Modal Verbs


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Modal Verbs (13)
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Media: Video | Rating & Comments

Movie Segments to Assess Grammar Goals - Modals

Link(s): http://moviesegmentstoassessgrammargoals.blogspot.com/search?q=modals
Description: This resources provides more than ten movie segments and related activities to help students practise the use of modal verbs in different contexts. Each activity includes a movie clip, printable worksheets with answer keys and tips on using movie clips for grammar teaching.
Source / Author: Movie Segments to Assess Grammar Goals / Claudio Azevedo
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Language Items
  • Use the present and past modals "can, can't, could, must, should, may, might, have to" to:
    • talk about abilities
    • express obligations and prohibitions
    • express duties and necessity
    • express future possibilities
    • express preferences
    • express regrets
    • ask for and give suggestions
Listening
  • Extract ideas and information from spoken texts
 
Speaking
  • Express ideas, information and opinions
  • Express personal response to descriptions of experiences with attempt to give some evaluative comments
  • Choose the movie segments and activities suitable for the needs and level of students.
  • Some suggested activities require integration of all four skills, so teachers need to give appropriate guidelines and instructions to students according to their abilities.
  • Students may not be able to follow what the characters say, so teachers may need to pause the segment from time to time to let students read the subtitles or, replay it.
  • Remind students to pay attention to the modal verbs the characters use in the segments or how the modal verbs could be used to describe the scenes.
Keyword(s): modal verbs | video | grammar | listening | movie
Media: Web page | Rating & Comments

Hoop Shoot - Modals

Link(s): http://www.eslgamesworld.com/members/games/grammar/basketball/modals%20can%20must%20would/modals%20can%20must%20would.html
Description: This is an online basketball game in which students have to answer questions with the correct modal verbs in order to get a chance to shoot the basket.
Source / Author: eslgamesworld.com
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Language Items
  • Use the present and past modals "can, could, must, would" to:
    • express obligations and prohibitions
    • express duties and necessity
    • express future possibilities
    • ask permission
    • make requests
    • express preferences
N/A
  • This activity is suitable for less able students as an ice-breaker or consolidation practice.
  • It could be played individually or in pairs in the computer room, or as a group competition in class.
  • Students could be asked to explain why the particular modal verbs should be used in different items.
  • Remind students to pay attention to the correct answers shown if their attempts are wrong and give them help if they have any problems about the correct answers.
Keyword(s): modal verbs | games
Media: Web page | Rating & Comments

Modal Verbs Exercises

Link(s): http://www.autoenglish.org/modalverbs.htm
Description: This resource provides learning and teaching materials about the use of modal verbs through various media types, such as online interactive quizzes, video and audio lessons, etc.
Source / Author: autoenglish.org / Bob Wilson
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Language Items
  • Use the present and past modals "can, could, have to, must, might, should, need, ought to, would, shall, had better, would rather, have got to" to:
    • talk about abilities
    • express obligations and prohibitions
    • express duties and necessity
    • express future possibilities
    • express preferences
    • ask permission
    • ask for and offer help and advice
    • make requests and invitations
    • seek information
Listening
  • Extract information and ideas from spoken texts
  • This resource has a comprehensive coverage of the use of modal verbs. Teachers should choose the items suitable for the level of the class.
  • Students could use this resource for self-learning or review practices. For the latter purpose, students could complete the exercises first and then refer to the notes, audio or video lessons for the detailed explanations and examples if they have any problems with the answers.
  • Encourage students to take notes when they are viewing or listening to the video or audio lessons.
Keyword(s): modal verbs | grammar notes and exercises | video | audio | listening
Media: Web page | Rating & Comments

Mixed Modals Game

Link(s): http://www.eslgamesworld.com/members/games/grammar/New_Snakes_%20Ladders/Mixed_Modals.html
Description: In this classic but interactive online snakes and ladder game, students have to answer questions with the correct modal verbs in order to get a chance to roll the dice.
Source / Author: eslgamesworld.com
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Language Items
  • Use the present and past modals "shall, should, may, might, would, must, needn't, couldn't" to:
    • express obligations and prohibitions
    • express duties and necessity
    • express future possibilities
    • ask permission
    • ask for and offer help and advice
    • make requests and invitations
N/A
  • This activity is suitable for less able students as an ice-breaker or consolidation practice.
  • It could be played individually or in pairs in the computer room, or as a team competition in class.
  • Students could be asked to explain why the particular modal verbs should be used in different items.
  • Remind students to check the answers at the end of the game and give them help if they have any problems about the correct answers.
Keyword(s): modal verbs | games
Media: Web page | Rating & Comments

Modals

Link(s):http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-reference/modals-1http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-reference/modals-%E2%80%93-deduction-presenthttp://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-reference/modals-%E2%80%93-deduction-past
Description: These three resources introduce rules and examples of modal verbs. Each of them includes a short exercise.
Source / Author: British Council
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Language Items
  • Use the present and past modals "can, can't, could, may, must, have to" to:
    • express obligations and prohibitions
    • express future possibilities
    • ask permission
N/A
  • These resources cover the use of several modal verbs. Teachers should choose the items suitable for the level of the class.
  • Students could use the resources for self-learning or review practices.
  • To encourage students to take the initiative in learning, teachers could firstly ask them to complete the quizzes and identify their own problems with the use of modal verbs. They then read the grammar notes themselves to find out reasons for the correct answers. Teachers could observe and give them help when necessary.
Keyword(s): modal verbs | notes and exercises
Media: Web page | Rating & Comments

Grammar Quizzes - Modals

Link(s): http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/modalsum.html
Description: This resource provides interactive practices and detailed notes on the use of modal verbs.
Source / Author: Grammar-Quizzes.com
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Language Items
  • Use the present and past modals "can, could, have to, must, might, should, need, ought to, will, would, shall" to:
    • talk about abilities
    • express obligations and prohibitions
    • express duties and necessity
    • express future possibilities
    • express preferences
    • ask permission
    • ask for and offer help and advice
    • make requests and invitations
    • seek information
N/A
  • This resource has a comprehensive coverage of the use of different modal verbs. Teachers should choose the items suitable for the level of the class.
  • Students could use this resource for self-learning or review practices. For the latter purpose, students could complete the exercises first and then refer to the notes provided for the detailed explanations and examples if they have any problems with the answers.
Keyword(s): modal verbs | grammar notes and exercises
Media: words, xls, pdf, txt | Rating & Comments

Giving Advice Game

Link(s): http://eslgamesworld.com/members/games/printables/pirate/givingadvice.pdf
Description: This board game is designed to get students communicating and giving advice to one another with the target modal verbs and formulaic expressions.
Source / Author: eslgamesworld.com
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Language Items
  • Use the following modals and formulaic expressions to give advice: should / shouldn't, ought to, had better, Why don't you, What you can do is
Listening
  • Understand suggestions, advice and recommendations
 
Speaking
  • Ask for and give advice
  • Respond appropriately to other people's suggestions and advice during conversations
  • This game is called PIRATE because there are ugly islands a student needs to cross to get to finish. If a student lands on the pirate skull and crossbones square, he goes back to start.
  • Divide the class into pairs or groups and give each of them a game board, a dice and sufficient counters.
  • To start with, Student A throws the dice, moves his counter and reads aloud the problem in the square he lands on. Other students then give him advice using the appropriate modals or formulaic expressions. Student A listens and chooses the advice he finds the most helpful. The student who contributes that advice can move one square forward or exempt from the next punishment if he lands on the pirate skull and crossbones square.
  • Other students take turns to play the game as above.
  • Students should check and correct each other if the modal verbs or formulaic expressions are used appropriately. Teacher should give help when students have uncertainties.
  • Teachers could find more samples of this kind of language game or modify the game with the template provided from the following site: http://eslgamesworld.com/members/games/printables/index.html
Keyword(s): modal verbs | games | speaking | giving advice
Media: Web page | Rating & Comments

Printable modals exercises and worksheets

Link(s): http://www.esltower.com/GRAMMARSHEETS/modals/modals.html
Description: This resource provides five sets of exercises about the use of modal verbs. Students can choose to download the printable version or do the online self-grading version.
Source / Author: ESLTower.com
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Language Items
  • Use the present and past modals "can, can't, could, couldn't, must have, can't have, have to, must, mustn't, needn't" to:
    • talk about abilities
    • express obligations and prohibitions
    • express duties and necessity
    • express future possibilities
    • ask permission
    • seek information
N/A
  • This resource covers the use of several modal verbs. Teachers should choose the items suitable for the level of the class.
  • Students could use this resource for self-learning or review practices.
  • Remind students that when they are doing the exercise "Can't have and Must have", they have to understand the underlying meaning of each statement before choosing the answer.
Keyword(s): modal verbs | exercises
Media: Video | Rating & Comments

Advertising For Fun

Link(s):Advertising For Fun (ETV)Teacher's note
Description: In this ETV programme, a class of students are asked to present a five-minute show. They then demonstrate how to design a pair of shoes, make a dress, a potato carving, and a cucumber facial mask respectively. The teacher loves the show so much that she teaches the students how to advertise their products and sell them.
Source / Author: Educational Television Unit, EDB
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Vocabulary
  • Names of fruits and vegetables, e.g., cucumber, peach, avocado, carrot, etc
  • Words and phrases relating to advertising, e.g., packaging, product, advertise, poster, theme colour, etc 
 
Language Items
  • Use "be + going to" to describe events that will occur quite soon, e.g., I'm going to design a pair of sports shoes. 
  • Use modals to make suggestions and advice, e.g., can, may, should, etc
  • Use noun phrases to refer to quantities or units, e.g., a tablespoonful of yoghurt, half of a peeled cucumber, etc
  • Use imperatives to make invitations and give instructions, e.g., Try it! Feel it! Have it! 
Writing
  • Identify the purpose of writing and try to achieve that purpose
  • Use appropriate formats, conventions and language features when writing a variety of text-types, e.g., advertisements
 
Listening
  • Listen for main ideas and extract specific information from spoken texts
  • Identify the sequence of events, causes and effects
  • Use "Internet Explorer" and "Real Player"  to download and watch the video. (Depository: Related Links >  Software Download)
  • Download the "Teachers'  note" for the programme outline and suggested activities.
  • Revise imperatives with students before they make their own advertisements if needed.
Keyword(s): ETV | listening | school life | modal verbs | fruits | determiners | advertising | present continuous tense | going to | imperatives
Media: words, xls, pdf, txt | Rating & Comments

School and House Rules

Link(s):School and House RulesTelenex Registration Page
Description: This lesson plan aims to give students controlled practice in using 'may' and 'can' for giving permission, and 'may not' and 'cannot'/'can't' for prohibition, as well as to raise their awareness of the difference in formality between 'may' and 'can'.
Source / Author: Telenex, HKU
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Vocabulary
  • Words and phrases relating to school rules, e.g., comics, school uniforms, make-up, detention, demerit, etc
 
Language Items
  • Use the modals 'can' and 'may' to ask and give permission, e.g., May I turn the air conditioning off? 
  • Use the modals 'cannot' and 'may not' to express prohibitions, e.g., Members may not bring more than two visitors into the club.
Speaking
  • Express ideas, information and opinions
  • Use words and expressions appropriate to the context
  • Teachers are advised to view the content of the lesson plan prior to teaching in class and adjust the teaching content to suit the ability and needs of the class if needed.
  • Besides 'may' and 'can', the suggested activities may be used to practise other modal verbs, e.g., should, need to, must, etc.
  • More able students may be asked to provide reasons for the new school and family rules they would like to introduce in the controlled practice.
  • Teachers may register to become members if they are interested to explore more resources from this web site. Please see the home page of Telenex for details.
Keyword(s): school rules | modal verbs | lesson plan
Media: Web page | Rating & Comments

Using Modal Verbs to Problem Solve

Link(s): http://esl.about.com/od/grammarlessons/a/difficult_sit.htm
Description: In this activity, a difficult problem is presented and students have to offer suggestions for a possible solution to the problem using the past forms of the modal verbs.
Source / Author: eslabout.com / Kenneth Beare
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Vocabulary
  • Words used to express problems and solutions, e.g., promotion, pregnant, schedule, dilemma, ridiculous
 
Language Items
  • Use the present and past modals "can, could, may, might, must, should," to talk about probability and advice
Reading
  • Employ contextual clues to deduce meaning of unknown words
  • Relate facts, opinion and information from the texts
 
Listening
  • Understand suggestions, advice and recommendations
  • Understand other people's views, attitudes and preferences in conversational exchanges
 
Speaking
  • Express, elicit and respond to ideas, opinions and feelings in a group discussion
  • Use words and expressions appropriate to the context
  • This activity is suitable for more able students as it requires relatively high reasoning power and strong speaking skills.
  • Give sufficient time for students to read the text. Make modification to the text to suit the level of the class if necessary.
  • Remind students to use the appropriate modal verbs in the past tense when the meanings are about probability and giving suggestions, e.g., must have been, should have done, etc.
  • Refer to the links provided for more information about modal verbs in the past tense.
  • If debate is too demanding for students, the activity could be conducted as a group discussion which lets students express their opinions freely.
Keyword(s): modal verbs | classroom activity | grammar | advice | debate | reading | speaking
Media: Video | Rating & Comments

Grammar in Songs - Modal Verbs

Link(s):Please copy and paste the link provided in the resource description onto the address bar (URL bar) of your web browser.
Description: This video (http://www.youtube.com/user/mjsaborido#p/u/4/3KcSEnVnQ98) shows clips of lyrics from different songs which illustrate examples of the use of modal verbs.
Source / Author: mjsaborido
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Language Items
  • Use the modals "may, might, can, can't, must, mustn't, should" to:
    • talk about abilities
    • express obligations and prohibitions
    • express future possibilities
    • express preferences
    • ask permission
    • ask for and offer help and advice
Listening
  • Extract ideas and information from spoken texts
  • Ask students to put down the modal verbs in the lyrics as they can hear from the video and explain what they mean.
  • More able students could be asked to substitute the lyrics with other modal verbs they have learnt and explain how the meanings of the lyrics could be altered by the new modal verbs.
  • As an extended activity, ask students to search for other lyrics which contain the target modal verbs and share with one another in class.
Keyword(s): modal verbs | grammar | video | songs | listening
Media: Web page | Rating & Comments

Modal Verb Tutorial

Link(s):Please copy and paste the link provided in the resource description onto the address bar (URL bar) of your web browser.
Description: This resource (http://www.englishpage.com/modals/modalintro.html) provides detailed notes and interactive exercises on the use of modal verbs.
Source / Author: Englishpage.com
Language Forms & Functions Language Skills Remarks / User Tips
Language Items
  • Use the present and past modals "can, could, have to, must, might, should, need, ought to, would, shall, had better, have got to" to:
    • talk about abilities
    • express obligations and prohibitions
    • express duties and necessity
    • express future possibilities
    • express preferences
    • ask permission
    • ask for and offer help and advice
    • make requests and invitations
    • seek information
N/A
  • This resource has a comprehensive coverage of the use of different modal verbs. Teachers should choose the items suitable for the level of the class.
  • Students could use this resource for self-learning or review practices. For the latter purpose, students could complete the exercises first and then refer to the notes provided for the detailed explanations and examples if they have any problems with the answers.
Keyword(s): modal verbs | grammar notes and exercises
Total: 13 resource(s) | Showing resource 1 - 5 | < previous 1 2 3 next >
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Last Update: 12th December, 2012