Mastering Modal Verbs

In which situations is it appropriate to use the modal verb 'can'?

• When making predictions

• Ability, possibility, permission, or requests

• When expressing past events

• Only in formal writing

Explain the difference between 'must' and 'have to' when expressing obligation.

• Must is used to express a strong obligation or necessity, often based on the speaker's opinion or authority, while 'have to' is used to express a general obligation or necessity, often based on external factors or rules.

• Must is used in formal situations, while 'have to' is used in informal situations

• Must is used for strong obligations, while 'have to' is used for weak obligations

• Must is used for past obligations, while 'have to' is used for future obligations

Provide examples of using 'could' to talk about past ability.

• I could run a marathon when I was 2 years old.

• I could swim when I was a child.

• I could speak French when I was born.

• I could fly when I was a baby.

Discuss the meaning of 'may' and when it is used to express possibility.

• Possibility or permission

• Only used in past tense

• Certainty or obligation

• Never used to express possibility

Explain the difference between 'might' and 'may' when talking about possibility.

• Might is used for past possibility while may is used for future possibility.

• Might and may are the same and can be used interchangeably.

• Might is used for strong possibility while may is used for weak possibility.

• Might suggests a lower possibility or likelihood compared to may.

When is it correct to use 'shall' instead of 'will' when making a suggestion or offering help?

• When asking for permission

• When expressing a strong determination

• When making a casual suggestion to a friend

• In formal or legal contexts

Discuss the use of 'should' for giving advice or making recommendations.

• It is used to give compliments

• It is used to express anger or frustration

• It is used to talk about past events

• It is used to give advice or make recommendations.

Provide examples of using 'would' to talk about hypothetical situations.

• If I won the lottery, I would buy a new car

• If I won the lottery, I would become a professional athlete

• If I won the lottery, I would eat pizza every day

• If I won the lottery, I would travel the world

Explain the meaning of 'ought to' and give examples of its usage.

• She ought to celebrate her behavior.

• You ought to eat ice cream for dinner.

• You ought to skip studying for your exam.

• You ought to study for your exam. / She ought to apologize for her behavior.

Discuss the difference between 'can' and 'could' when expressing ability in the past.

• Can is used for future ability, could is used for present ability

• General ability in the past - can; Specific ability in the past - could

• Can is used for specific ability, could is used for general ability

• Can is used for ability in the present, could is used for ability in the future