The document discusses modal verbs and their uses. It defines modal verbs as helping verbs that are used with the base form of main verbs to express different meanings. It provides examples of common modal verbs like can, may, will. It explains that modal verbs are placed before the base form of other verbs and discusses how modal verbs are used to express possibility, obligation, necessity/insistence, and ability. It provides a group activity where students take on roles and use modal verbs to discuss different situations.

1. Modal Verbs

2. What we will learn today
• Recognize what modals are
• Identify the variety of uses of
modals in expressing meaning
• Use modals in writing

3. What are modal verbs?
• Helping verbs used together with base
form of main verbs
• Express different types of meanings

4. Examples of modals
Would
Could
Will
Shall
May
Might
Must
Can
Should

5. Where are modals put in a
sentence?
I shall be leaving when everything is done.

6. Where are modals put in a
sentence?
I shall be leaving when everything is done.
Shall Be Leaving

7. Where are modals put in a
sentence?
will punish
can swim

8. Base form verbs are used after
modals
will punish
can swim

9. Base form verbs are used after
modals
will punish
can swim
I shall be leaving.

10. Base form verbs are used after
modals
will punish
can swim
I shall be leaving.
He could walk yesterday

11. Modals have tenses
Normally…
Present Tense Past Tense
Can Could
Will Would
Shall Should
May Might

12. Modals have tenses
But look at these sentences…
She may be at home.
She might be in school.

13. Modals have tenses
But look at these sentences…
I shall take part in the competition
next month.
I should be doing my homework
instead of playing games.

14. Meaning of modals
• Possibility --- How likely / Predictions
• Obligation --- Is supposed to
• Necessity/Insistence ---- Need to/ Have to
• Ability ---- Is able to

15. Possibility
• Indicate something is likely to
happen.
• Different degrees of likelihood
Very
Unlikely
Very
Likely
Must
Will
Shall
Can
May
Could
Might

16. Possibility
• Indicate something is likely to
happen or to predict
• Different degrees of likelihood
Very
Unlikely
Very
Likely
Must
Will
Shall
Can
May
Could
MightCannot

17. Obligation
• Used to indicate that an action is
required because someone is
responsible.
Should: Not used as past tense of ‘shall’
Must: Used to give orders that someone is
obliged to follow.

18. Necessity/Insistence
• To indicate something that is
needed by someone or insisted on
by someone.
Need to: When voicing out what is needed/
insisted on.
Must: To insist on something to be done.

19. Ability
• To indicate if something can or
cannot be done.
Can Cannot
Could is used to express ability in the past.
(Not to express likelihood in which it can used
in present/past tense)

20. Group Activity
• Work in your usual groups of fours and label
yourselves 1 to 4.
• Listen to all instructions carefully before
moving off to collect materials/get into
groups.
• You will be practising how to use modals to
show obligation, ability, necessity/insistence
and possibility.

21. Instructions
• Each group collect a set of materials which
comprises 1 activity sheet and 1 pack of markers.
• The activity will require the group to role play and
think of what 4 different characters will say in
unique situations to show obligation, ability,
necessity/insistence and possibility.
• Each member will present 1 role at the end of
group discussion.
• Discussion can only begin when the online timer
starts ticking--- 10 minutes discussion time will be
given!

22. Four Roles
Mr. Judge: He is always right and always
has advice for everyone.
Superman: He has superpowers that
enables him to do just about
anything and everything!
Bossy Betty: She is always demanding the
others to give in to her and
keeps insisting on her ways.
Old Mr. Think-A-Lot: He is always thinking
of things that might
happen.
OBLIGATION
ABILITY
NECESSITY/INSISTENCE
POSSIBILITY

23. In a classroom
Mr. Judge who is
always right would
say “
Superman who has
superpowers would
say “
Bossy Betty who
demands a lot would
say
Old Mr. Think-a-lot
would say “
__________________
_________
You should pay attention in
class so you must not talk to your
friends.
I can remember how the human
circulatory system work because
I paid attention!
I must talk to my friends in class
even if it makes the teacher
unhappy. I need to be heard!
I will never be able to finish
all that work by tomorrow.
I could work faster if they
would stop making noise.
OBLIGATION ABILITY
NECESSITY/INSISTENCE
POSSIBILITY

24. MOST IMPORTANTLY
• Ensure the volume of your group’s discussion
does not affect the others.
• Include everyone in the discussion and respect
each other’s views.
• Sound out to the teacher when the group has
trouble agreeing to how things should be done.
• Basic discipline please!