Modal Verbs

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Modal Verbs
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• Modal verbs go before other verbs.
• can could would will shall
• must should might may
• I should learn a great deal this lesson.

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• Modal verbs are used for showing
• Whether someone is able to do something
• Fred can speak Spanish fluently.
• b) How likely something is
• Janet is eating black pudding. She must be very
  hungry.

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c) Advice You should finish reading your book by
Monday. d) Permission May I go to the toilet
in the middle of this exciting literacy
lesson? No! e) What someone usually
does. Boys will be boys.
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Spot the modal verbs Can I have another
burger? You really should eat some vedge with
it. I usually just eat burgers. You must be
putting on a lot of weight. No, I can eat
whatever I want and it makes no
difference. Well, you will get fat if you keep
on eating like that.
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Can I have another burger? You really should
eat some vedge with it. I usually just eat
burgers. You must be putting on a lot of
weight. No, I can eat whatever I want and it
makes no difference. Well, you will get fat if
you keep on eating like that.
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You can make modal verbs negative I must wash
up the dishes, I mustnt leave my room in a
complete mess. I could eat a large bar of
chocolate. I couldnt eat that Vindaloo curry
it was too hot.
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• Make the modal verb negative in each of these
  sentences
• You will stay in at break.
• You could catch a cold.
• You can go first.
• You may turn off the TV.
• You must be boiling.
• You should really be quieter.
• You might get lucky.
• You would believe it.

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• You will not (wont) stay in at break.
• You couldnt catch a cold.
• You cant go first.
• You may not turn off the TV.
• You mustnt be boiling.
• You shouldnt really be quieter.
• You might not get lucky.
• You wouldnt believe it.

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Put the right modal verbs into these sentences
1. He swims really well. He _____ practise a
lot. 2. It was so dark I ____ see the path. 3.
Hes brilliant. He ___ even juggle with his eyes
closed! 4. If she keeps practising, she __ just
make the team. 5. He is just not sure. He ___
make his mind up.
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Put the right modal verbs into these sentences
1. He swims really well. He must practise a
lot. 2. It was so dark I couldnt see the
path. 3. Hes brilliant. He can even juggle with
his eyes closed! 4. If she keeps practising, she
might just make the team. 5. He is just not
sure. He cant make his mind up.
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6. You ___ spread gossip. 7. ___ I sit here? 8.
Jill has ten hedgehogs. They ___ cost a bomb to
feed. 9. Sadly I ____ sing for toffee. 10. I
tried to eat it, but I _____.
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6. You mustnt spread gossip. 7. May I sit
here? 8. Jill has ten hedgehogs. They must cost
a bomb to feed. 9. Sadly I cant sing for
toffee. 10. I tried to eat it, but I couldnt.