Modal
Functions Examples
s
Can Ability / Capacity She can cook Chinese food.
(Present) She could speak Chinese when she was 5
Could years old.
( Past)
Can Request / Permission Can/ May I book a table online?
Could Could you tell me the Chef’s name?
(more polite) Can I go to the restaurant with you?
May Yes, you can.
(more
formal)
May
Might Possibility / Probability The restaurant may /might be close
(less today.
probable)
Must Obligation / A cook must wear a cook uniform.
Necessity I must buy some bread.
Mustn’t Prohibition You mustn’t smoke in restaurants.
Should Advice You should eat more vegetables and
Duty / moral obligation fruit.
Children should respect their parents.
Exercise: Write the function or the meaning of the modal forms in the
following sentences.
1. May I use your mobile phone?__asking for permission _
2. May I help you? Offering help
3. You mustn't walk on grass. prohibition
4. What do you think I should do? Asking for advice
5. Can you help me with this exercise? Requesting help
6. I can speak Arabic. Ability
7. I think you should see a doctor. advice
8. You must stop when the traffic lights are red. Obligation
9. You may pass the exam. It is not very difficult. You only have to work harder.
possibilities
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks using MUST, MUSTN’T, SHOULD, SHOULDN’T,
MIGHT, CAN, CAN’T.
1. Rose and Ted _________________ be good players. They have won hundreds of
cups!
2. I’m not sure where my wife is at the moment. She _________________ be at her
dance class.
3. Jerry _________________ be working today. He never works on Sundays.
4. You _________________ be 18 to drive a car.
5. You _________________ hear this story. It’s very funny.
6. Dad _________________ go and see a doctor. His cough is getting worse all the time.
7. You don’t have to shout. I _________________ hear you very well.
8. You look pretty tired. I think you _________________ go to bed early tonight.
9. Let me look. I _________________ be able to help you.
10. “Children, you _________________ cross the street if the lights are red!”
11. You _________________ sit so near the TV. It’s bad for your eyes.
12. I’m sorry but I _________________ give you a lift because my car is broken.
13. I _________________ stop and talk to you now. I have to get to the library.
14. You really _________________ go to the Louvre if you’re in Paris. It’s wonderful.
15. You _________________ come to the party if you don’t feel well.
16. I don’t know where Kelly is. She _________________ be at her sister’s.
17. You have passed all your tests. You _________________ be very pleased with
yourself.
18. You _________________ smoke in your car, especially if there are children sitting in
the back.
19. John doesn’t need a calculator. He _________________ do sums in his head.
20. Passengers _________________ open the door when the train is moving.
21. It _________________ rain today. It’s getting cloudy already.
22. I ________________ pay for the tickets because I got them from Sam for free.