By Noelia Villafañe
I must study
harder if I want
to pass the test
She must eat
salad to lose
some weight
I must help my
mum with the
housework
Do you have to
get your hair cut
to join the army?
Students have to
wear uniforms
in this school
He has to put
his seatbelt
MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING
PROHIBITION
People mustn’t drink
alcohol if they are
going to drive
You mustn’t jump
a red light
You mustn’t
park here
MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING
LACK OF OBLIGATION
He doesn’t have
to make his
bed. His mum
does it for him
YOU needn’t do
the washing up.
Those plates are
clean.
You don’t need o
water the plants
everyday.
It
is
enough to do it every
four days
1. You ……………………… (mustn’t / don’t have to) drive a car if you
don’t have a driving license.
2. They ………………….. (don’t have to/must) be quiet in class
3. In France, you ………………… (have to /mustn’t ) drive on the right
4. He …....… (doesn’t have to/must) pay for the tickets. They are
free
5. John……………………..(has to /mustn’t) wear a tie at work.
6. People ………………….. (must /mustn’t ) their teeth after every
meal if they want to prevent tooth decay
7. You …………………..(mustn’t / don’t have to) wash the car. Mum
did it early in the morning
8. Students ……………(mustn’t / don’t have to) run along the corridor
9. When you enter a new country, you …………………….(have to /
don’t have to) show your passport
MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING
PROBABILITY
We could win the
next match
She likes studying Law.
She may / might become
a lawyer some day
MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING
POSSIBILITY AND ABILITY
I CAN see the
beach
from
this window
They CAN’t get on
the bus. It’s full
He CAN play
the guitar.
She CAN’t draw
very well.
CAN birds fly?
Yes, they can
He COULD run very fast
when he was young
When I went to nursery , I
COULDN’T count up to 40.
I COULDN’T
watch TV
yesterday
COULD you speak when you were one?
Yes, I could
No, I couldn’t
Future - WILL BE ABLE TO
ABLE TO
I will BE ABLE TO
reach the shelf
when I grow up
He will BE
ABLE TO
improve his
English
Present Perfect - HAVE/ HAS BEEN
She HAS BEEN
ABLE TO pass all
her exams
I HAVEN’T BEEN
ABLE TO write
the letter
1. In the future we ____________ use robots to do the housework
a. could
b. can
c. will be able to
2. She ………………… come tomorrow (-)
a. can’t
b. won’t be able to c. couldn’t
3. A hundred years ago, we _________ send spaceships to other
planets.
a. could
b. couldn’t
a. can
4. For three days, I haven’t ______________ speak to him on the phone
a. been able to b. could
c. can
4. In the Bronze Age, families ______ go to the cinema or to a
restaurant.
a. could
b. couldn’t
a. can
1. When my grandmother was young, she ……………. surf
the Internet, but she ……….. make beautiful pottery
jars and vases
2. After treatment he ………………. to return to work
3. The fire spread quickly but everyone …………… escape
4. Lora …………..play the violin very well now, but with
practice and effort, she ………. improve a lot.
5. She ……………………… lose weight with a new diet
6. He used to ……………………. climb mountains when he
was young.
7. I haven’t …………………………. sleep well recently
MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING
PERMISSION
CAN I….?
COULD I…?
MAY I….?
Can I borrow your pencil?
Could I open the window?
May I make a suggestion?
You left your
mobile phone at
home. You want to
call your mother.
Your friend borrowed
some money and he
didn’t give it back.
You have a terrible
headache. And your
brother is listening
to music loudly
You’re a tourist in
Rome. Ask
somebody to take a
photo of you.
You’re feeling ill.
You want to take a
day off from work
It’s cold
and the
fan is on
When we want to say that some things are permitted
or not (laws or rules), we use can(’t) or be
(not)
allowed to.
You can/are allowed to
drive a car in America if
you are 16. (That’s the
law.)
I can’t/am not
allowed to go to
bed after 10,30
I was allowed to
play football last
week
She won’t be
allowed to go out
next weekend.
She’s punished.
I haven’t been
allowed to go to
the party
•watch late-night movies?
•get a tattoo?
•keep a pet at home?
• spend hours on Internet?
•go on holidays with friends?
•wear what you want?
•stay out until after twelve on
Saturday night?
MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING
LOGICAL DEDUCTION/
CERTAINTY
He must be
French
I’ve had no sleep for
22 hours – “You
must be exhausted”.
“ It must be my
mother “
Peter can’t be from
Rome. He doesn’t
speak Italian
A: There’s someone at
the door. I think it’s Bill.
B. It can’t be Bill. He’s
on holidays
Pam is only in her forties.
She can’t be retired
1. Nobody’s answering and there are no lights. They ______
(can’t/must) be out
2. Don’t be long. The bus ____________ (can’t/may) be here any
minute
3. He’s been working 12 hours a day. He ____ (must/could) be
exhausted
4. Take jacket! It ________________ ( must / might) be cold
later.
5. Dad is late for lunch. He _________ (could / can’t) be caught
in traffic.
6. She _________ (can’t/could) owe you money. She’s very rich
7. The teacher ________ (could / can’t) punish you if you use
your mobile
8. I _________ (can’t/might) go to Lisbon next August but
I’m not sure yet.
9. Tomorrow’s test _______ (can’t/might) be quite easy. You
never know
10.He _______ (could/can’t) be Spanish, judging by his
accent
11.We ____________( might / can’t) get married in August
but we are not sure yet
12.My parents _______ (may/must) be away for the
weekend but I’m not sure
13.Marta is really beautiful. She ________(might /can’t )
become a model.
14.Dad ______( must/might) lend you the car if you ask him.
15.A heavy smoker ______( could / can’t) stop smoking if he
has enough determination
MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING
ADVICE
She SHOULDN’T /
OUGHT NOT TO
eat too much
chocolate
You SHOULD / OUGHT TO
take an umbrella. It might
rain
SHOULD he visit
the doctor?
I’d better go to bed. I
have a meeting first
thing in the morning
You’d better hurry up
or you’ll miss the bus.
He doesn’t look well. He’d better not
go to work tomorrow
Thank you for your attention!