Teaching Modal Verbs
for Everyday College
Life
This presentation helps B1 students understand modal verbs.
We cover meanings, differences, and practice examples used in college life.
by Claudia Alejos
What Are Modal
Verbs?
Definition Sentence
Auxiliary verbs showing
Structure
ability, permission, necessity, Subject + Modal Verb + Base
and more. Verb (without "to")
Example
She can swim. (Correct)
*She can to swim. (Incorrect)
Modal Verbs and Their Uses
Can Could Will / Would
Ability or permission Polite requests or past ability Future actions and polite or imagined
situations
"I can solve problems." "Could you help me?"
"I will study." / "I would travel."
Should Must Might
Advice Strong obligation Possibility
"You should prepare for exams." "You must submit assignments." "It might rain later."
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Key Differences
Between Modal Verbs
Can vs. Could
Can is direct; Could is polite.
Will vs. Would
Will is real future; Would is hypothetical.
Should vs. Must
Should means advice; Must means strong rules.
Might vs. Could
Might is less certain than Could.
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Practice: Modal Verbs in Conversation
More Examples
Sample Questions 1. What should I do to improve grades?
Ask Questions 1. What can you do better than friends? 2. Must I attend all lectures?
Use modals in everyday talking with 2. Could you lend me your laptop? 3. Might the professor cancel class?
classmates.
3. What will you do after class?
4. Would you like to study abroad?
Recap & Homework
Assignment
Summary Homework
Modal meanings change Write 5 sentences using
with context. different modals about
college life.
Example
"I must finish homework tonight."
"I might join a club next semester."
MODAL VERBS
1 Choose the correct answer.
1. The doctor says I might / must get more exercise.
2. You look great in brown. You should / can wear it more often.
3. His arm is broken, so he isn’t able to / may not write.
4. Tomorrow is a holiday, so we mustn’t / don’t have to get up early.
5. When you are on a diet, you ought to / could drink a lot of water.
6. He stopped the car so he should / could rest for a while.
2 Choose the correct continuation.
1. You may borrow the book.
a. I’ve finished reading it. b. It’s a good idea.
2. Greg shouldn’t marry Katie.
a. She’s already married. b. He doesn’t love her.
3. She mustn’t drive home.
a. She drank beer at the party. b. Her brother took the car.
4. I don’t have to cook dinner.
a. I’ve never learned to cook. b. We’re going out for a meal.
3 Complete the sentences with the modals below.
may • must • can’t • could • should
1. You ……………… come to us for dinner. I won’t accept no for an answer.
2. ……………… I have a piece of cake, please?
3. He ……………… reach it. He’s not tall enough.
4. You ……………… always brush your teeth before you go to sleep.
5. I ……………… make people laugh when I was young.
4 Replace the words in bold with the words below.
needn’t • mustn’t • ought to • have to • might • couldn’t
1. Tess should help her mother more. ………………
2. I’m not sure, but she may be French. ………………
3. In some countries, girls are forbidden to uncover their faces in public.
………………
4. You don’t have to explain. ………………
5. You must be careful not to offend them. ………………
6. I’m sorry we weren’t able to come. ………………
5 Choose the correct answer.
1. The restaurant isn’t as busy as I expected. We mustn’t have / might not
have / needn’t have reserved a table.
2. Jay looks happy. He could have / must have / ought to have passed his
driving test.
3. I’m so tired this morning. I couldn’t have / needn’t have / shouldn’t have
gone to bed so late.
4. You could have / must have / may have called to tell us you were coming.
6 Complete the sentences with the correct affirmative or negative modal perfect form of the
verbs in brackets. There may be more than one possible answer.
1. Why didn’t you write?
You ……………………………… (send) an e-mail or an SMS.
2. You missed a great film last night.
You ……………………………… (come) with us.
3. It’s only nine o’clock.
They ……………………………… (go) to bed yet.
4. My dictionary isn’t in my bag.
I ……………………………… (leave) it at home.
5. The train won’t be here for ages.
We ……………………………… (get) here so early.
7 Choose the correct answer.
1. Danny is clever. He could read / could have read when he was five.
2. We must have remembered / must remember to buy drinks for the party
tonight.
3. You shouldn’t buy / shouldn’t have bought that gift. It was much too
expensive.
4. That boy plays the piano really well. He might become / might have become
a professional pianist one day.
5. I found the book easily. You couldn’t look / couldn’t have looked very hard
for it.
6. The dog must eat / must have eaten the steak because no one else was at
home.
