Can, could, may, might, must, have to, shall, should, will, would. Modal verbs worksheets, printable exercises pdf, handouts. Aug 20, 2009 modal verbs of certainty one of the meanings of modal verbs is to do with degrees of certainty. That must be maria on the phone shes the only person with my new number. The most definite degree of certainty can be expressed with will and wont, followed by must and cantcouldn. The following modal verbs are used to express possibility. A speculation is when you use the evidence in a situation to make an opinion about. The charts below demonstrate how to correctly use past modals. This video explains the use of may, might, could, must, and should to show degrees of possibility or certainty in english. This modal verbs for possibility lesson shows you how to use them all correctly in english.
Modals and the verbs that follow do not change form to indicate tense or take an s ending. Base of this assumption why in some parts you keep saying this modal use for past certainty, for example they must have practiced too much. Modal concept example like to enjoy i like to watch tv want to desire john wants to buy a car a few verbs which often serve as modals too. Modal verbs can be used to express these ideas about the past, present and future. Modals of certainty in the present you can use modal auxiliaries with the base forms of verbs to convey ideas of necessity, obligation, politeness, possibility and probability. Click here for all the exercises about modal verbs. Shall 2 contractual obligation the company shall pay on january 1st could 1 unreal ability i could go if i had time could 2 past ability she could play the pianobut she cant anymore can 1 present ability we can speak english can 2 permission can i have a candy. In this tutorial, you will learn 5 general rules about modal verbs and then i will look in detail at the modals of possibility. A certainty or logical conclusion about an event in the past. In the interactive worksheet, students do an online exercise where they join sentence parts together to make a set of school rules in order to practice modal verbs of obligation and prohibition.
As you learned in the lesson about future tenses, we can use will or going to for saying what we believe will happen in the future. Modals of certainty must, cant and couldnt learn english. They express meanings or ideas such as permission, possibility, certainty, necessity, obligation, command, compulsion, ability, capacity, etc. Neither do the ones dealt with here, in these meanings, have a past form. Answers will vary, but possible answers are given on page 2 level. Lesson 10 modals part 3 todays lesson will focus on using modal verbs for certainty, probability, and deduction. I hope you feel confident enough to try these modals. Present modal verbs of deduction and probability exercise.
Depending on the information available, you might be more certain that your conclusion is true, or less certain that your. Phrasal modals use the common verbs be or have, which can make these modals easier for students to learn because they follow more familiar grammar rules. In this section, we are going to clarify the modals which express. For more great resources see modal verbs of probability. We can use modals of possibility to refer to the past, present or future. Ask students what they think happens to the modals when we are talking about past certainty and probability. Modal verbs of probability modal verb meaning must will future very sure can very sure ability should expect it to happen might a good chance may 50 50 may not mightnt about 3040% could it is possible wont couldnt cant mustnt negative very sure select the right modal. The most commonly used modals are shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, must, ought to. Present modal verbs of deduction and probability exercise check through the different uses. This is an interactive pdf version of the above worksheet for people teaching english online. Modal verbs never add an s in the third person singular. To express certainty in the past, we use must have, cant have and couldnt have. We can use past modals to talk about how sure we are that something happened.
As an example, the modals below are ranked according to the degree of certaintyprobability. You can find links to the exercises at the bottom of the page. To express certainty in the present, we use must, cantandcouldnt. The country is sure to come to the aid of its ally.
You cant assign other probabilities without some context. George ordered a large hamburger with everything on it except mustard. The usual restrictions on the use of modals remain valid. Modals of probability also called modals of speculation for talking about the past level intermediate answer key 1. The exercises use reallife situations to practise grammar in context.
They are used before ordinary verbs and are used to express meanings such as permission, possibility, certainty and necessity. Double concept modal modal concept examples shall 1 educated expression offer excuse me, i shall go now shall i clean it. Modal verbs of ability exercise 1 perfect english grammar. We all know that modals have not indicate tenses, and they only reflect four different aspects of simple, continoues, perfect and perfect continoues. Modal verbs for expectation presentfuture expectation. Advanced modal auxiliary verbs weloveteachingenglish. Mar 27, 2011 modals of possibility and certainty 1. We have a new feature to adapt to the new online teaching circumstances. Engineers are certain to develop even faster computers. Modal verbs can, could, may, might, should, must, would, will and shall are different from other verbs. Modal verbs called modals for short are auxiliary verbs that express a speakers attitude and the strength of that attitude. These esl conversation questions are great for practicing the modals of possibility.
Modal verbs of probability exercise pdf autoenglish. We learned that the modals of possibility are could, might, and may, and the modal of certainty or high chance of possibility is must. A criticism a fill the gaps with must have, might have or can. All modals of necessity revert to had to in past tense. After working with modals of advice, possibility, and obligation, write the following riddle on the board and see if students can answer the question. Certainty about the future making deductions about the future is the same as making predictions. English esl certainty worksheets most downloaded 7 results. Adverbs of certainty express how certain we feel about an action or event. Mar 04, 2018 this video explains the use of may, might, could, must, and should to show degrees of possibility or certainty in english. English grammar modal verbs of certainty might may must can english grammar modal verbs of certainty might may must can learn how to use the modals might, may, must, and can to talk about possibility and certainty in english. After explaining the modals used for ability, permission, requests and advice expressions in part1 of modals lesson. Esl conversation questions modals of possibility might could. Lesson 10 modal verbs for deduction todays lesson will focus on using modal verbs for certainty, probability, and deduction. Modal verbs of possibility and certainty pdf esl activities, games and interactive and printable worksheets for teachers to use with a1, a2 and b1 levels.
Must, could, might, may, couldnt and cant are used to show how possible or probable the speaker thinks a present situation is. Adverbs of certainty go before the main verb unless the main verb is to be, in which case the adverb of certainty goes after. Modals for kids, definition, 10 examples, solved exercise. Several modal verbs show possibility, including might, may, could, and must. Need to necessity we really needed to talk to you have to obligation susan had to pay the rent have got to have to ive got to go now. Modal verbs pdf worksheets english vocabulary and grammar.
Lesson 10 modal verbs for deduction espresso english. Modals modal verbs express degree of necessity, advisability and certainty. Modal verbs of certainty one of the meanings of modal verbs is to do with degrees of certainty. In a serious piece of academic writing you should not, for example, write girls are better at learning language than boys. Unit 7 possibility and probability oxford living grammar explains how grammar works and when to use it. The truth or certainty of what is asserted is more or less taken for granted. A guess about something which happened in the past.
Modal verb modal verbs are also sometimes called modals. This lesson consolidates your students knowledge of expressing possibility and probability with the modal verbs may, might, could, must and cant with the opportunity to. Modal verbs are followed by infinitive without to except from ought to. They must be here somewhere because i used them to open the front door. We can use these modal verbs also called modals of deduction, speculation or certainty when we want to make a guess about something. Modals have only one form, so they are never spelled with an s. Todays lesson will focus on using modal verbs for certainty, probability, and deduction. Understand meaning and use of modals to express degrees of certainty, future intent, preference, advice, ability, inference, permission, request. Modals of certainty in the present exercise 1 choose the correct modal to complete the sentence. English grammar modal verbs of certainty might may must.
Modal verbs of certainty, probability and possibility. Modal verbs expressing certainty, probability or possibility. Modal verbs explained with examples with pictures english grammar. Modal verbs of probability probability james abela elt. Modals are those helping verbs, which express the mode or manner of the actions indicated by the main verbs. The present printable, downloadable handout is meant for high school at preintermediate a2 level. Modals for kids, definition, 10 examples of modals, uses of modals, modals solved exercise, worksheet, questions, pdf, in english grammar. Modal verbs can, could, may, might, must, should, ought to. The only probabilities that come with modal verbs are 0%, 0% and 100%. Grammar worksheet modals of probability with be for talking about the present with signs symbols.
I you he she it we they must might could may cant have been at work. Your students will be spouting target language in no time. All modal auxiliary verbs can be used in the present, but only could, would, should, and might can be used in the. Will and wont are used to predict a future event or action which are seen as certain. They express modes such as ability, possibility, probability, permission, obligation, etc.
The most commonly used modals are shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, must, ought to, used to, need and dare. Degrees of certainty overview it is a common mistake to present something as a proven fact when it is actually an opinion. Jun 16, 2016 may, might and must are modal verbs that cause confusion for some learners. Multiplechoice quiz on modals of deduction in the present and past. Modals of possibility might may could must cant you must be joking. Answers will vary, but possible answers are given on page 2. John always fails the tests, even though hes clever. Modal auxiliary verbs can express different degrees of certainty about an action or a fact. Deduction means using the information available to make a guess or draw a conclusion about the facts. Modal verbs of possibility and certainty esl activities. Deduction means using the information available to make a guess or. M006 modal verbs must, mustnt, dont have to, should, shouldnt, might, can, cant intermediate.
Past modal verbs of deduction exercise she must have gone out there is strong evidence. When you are quite sure that your prediction is correct, you can also add the word definitely to emphasize your certainty. Look at the pictures and make sentences slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. They cannot be used with the willfuture, they have no infinitive, no toinfinitive, no ing form, and no past participle. Offers and invitations using can, shall and would obligation and necessity using must possibility using could, might. Expressing certainty we use must to express that something is necessary true or logically true. Two slightly more formal expressions that can be used for talking about the future with certainty is saying that something is certain to happen, or is sure to happen. The modal auxiliaries will, shall, can and must can be used to express complete certainty. Although generally modals with the same meaning can be used interchangeably, they express a slightly different degree of their meaning.
Depending on the information available, you might be more. Practice modal verbs of possibility and cerainty may, might, could, must, cant be. We can always use had to be meaning must have been to express certainty in the past. All downloads are in pdf format and consist of a worksheet and answer sheet to check your results. Modal auxiliary verbs are followed by the base form of a verb to show certainty, necessity, or possibility.
Modals are used to indicate certainty, possibility, necessity, inference, or prediction. Have to is the most favored for questions, it is useful for forming negatives, and it is the most common of these three modals. That will be maria on the phone she said shed call. Oxford word skills unit 59 i can express probability. Modal verbs of probability perfect english grammar. Past modals for degree of certainty business english. Type use modal verbs example 1 to express possibilities for the future could, may, might it may rain tomorrow. The everyday grammar team is on the job, explaining how to use these modals to express how certain, or sure, you are of. Language focus modals of probability also called modals of speculation for talking about the past. It is aimed at revising modals in english, and was designed for strengthening your class reading and writing skills.