke in your car, especially if there are children sitting in the back.
21. You _________________ work this evening. I can do the tasks for you.
22. John doesn’t need a calculator. He _________________ do sums in his head.
23. Passengers _________________ open the door when the train is moving.
24. It _________________ rain today. It’s getting cloudy already.
25. I _________________ pay for the tickets because I got them from Sam for free.
b. Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first one.
1. Wearing suits is obligatory in Joanna’s office.
Joanna _________________________ suits in the office. (has)
2. Is it a good idea for us to check out before breakfast?
_________________________ before breakfast? (should)
3. It’s not necessary to take your passport.
You _________________________ your passport. (have)
4. Smoking is forbidden in the airport.
You _________________________ in the airport. (mustn’t)

5. Is it necessary for Hannah to bring a sleeping bag?
______________________________ a sleeping bag? (does)
6. You should buy new sunglasses.

You _________________________ new sunglasses. (ought)
c. Circle the correct words in these dialogues.
A: Look at his red face! He must / might / can’t be exhausted!
B: Oh yes! But look at those huge bags on the back of his bike. It must / may / can’t be easy
to cycle with those.
A: True. They must / could / can’t be very heavy – at least 20 kg.
A: Look, no one is swimming. The water must / could / can’t be freezing.
B: No, it must / might / can’t be freezing in this sunny weather. The water’s always quite warm here.
A: Well, something’s stopping people from swimming. The water must / may / can’t be muddy, or it must / might /
can’t be full of seaweed. Yuck! I’m definitely not going in.

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Teens 4 – Modal verbs

Modal verbs share some characteristics:

BE ABLE TO Ability / capability After the operation John was able to

CAN Ability I can speak English very well.

CAN’T Lack of ability I can’t speak Japanese.

MUSTN’T Prohibition You mustn’t smoke during the flight.

DON’T HAVE TO Lack of necessity You don’t have to work in July.

Teens 4 Modal verbs Miss Hildi

Teens 4 Modal verbs Miss Hildi

6. You should buy new sunglasses.

c. Circle the correct words in these dialogues.

A: Look at his red face! He must / might / can’t be exhausted!

to cycle with those.

A: True. They must / could / can’t be very heavy – at least 20 kg.

A: Look, no one is swimming. The water must / could / can’t be freezing.

Teens 4 Modal verbs Miss Hildi

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