MODAL
With purposes
VERBS
STRUCTURE
(+) S + modal verb + verb (infinitive) + (object)
VD:
• We should descend the mountain before sunset.
• Elena can cook spaghetti in 15 minutes.
• Flynn will travel to Canada next week.
STRUCTURE
(-) S + modal verb + not + V (infinitive) + (object)
VD:
• Kate can’t concentrate in a noisy place like a coffee
shop.
• You mustn’t be absent from the upcoming meeting.
• Albert won’t continue his studies at University.
STRUCTURE
(?) Modal verb + S + verb (infinitive) + (object)?
VD:
• May I ask you some questions about Math?
(?) Wh-word + modal verb + S + verb (infinitive) +
(object)?
VD: What can I do for this music show?
PERMISSION
ASKING FOR PERMISSION (INFORMAL): Can I sit here?
ASKING FOR PERMISSION (FORMAL): Could I use this chair? Might/May I
use this chair?
GIVING PERMISSION (INFORMAL): You can sit here.
GIVING PERMISSION (FORMAL): You may use this chair.
REFUSING PERMISSION (INFORMAL): Sorry, you can’t use this chair.
REFUSING PERMISSION (FORMAL): Sorry, you may not use this chair.
PERMISSION
Was/were allowed to, couldn’t
He wasn’t allowed to sit down during the lesson.
He couldn’t sit down during the lesson.
He could receive visits.
He was allowed to receive visits.
OBLIGATION
I must give up smoking. (I need to, I say so)
I have to give up smoking. (I’m obliged. My doctor says so)
Must and have to are used to express obligation. When we use must this
usually means that the obligation comes from the speaker, it’s like a
personal obligation, whereas have to normally means that the obligation is
external.
In informal English can also use ‘ve got to to express obligation
VD: I’ve got to be there before ten.
OBLIGATION
You mustn’t reveal where you get the information. (=you have the obligation
not to do it)
You don’t have to arrive before 7. (=you can do it, but it’s not necessary,
there’s no obligation)
Mustn’t is used to express prohibition (an obligation not to do something),
whereas don’t have to is used to express an absence of obligation
NECESSITY
We need to/have to confirm our reservations before Friday.
You don’t need to/don’t have to believe in God to be a good person.
We use need to/have to or don’t need to/don’t have to + infinitive to say that
something is or is not necessary.
NECESSITY
The doctor said I don’t need to wear glasses. (In general, all the time)
Tell him he doesn’t need to/needn’t wash the dishes. I’ll do it later. (On one
specific occasion)
When we are talking about a general necessity (in general, not on one
specific occasion), we normally use don’t need to, and we can use both don’t
need to or needn’t + infinitive when we are talking about a specific necessity
(on one specific occasion).
NECESSITY
Thanks, it’s very beautiful, but you didn’t need to buy/needn’t have bought anything.
(=you did it)
When something was not necessary but we did it, we can use both didn’t need to +
infinitive and needn’t have + past participle.
I didn’t buy any groceries because Sarah told me I needn’t have bought anything.
I didn’t buy any groceries because Sarah told me I didn’t need to buy anything.
When something was not necessary and we did not do it, we can only use didn’t need to.
BE ABLE TO/ BE
ALLOWED
We can use subject + be ableTO
to / be
allowed to instead of can to express
permission or possibility.
VD: We were allowed to eat all that we
wanted.
You won’t be able to finish before the
deadline.
BE ABLE TO/ BE
ALLOWED
We can use subject + be ableTO
to / be
allowed to instead of can to express
permission or possibility.
VD: We were allowed to eat all that we
wanted.
You won’t be able to finish before the
deadline.
It is allowed to use mobile phones.
We do NOT normally use it + be able
BE (NOT) PERMITTED TO
We can use be (not) permitted to +infinitive to
express permission or prohibition in formal or
official situations, to say what the rules or laws
are. The form it + be (not) permitted to
+infinitive can be used.
VD: It is not permitted to take photos of the
archive documents.
Picnics are not permitted in the park.
Employees are permitted to use mobile devices.
BE SUPPOSED TO/ BE
MEANT TO
We can also use be supposed/meant to +
infinitive to express obligation or permission, to
say what we should or shouldn’t do.
VD: We are supposed/meant to check in one
hour before take-off.
What are you doing? You aren’t
supposed/meant to be here.
HAD BETTER/ HAD
BETTER NOT
We use had better + infinitive (without to) to talk about actions we think someone should or
shouldn’t do. There is often a negative result if the action is carried out. We normally use
the shortened form ‘d better, and the negative form is ‘d better not (hadn’t is NOT used).
VD: We’d better hurry up or we’ll miss our train.
You’d better not tell her you broke the vase –she’ll get very mad.
You hadn’t better tell her you broke the vase.
Today's lesson will help
you:
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MODAL VERBS OF
DEDUCTION
We use must + infinitive for obligation and strong recommendation, but also
to say that we are quite sure that something is true.
They are almost identical. They must be sisters.
But I answered all the questions correctly. There must be a mistake.
MUST We use must be + –ing with dynamic verbs to say that we are quite sure that
something is happening now.
What you are saying is not possible. You must be kidding.
Can you hear the shouting? Our neighbours must be arguing again.
We use must have + past participle or must have been + -ing to say that we
are quite sure that something was true or happened in the past.
I can’t find my wallet! I must have dropped it in the taxi.
You must have had a real scare when you saw the crocodile.
He was the only victim. He must have been sleeping when the fire started.
MODAL VERBS OF
DEDUCTION
We can use can’t + infinitive to say that we are quite sure that something is
NOT true.
He can’t be that famous. I’ve never heard his name before.
She can’t be married. I have never seen a ring on her finger.
CAN’T We use can’t be + –ing to say that we are quite sure that something is NOT
happening now.
They can’t be travelling by bus. There is no bus service on Sundays.
We use can’t/couldn’t have + past participle or can’t have been + -ing to say
that we are quite sure that something did NOT happen or was NOT true in
the past.
You can’t/couldn’t have seen John last night. He was in hospital.
She can’t/couldn’t have passed the test. She didn’t even open the books.
MODAL VERBS OF
DEDUCTION
We can use could/might/may + infinitive to say that it’s possible that
something is true (but we are not sure).
I can’t get hold of him on the phone. He could/might/may be away.
We didn’t do anything when we could, and now it could/might/may be too late.
We use could/might/may be + –ing to say that we are quite it’s possible that
COULD/ something is happening now (but we are not sure).
Tom isn’t at the office. He might/may be working from home today.
MIGHT/ MAY ‘Why isn’t she picking up her phone.’ ‘She might/may be driving.’
We can use could/might/may have + past participle or might/may have been +
-ing to say that it’s possible that something was true or happened in the past.
It’s been three days. They could/might/may have finished painting the house by
now.
If they left at 9, they could/might/may have already arrived.
She was home last night but didn’t answer the door. She might/may have been
having a shower.
MODAL VERBS OF
DEDUCTION
We can use could have + past participle to say that something was possible in
the past but did not happen.
He could have played in the first division but had a terrible injury.
He could have had better jobs if he had spoken English.
COULD/ We use might not or may not (NOT could not) to talk about a negative
possibility.
MIGHT/ MAY He seems too calm. He might/may not be aware of the risks.
She might/may not have heard us. Knock again.
MODAL VERBS OF
DEDUCTION
We use should/ought to + infinitive to talk about a situation that we expect to
happen (present or future).
He should/ought to be home by now. He is always home before 7.
They should/ought to arrive before midnight.
SHOULD/ We use should have/ought to have + past participle to talk about a situation
expected to happen in the past. We can also use this form to express criticism.
OUGHT TO He should/ought to have received the parcel yesterday. I sent it two days ago.
He should/ought to have studied more. Nobody fails if they study.
MODAL VERBS OF
SPECULATION
Bound and sure are adjectives used to say that we are quite sure that
something will be true or happen. We use them in the structure be bound/sure
+ to-infinitive.
The Jamaican is bound/sure to win the final.
BOUND/ There are bound/sure to be some discrepancies during the meeting, so be
SURE prepared.
MODAL VERBS OF
SPECULATION
Likely and unlikely are adjectives. If something is likely to happen, it means
that it will probably happen or is expected to happen. If something is unlikely
to happen, it means that it probably won’t happen. We can use these two
adjectives in two ways.
LIKELY/ It is likely/unlikely that + clause
UNLIKELY It’s likely that just in a few years, we will change our economic model.
It’s unlikely that the police had anything to do with it.
Subject + be likely/unlikely + to-infinitive
He is likely to win this game.
They are unlikely to reach an agreement.
MODAL VERBS OF
SPECULATION
Definitely and probably go before the main verb and after the auxiliary verb
(if there is one) in positive sentences.
You’ll definitely get the job. Nobody’s got your qualifications and experience.
DEFINITELY/ He’s definitely our best player.
PROBABLY And they go before the auxiliary verb in negative sentences.
They definitely won’t find any evidence.
She definitely isn’t seeing anyone right now.
Today's lesson will help
you:
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1 3
Today we will:
• Learn about story starters and their
purpose
• Learn about 4 engaging story
starters
• Use multiple story starters to see what
works best for your narrative
What are story starters?
Story starters are
strategies to
consider when
writing a story to
make the beginning
more engaging and
purposeful
What are story starters?
Types of
Story starters are Starters
• Set-Up
strategies to • Talking
consider when • Landscape
writing a story to • Character
make the beginning
more engaging and
purposeful
Set-Up Starter
You are
here
The writer quickly
establishes the
circumstances and
stakes of the story
in a few opening
lines
Attempt a Set-Up
Take 3 minutes
Starter
and try to start None of this would have happened if
your story with it wasn't for David. He's the one who
lines that talked me into signing up for the
establishes the
track team. I would have never
circumstances or
stakes.
guessed that decision would lead to
my biggest humiliation.
Talking Starter
The writer uses a
line of dialogue with
a purpose. The
dialogue should
reveal information
that enriches the
story.
Talking Starter Example
The writer uses a line
of dialogue with a "I can't believe we didn't get a snow
purpose. The dialogue
should reveal
day," my sister murmured as she
information that adjusted the hood of her corduroy
enriches the story. coat to shield her curled hair from
the wind.
Attempt a Talking Starter
Take 3 minutes and
try to start your "I can't believe we didn't get a snow
story with dialogue
that reveals
day," my sister murmured as she
information that adjusted the hood of her corduroy
enriches the story. coat to shield her curled hair from
the wind.
Landscape Starter
The writer opens
the story with a
description of the
setting that will be
important to the
story.
Landscape Starter Example
The writer opens
I yawned as a woke up from my mid-
the story with a afternoon nap, warm from the Florida
description of the sun. The sound of the ocean's waves
setting that will be
important to the and a distant speaker quietly playing
story. pop music had lulled me to sleep. As I
stretched and considered putting on
sunscreen, I heard someone yell from
the water.
Attempt a Landscape
Starter
Take 3 minutes and I yawned as a woke up from my mid-
try to start your story afternoon nap, warm from the Florida
with a description of
sun. The sound of the ocean's waves
the setting that will
be important to the and a distant speaker quietly playing
story. pop music had lulled me to sleep. As I
stretched and considered putting on
sunscreen, I heard someone yell from
the water.
Character Starter
The writer opens
the story with a
description of a
character that will
be important to the
story.
Character Starter Example
The writer opens Edith walked into the classroom with
the story with a her rolling bag. She took her seat in
description of a
character that will the back of the room and quickly
be important to the fished out her tablet to draw. This
story.
wasn't art class, but Edith didn't care.
Every second was an opportunity for
her to create something unique and
beautiful.
Attempt a Character Starter
Take 3 minutes and Edith walked into the classroom with
try to start your story her rolling bag. She took her seat in
with a description of
a character that will the back of the room and quickly
be important to the fished out her tablet to draw. This
story.
wasn't art class, but Edith didn't care.
Every second was an opportunity for
her to create something unique and
beautiful.
Read through your starter
attempts
Which starter
do you like
Which starter is the most?
the most Which starter
effective in is the most
sharing engaging?
information?
Use these story starters
to create effective and
engaging opening lines
to your narrative writing