Modal Verbs

by Miss Harries

​Modal Verbs

​Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs which cannot usually work alone.

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​There are used with a main verb.

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​These are modal verbs:

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​might will should may would can could must shall ought to

​Modal Verbs make questions by inversion

​She can go out.

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​We could drive there.

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​Children should eat fruit.

Can she go out?

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​Could we drive there?

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​Should children eat fruit?

​Modal Verbs can be used to show how possible something is or how likely it is to happen/have happened.

​He's very late. He could have missed the train.

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​It's snowing so it must be very cold outside.

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​They will lock the windows when they go out.

​Modal verbs can also:

Multiple Choice

Can you spot the modal verb used:

Mum might take us swimming after school.

• might

• take

• us

• swimming

• s

Multiple Choice

Can you spot the modal verb used:

"Hurry up! We will be late!" said dad.

• hurry

• late

• will

• said

Multiple Choice

Can you spot the modal verb used:

You ought to go to bed earlier.

• bed

• go

• earlier

• ought