Modal auxiliary verbs are verbs that cannot stand alone in a sentence; they must be followed by a main verb which is always in the infinitive e.g He can speak three languages She must take care of her teeth It expresses: • Ability to something e.g Birds can fly • Polite request e.g Can you help me with my grammar exercise? • Ask for Permission e.g Can I leave now? • Forbidding doing something e.g You can’t smoke in this area • Possibility e.g This potion can kill anyone It expresses • Ask for Permission: May I borrow your umbrella, please? • Future Possibility (not sure): William didn’t come to school today He may be ill • Wish: May God bless you It expresses • Past ability He could lift 50 kilos when he was young Formal requests Could you leave your luggage here, please? • • Ask for permission Could I stay here, please? It expresses • Remote possibility (less sure): There are no clouds in the sky but it might rain • Warning Don’t swim here; you might be attacked by sharks • Suggestion “I need to buy some cloths” “well you might come with me I’m going to some shopping as well.” It expresses: • Obligation: e.g In Algeria, car drivers must attach their security belt • Prohibition (negative obligation) e.g You mustn’t drive so fast Affirmative form: “have to” expresses • Obligation e.g In Algeria pupils have to wear pinafores Negative form “don’t have to” expresses • Lack of obligation e.g You don’t have to all the work today, you can finish it tomorrow In the past tense “had to” expresses • Obligation in the past e.g I had to finish all the work before noon God give you success in your work! He dance the Salsa when he was young 3.she speak four foreign languages Anyone make such mistakes I'm afraid I not tell you her secret They not understand it because it was too difficult We win this match You have good manners you live in prosperity! 10 An elephant not fly 11 They finish this work today 12 We obey our parents 13 you shouldn’t eat too much sugar You have diabetes Consider the situations below and choose the most appropriate modal from the modals between brackets and put it in each of the blanks a A pedestrian/ in the street Excuse me, officer, (may/can/could) you show me the way to Victoria Station please? b A pupil/ in the classroom (could/can/may) I borrow your protractor, said? I’ve forgotten mine at home c Immigration officer/ at the airport (can/could/may) I see your passport? d In the classroom Teacher: where’s Marry? Why is she absent? Pupil: I don’t know She _ (can/may/could) be at the hospital e Pupils/ in the headmaster’s office Pupils: _ (can/will/may) we leave now, Mr White? Headmaster: no, you (can’t/may not/couldn’t) you haven’t answered all my questions Put the following modals in the right place: can, could, must, may, might It is the Election Day, every citizen _ vote It was a bad accident; we have been killed Mary _ not be ten Before two years, she was six years old She be eight now This restaurant is always full of people It _ be excellent My father travelled a lot so he speak five languages He told me a strange story but it _ be true _ I see your passport, please? I don’t want anyone to know about our plan You _keep the secret It was your fault You _ apologize I am a tourist and I _ not find Maqam El Chahid _ you show me the way, sir? Exercise May – could – can- can –must- could- Can/must- must-may-can- have to-must-might Exercise 2: could- can- may-may-may-may not Exercise Must- could- can- must- may – can- may- may- must – must- can could