MODALS
EXPRESS
PERMISSION,
OBLIGATION AND
PROHIBITION
WORD OF THE WEEK:
SURPLUS
When you speak of a SURPLUS, you are merely saying
that you have a SUR (French for “over”) PLUS (French for
“more”) or a SUR-PLUS.
That is, you have an “over-more” than you need.
PRE-TEST
1. You ____________ look at me
when I am talking to you.
can
could
shall
have to
2. ____________ you help me move
this cabinet? (Polite Request)
can
could
shall
should
3. Children ____________ not eat too much
sweet food. It is not good for them.
shall
should
may
might
4. We have a lot of work for the whole
week. We ____________ be late and lazy.
may
may not
must
must not
5. He _____ keep his
promise.
did not have to
do not have to
should
should not
6. Everyone _____ follow the
rules. (Strong)
can
may
must
shall
7. If you are sick, you _____ go to
work. You will infect everyone there.
should
should not
would
would not
8. _____ you assist me in going to
the school library?
should
can
would
would not
9. A husband _____ enslave his
wife.
can
cannot
have to
ought to
10. Children ____ tell lies to their
parents as this is a sign of disrespect.
have to
may not
must not
ought to
Let us check
HONESTLY.
1. You ____________ look at me
when I am talking to you.
can
could
shall
have to
2.____________ you help me move
this cabinet? (Polite Request)
can
could
shall
should
3. Children ____________ not eat too much
sweet food. It is not good for them.
shall
should
may
might
4. We have a lot of work for the whole
week. We ____________ be late and lazy.
may
may not
must
must not
5. He _____ keep his
promise.
did not have to
do not have to
should
should not
6. Everyone _____ follow the
rules. (Strong)
can
may
must
shall
7. If you are sick, you _____ go to
work. You will infect everyone there.
should
should not
would
would not
8. _____ you assist me in going to
the school library?
should
can
would
would not
9. A husband _____ enslave his
wife.
can
cannot
have to
ought to
10. Children ____ tell lies to their
parents as this is a sign of disrespect.
have to
may not
must not
ought to
Modal Verbs (or simply Modals) are auxiliary verbs.
They are used with other verbs to express ability, probability, possibility, permission, obligation, prohibition.
In this lesson, we shall focus on three functions of modal verbs namely: permission, obligation and
prohibition.
Modals are used to express permission. We
can use verbs such as “can”, “could”, “may”
and “might” to ask for and give permission.
Can we swim in the river?
Could I leave work early?
May I go to the comfort room?
Might we consider the option?
“Can” is less formal and more direct than “could.”
When asking in a simple or direct way use “can.”
Can I ask a question?
Could we have something to drink?
We are thirsty.
When being polite, or wanting to show respect,
“could” is a better choice than “can” as it is a
more polite form.
Could I ask you a question, please?
Could I try this coat on?
“May” and “might” can also be used
when asking permission but are much
more formal.
May I use your restroom, please?
Might I ask what your name is?
“Might” is rarely used in this way as it is
considered old fashioned usage, however,
educated and polite people still use modals to
indicate politeness and show respect.
We also use modal verbs to say something is not
allowed. Just like in the following sentences:
Children under three years of age cannot swim in
the pool.
Minors are not allowed to enter the bar. They
cannot drink alcohol and smoke cigarette.
Fill in the blank with the correct modal
verb to complete the statement.
[Link] _____ go now.
[Link] _____ come in. (Formal)
3._____ I please talk to Mr. Nacino?
(Polite)
4._____ you pass me the book?
(Polite)
Answers:
1. You CAN go now.
2. You MAY come in. (Formal)
3. COULD I please talk to Mr.
Nacino? (Polite)
4. COULD you pass me the book?
(Polite)
5. CAN I use your phone please?
Fill in the blank with the correct modal verb
to complete the statement.
[Link] me, _____ I just give my
opinion?
2._____ I suggest an idea?
[Link] _____ borrow my car.
4._____ you teach me how to operate
this application? You are so good at it.
5._____ you please call me a mechanic?
My appliance broke down. (Polite)
Answers:
[Link] me, COULD I just give my
opinion?
2. MIGHT I suggest an idea?
[Link] CAN borrow my car.
4. CAN you teach me how to operate
this application? You are so good at it.
5. COULD you please call me a
mechanic? My appliance broke down.
Expressing obligation can also be done using modal
verbs. There are two types of modal verbs of
obligation: those that primarily express a firm
obligation or necessity – “must” and “have to”; those
that express a recommendation or moral obligation –
“should” and “ought to”.
Education must continue.
I have to study even with the pandemic.
Filipinos should stop complaining.
I did not know the item was already bought. The
sales lady ought to have told me!
Fill in the blank with the correct modal verb to
complete the statement.
[Link] _____ obey the laws.
[Link] museum tour is free. Tourist
do not _____ pay to get in.
[Link] _____ improve her spelling.
[Link] don’t _____ rush. We’ve got
plenty of time.
[Link] _____ love our parents.
Answers:
[Link] SHOULD obey the laws.
[Link] museum tour is free. Tourist do
not HAVE TO pay to get in.
[Link] MUST improve her spelling.
[Link] don’t HAVE TO rush. We’ve got
plenty of time.
[Link] OUGHT TO love our parents.
Fill in the blank with the correct modal verb to complete the
statement.
[Link] _____ stop when the traffic lights
turn red.
2.I _____ see a specialist. I have a terrible
cough.
[Link] _____ get your teeth cleaned at least
once a year.
[Link] _____ improve her attitude. If she
does not, she might get fired from her job.
[Link] _____not tell anyone what I just told
Answers:
[Link] MUST stop when the traffic lights turn
red.
2.I SHOULD/HAVE TO see a specialist. I have a
terrible cough.
[Link] SHOULD get your teeth cleaned at least
once a year.
[Link] OUGHT TO improve her attitude. If she
does not, she might get fired from her job.
[Link] MUST not tell anyone what I just told
her. It is a secret!
Finally, modal verbs are used to indicate prohibition.
“Cannot/can’t”, “must not/mustn’t” and “May not”
are used to show that something is prohibited or not
allowed.
You cannot enter without a mask.
You may not eat in the conference room.
You must not lie about your physical and
mental health.
“Cannot/can’t” is the most common way to
prohibit something.
“May not” is the formal way to prohibit
something.
Cannot (or can’t) gives the idea of
something that is against the rules. Must not
(or mustn’t) usually means that it is the
speaker who is setting the rule.
Fill in the blank with the correct modal verb to complete the
statement.
[Link] _____ disrupt the work more than
necessary.
[Link] _____ not smoke in public places.
[Link] _____ drive over the speed limit
indicated in the road signs.
[Link] _____ not leave medicines and
chemicals where children can get them.
[Link] animal _____ get special training in
order to be a domesticated pet.
Answers:
1. They MUST NOT disrupt the work more than
necessary.
2. You MUST not smoke in public places.
3. Drivers MUST NOT drive over the speed limit
indicated in the road signs.
4. Parents MUST not leave medicines and chemicals
where children can get them.
5. An animal MUST get special training in order to be a
domesticated pet.
Fill in the blank with the correct modal verb to complete the
statement.
1. Academic institutions _____ not allow any form of
cheating.
2. You _____ interrupt the speaker while the lecture is
going on.
3. Participants ____ register before the webinar.
(formal)
4. Even the seminar organizer ____ change the
mechanics of the contests.
5. You ____ stop what God has planned.
Answers:
1. Academic institutions CANnot allow any form of
cheating.
2. You MAY/MUST NOT interrupt the speaker while the
lecture is going on.
3. Participants MAY/ MAY NOT register before the
webinar. (formal)
4. Even the seminar organizer CANNOT change the
mechanics of the contests.
5. You CANNOT stop what God has planned.
FINAL TEST
Directions:
Fill in the blanks with the
appropriate modal and
identify what each expresses
(its function).
Example:
Ma’am Tet, as a DepEd
teacher, _____ do her job
competently.
Answer: MUST
(Obligation)
[Link] you are sick, you _____ not go to work.
You will infect everyone there. __________
[Link] ____________ look at me when I am
talking to you. __________
3.A husband _____ enslave his wife.
__________
4.____________ you help me move this
cabinet? (Polite Request) __________
[Link] ____________ not eat too much
sweet food. It is not good for them.
__________
6. He _____ keep his promise. __________
7. _____ you assist me in going to the
school library? __________
8. Everyone _____ follow the rules.
(Strong) __________
9. Children ____ tell lies to their parents as
this is a sign of disrespect. __________
10. We have a lot of work for the whole
week. We ____________ be late and lazy.
__________
ANSWERS:
[Link] (obligation)
[Link] to (obligation)
[Link] (prohibition)
[Link] (permission)
[Link] (obligation)
ANSWERS:
6. should (obligation)
7. can (permission)
8. must (obligation)
9. must not
(prohibition)
MODAL FUNCTION SENTENCE
Directions: CAN To express
permission
COULD To express
In a ½ crosswise sheet of
permission
MAY To request
permission
paper, construct sentences MIGHT To express
permission
using modals expressing
MUST To express obligation
HAVE TO To express obligation
their different functions. SHOULD To express obligation
OUGHT TO To express obligation
CANNOT To express
prohibition
MAY NOT To express
Your Turn!
prohibition
MUST NOT To express
prohibition
KEEPSAKE NOTES
on MODAL VERBS for PERMISSION,
OBLIGATION, and PROHIBITION