Modal verbs Role-Play Activity

Modal Verbs

What we will learn today

• Recognize what modals are

• Identify the variety of uses of modals in expressing meaning

• Use modals in writing

What are modal verbs?

• Helping verbs used together with base form of main verbs

• Express different types of meanings

Examples of modals

WouldCould

WillShall

MayMight

Must

Can

Should

Where are modals put in a sentence?

I shall be leaving when everything is done.

Where are modals put in a sentence?

I shall be leaving when everything is done.

Shall Be Leaving

Where are modals put in a sentence?

will punish

can swim

Base form verbs are used after modals

will punish

can swim

Base form verbs are used after modals

will punish

can swim

I shall be leaving.

Base form verbs are used after modals

will punish

can swim

I shall be leaving.

He could walk yesterday.

Modals have tenses

Normally…

Present Tense Past Tense

Can Could

Will Would

Shall Should

May Might

Modals have tenses

But look at these sentences…

She may be at home.

She might be in school.

Modals have tenses

But look at these sentences…

I shall take part in the competition next month.

I should be doing my homeworkinstead of playing games.

Meaning of modals

• Possibility --- How likely / Predictions

• Obligation --- Is supposed to

• Necessity/Insistence ---- Need to/ Have to

• Ability ---- Is able to

Possibility• Indicate something is likely to

happen.

• Different degrees of likelihood

VeryUnlikely

Very Likely

MustWillShall

CanMay

CouldMight

Possibility• Indicate something is likely to

happen or to predict

• Different degrees of likelihood

VeryUnlikely

Very Likely

MustWillShall

CanMay

CouldMightCannot

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.

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.

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)

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.

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!

Four RolesMr. 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

ABILITYNECESSITY/INSISTENCE

POSSIBILITY

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 inclass so you must not talk to yourfriends.

I can remember how the humancirculatory system work becauseI paid attention!

I must talk to my friends in classeven if it makes the teacher unhappy. I need to be heard!

I will never be able to finishall that work by tomorrow.I could work faster if theywould stop making noise.

OBLIGATION ABILITY

NECESSITY/INSISTENCEPOSSIBILITY

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!