Name:

Grade: 9 Section: Date:

Modals
Learning Competency:Express permission, obligation, and prohibition using modals

Let Us Learn!
Hello student? Today is the best time for you to learn new topic. Well, you will learn
about modals. In this activity sheet, you are expected to express yourself using different modals.
Specifically, you are expected to:
1. define modals and their functions;
2. apply the functions of modals in real-world contexts; and
3. give importance to the usage of modals.

Let Us Try!
I know you are excited to know about this topic. That’s great! Read and
understand carefully the statements below. Write your answer on a space
provided.

1. Kate ________ swim very well, she is a great swimmer.

a. should b. can c. mustn't d. can't
2. You ________ wash the dishes in cold water.
a. can b. don't have to c. must d. shouldn't
3. She ________ play the piano. She is a musician.
a. cannot b. can c. mustn't d. can't
4. The doctor told him that he ______ eat less. He’s too fat.
a. should b. shouldn't c. mustn't d. can
5. You _____ swim here. It's forbidden.
a. must b. mustn't c. don't have to d. should

Let Us Study Now!

I know that you have already an idea about our lesson. That’s great! Now, kindly get
your dictionaries and define the following words. You should find at least 2 definitions for
each term. This is 5 points each.

Permission Ability
1. 1.
2. 2.
Obligation Prohibition
1. 1.
2. 2.
Lack of necessity Advice
1. 1.
2. 2.
Possibility Probability
1. 1.
2. 2.

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Explain the following:
1. What did you observe with the terms?
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2. Do they have different meanings to each other? How they differ?
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3. What do you mean by Modals?
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Let Us Practice!
How did you find our activity? Did you get it right? Or you need to have more elaboration?
To better understand the topic, let’s try this out. Match the definition (column A) to the function of
modal (column B).
Column A Column B

1. the most common meaning for modal verbs in A. Permission

the category of possibility, ability and permission
is logical possibility: indicating what is or is not
possible from what we know about a situation. All
four modals in this category (can, could, may, B. Ability
might) are used in this way.
2. Can is frequently used to indicate ability.
3. The use of can and may to ask or give C. Obligation
someone permission is common in speech but
rare in formal writing, because it involves
personal interaction. D. Prohibition
4. The first meaning is that of personal obligation;
the writer states what he/she and perhaps the
reader is obliged to do/believe etc. using a modal
verb such as must or should. E. Lack of necessity
5. The second meaning is that of logical
necessity; the writer states what he/she wants the
reader to conclude from the information F. Advice
presented using a modal verb such as must or
should.
6. will and would are commonly used in formal
G. Possibility
writing to predict future events or states that are
not caused by anyone. Very often the period or
point in time is not mentioned.
7. shall is used to indicate the writer's personal H. Probability
intention. This is a formal and conventional use of
this modal.
Let Us Practice More!
How’s your activity so far? Are you doing great? Now, let’s have more exercises to better
understand the topic. Read the essay and underline the proper modal to be used.

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 As we get older and when we think about our past we sometimes ponder the things that
we should/can have done. And we also may/shall regret those things we did badly and the
mistakes we made. In reality, we be able to/can always learn from our mistakes and hope to
never make them again. For example, if I failed a test because of a lack of study, the next test
I will/must hope to pass because of hard work. Remember too that some regrets are not based in
reality and we must/may waste time thinking that they are. Would/should I have really not have
been involved in a car crash if I had been driving more slowly? After all, the other driver
ought to/will have been concentrating and not playing with their radio. We have to/would be
honest with ourselves and live in the now. The only things we used to/can control are the things
happening now, in this moment.

Let Us Remember!
How were the activities? Are you learning? At this point, you are going to explain the
questions below.

1. Is this necessary to learn the functions of modals in expressing ones’ emotion? Why and
how?
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2. What are the functions of modals and how important they are in English Grammar? Write
them down.
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Let Us Assess Ourselves!

Direction: Read and understand the statements below. Write the correct modal in the
space provided. Choose your answer from the box provided.

can can’t could must not must

might should need to

1. Most dinosaurs walked on land, but some ___________ fly or even swim.
2. Excuse me, I ___________ hear you right now. The music is too loud.
3. I ___________ drive a truck when I was only sixteen years old.
4. Douglas hit the tree because he ___________ stop his car.
5. How many hot dogs ___________ you eat at one time?
6. I ___________ read without my reading glasses. Where are they?
7. At our school we __________ wear a uniform.
8. You __________ cross the roads without looking. It’s dangerous.
9. You _______ turn on the central heating. It’s automatic.
10. The exams are next week. I __________ work harder.
11. You ________ forget your umbrella. It’s going to rain.
12. Students _________ listen to the teacher or they won’t understand.
13. You _____ cross the road when the red light is showing.
14. We __________ leave now or we’ll miss the plane.
15. Soldiers ____________ obey orders.

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 Let Us Enhance Ourselves!
At this point, let us evaluate what you have learned.You need to make a statement based
from the situation that really happened to you by applying the different modals and their
functions. -

Example
Situation:My mother forbids me in getting outside because of COVID—19.
Statement: My mother said to me, “you must not go outside because of COVID—19”
Function of Modal used: Prohibition

1. Situation:
Statement:
Function of Modal used:

2. Situation:
Statement:
Function of Modal used:

3. Situation:
Statement:
Function of Modal used:

Let Us Reflect On This!

Congratulations!It seems that you have understood the activities in this module. This time,
please reflect and remember the things that you will read below.

What are modal verbs?

Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special verbs which behave
irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like "work, play, visit..." They give additional information
about the function of the main verb that follows it. They have a great variety of communicative functions.

Here are some characteristics of modal verbs:

 They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...
 They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (e.i. the bare infinitive.)
 They are used to indicate modality allow speakers to express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation,
necessity, ability

List of modal verbs

Here is a list of modal verbs:

can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must

The verbs or expressions dare, ought to, had better, and need not behave like modal auxiliaries to a large extent
and my be added to the above list

Use of modal verbs:

Modal verbs are used to express functions such as:

1. Permission
2. Ability
3. Obligation
4. Prohibition
5. Lack of necessity
6. Advice
7. possibility
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 8. probability

Examples of modal verbs

Here is a list of modals with examples:

Modal Verb Expressing Example

Strong obligation You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
must
logical conclusion / Certainty He must be very tired. He's been working all day long.

must not prohibition You must not smoke in the hospital.

ability I can swim.

can permission Can I use your phone please?

possibility Smoking can cause cancer.

ability in the past When I was younger I could run fast.

could polite permission Excuse me, could I just say something?

possibility It could rain tomorrow!

permission May I use your phone please?

may
possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!

polite permission Might I suggest an idea?

might
possibility, probability I might go on holiday to Australia next year.

lack of necessity/absence of obligation I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of tomatoes in the
need not
fridge.

50 % obligation I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache.

should/ought to advice You should / ought to revise your lessons

logical conclusion He should / ought to be very tired. He's been working all day long.

had better advice You 'd better revise your lessons

Remember
Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without "to", also called the bare infinitive.

Examples:

 You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.

 You should see to the doctor.
 There are a lot of tomatoes in the fridge. You need not buy any.