Language Centre
Mar,n-Luther-Universität Halle-Wi7enberg
WiSe2024
Worksheet: Modals
Module: English for Academia
Modals:
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Modals are verbs that express an action’s potential of
happening but never express that an action actually happens.
Would - the action is desired, but something prevents the
performance of the action.
• I would lose weight but chocolate tastes too good.
o Ich würde Gewicht verlieren, aber Schokolade
schmeckt zu gut.
• I would go to the party, but I have to prepare for a big
exam on Monday. (If I didn’t have to prepare for the
exam, I would go.)
• I would lose weight, but I don’t want to.
Could - the action is possible, but something prevents the
performance of the action.
• I could lose weight but chocolate tastes too good.
o Ich könnte Gewicht verlieren, aber Schokolade
schmeckt einfach zu gut.
• I could lose weight, but I don’t want to.
• I could go to the party, but I am just not in the mood.
Should - the action’s results, if achieved, would be positive.
There is a moral quality of right and wrong.
• I should lose weight.
o Ich sollte Gewicht verlieren.
• You should lose weight (This a recommendation which may
be quite strong.)
• You should go the doctor.
Shall - the action is ordered by an authority
• You shall lose weight.
o Du sollst Gewicht verlieren.
WARNING: “shall” is exclusively used to give orders or set
rules for 3rd parties as statements in modern English. First
person statements are expressions of desired actions or
Language Centre
Mar,n-Luther-Universität Halle-Wi7enberg
WiSe2024
results for the future. “Shall” is not used very often on
spoken English.
• I shall lose weight. (This is a promise to myself.)
• I shall never go hungry again!
Can - the action is possible.
• I can lose weight.
o Ich kann Gewicht verlieren.
o Ich könnte Gewicht verlieren.
Modals that are a verb + infinitive
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To want - a desire for a thing or action
I want a teddy bear.
S P -----DO-----
• I want to buy a teddy bear.
• I wanted to buy a teddy bear.
• I will have wanted to buy a teddy bear for 4 years by the
time I can afford one.
• I hope to be able to buy a teddy bear someday.
o Ich möchte einen Teddybär kaufen.
o Ich will einen Teddybär kaufen.
• I want the teddy to buy… (??? incomplete) What do you
want the teddy bear to buy?
To need - possession of a thing or performance of an action is
a requirement
• I need a teddy bear.
S P -----DO-----
• I need to buy a teddy bear.
o Ich muss einen Teddybär kaufen.
• I needed to buy a teddy bear.
• I will need to buy a teddy bear.
Language Centre
Mar,n-Luther-Universität Halle-Wi7enberg
WiSe2024
Would like - The action of finding something pleasing is
limited by the ability to do so (usually used as a question or
request to someone with the ability to make the action
possible).
• I would like (to have) some chocolate (if you would give
me some).
• I would like to buy some chocolate (if you would sell it
to me.)
Must - an action is a requirement for a higher goal or
because of a request from an authority.
• I must drink water to stay alive.
• I must go to work to keep my job.
• I must buy shoes.
o Ich muss Schuhe kaufen.
Mustn’t - The action is prohibited.
• I mustn’t buy shoes. (That’s strange, why not? Who said
you are not allowed)
• I may/might not buy shoes. (Really. What will you buy
instead?)
• I am not allowed to buy shoes.
Have - to possess something OR, when combined with an
infinitive (have to), the requirement to perform the
infinitive action.
• I have a teddy bear.
• I have to buy a teddy bear. (Really! What will happen if
you don’t)
• I have (a requirement) to buy a teddy bear.
o Ich muss einen Teddybär kaufen.
Don’t have - I don’t have (a requirement) to buy a teddy bear.
No requirement exists. Buying the teddy bear is not necessary.
You could buy any number of other things.
• I must buy it. = I have to buy it.
• I mustn’t buy it. =/= I don’t have to buy it.