Level 06 – Step 04 : Modals and Semi modals — Can, Could, May, Might, Must, Should, Will, Would, Ought to, Have to, Need to, Used to, Be able to, Had better, Dare, Be going to
/Level 06 – Step 04 : Modals and Semi modals — Can, Could, May, Might, Must, Should, Will, Would, Ought to, Have to, Need to, Used to, Be able to, Had better, Dare, Be going to
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn many helping verbs that show ability, permission, advice, obligation, and plans.
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn many helping verbs that show ability, permission, advice, obligation, and plans.
🐧Igupen: Wow — so many!
/🐧Igupen: Wow — so many!
How will I know which one to use?
/How will I know which one to use?
🦉Professor Owl: We will learn the basic meaning of each one and practice short, clear examples.
/🦉Professor Owl: We will learn the basic meaning of each one and practice short, clear examples.
That will make choosing easier.
/That will make choosing easier.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What are modals and semi modals?
/What are modals and semi modals?
Modals (can, could, may, might, must, should, shall, will, would) are special verbs that sit before the main verb to show ability, permission, advice, possibility, obligation, or future action.
/Modals (can, could, may, might, must, should, shall, will, would) are special verbs that sit before the main verb to show ability, permission, advice, possibility, obligation, or future action.
Semi modals (ought to, have to, need (to), used to, be able to, had better, dare, be going to) act like modals but sometimes follow normal verb rules.
/Semi modals (ought to, have to, need (to), used to, be able to, had better, dare, be going to) act like modals but sometimes follow normal verb rules.
Short meanings and simple signals
/Short meanings and simple signals
Ability: can, could, be able to.
/Ability: can, could, be able to.
I can swim.
/I can swim.
She could run fast.
/She could run fast.
Permission: may, can.
/Permission: may, can.
May I go?
/May I go?
You can play.
/You can play.
Possibility: might, may, could.
/Possibility: might, may, could.
It might rain.
/It might rain.
Obligation / necessity: must, have to, need to, ought to.
/Obligation / necessity: must, have to, need to, ought to.
You must wear a seatbelt.
/You must wear a seatbelt.
I have to study.
/I have to study.
Advice: should, ought to, had better.
/Advice: should, ought to, had better.
You should rest.
/You should rest.
You had better leave now.
/You had better leave now.
Future / plans: will, be going to, shall (formal).
/Future / plans: will, be going to, shall (formal).
I will help.
/I will help.
I am going to visit.
/I am going to visit.
Habit (past): used to.
/Habit (past): used to.
I used to play piano.
/I used to play piano.
Polite requests / conditionals: would, could.
/Polite requests / conditionals: would, could.
Would you help me?
/Would you help me?
Could you open the door?
/Could you open the door?
Courage / challenge: dare (less common in positive questions).
/Courage / challenge: dare (less common in positive questions).
He didn’t dare speak.
/He didn’t dare speak.
Form notes (child friendly)
/Form notes (child friendly)
Modals do not change form: He can, She can, They can (no -s).
/Modals do not change form: He can, She can, They can (no -s).
After modals use the base verb: can swim, should go, must study.
/After modals use the base verb: can swim, should go, must study.
Semi modals sometimes need “to”: have to + verb, need to + verb, be able to + verb.
/Semi modals sometimes need “to”: have to + verb, need to + verb, be able to + verb.
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
Ask “Which idea?” — ability, permission, possibility, obligation, advice, or plan — then pick the modal that matches that idea.
/Ask “Which idea?” — ability, permission, possibility, obligation, advice, or plan — then pick the modal that matches that idea.
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 I can swim.
/No.01 I can swim.
No.02 Could you help me, please?
/No.02 Could you help me, please?
No.03 May I open the window?
/No.03 May I open the window?
No.04 It might rain this afternoon.
/No.04 It might rain this afternoon.
No.05 You must finish your homework.
/No.05 You must finish your homework.
No.06 You should see the doctor.
/No.06 You should see the doctor.
No.07 I will call you tonight.
/No.07 I will call you tonight.
No.08 I used to live near the sea.
/No.08 I used to live near the sea.
No.09 She has to go to work early.
/No.09 She has to go to work early.
No.10 We’re going to watch a movie tomorrow.
/No.10 We’re going to watch a movie tomorrow.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Think first, then check the answers.
/Note: Think first, then check the answers.
Q1: Which modal shows ability? Choose one: A) must B) can C) might
/Q1: Which modal shows ability? Choose one: A) must B) can C) might
Q2: Fill in the blank with must or should: You _____ wear a helmet when you ride a bike. (strong rule)
/Q2: Fill in the blank with must or should: You _____ wear a helmet when you ride a bike. (strong rule)
Q3: Choose the best modal for a polite request: _____ you pass the salt? A) Must B) Could C) Will
/Q3: Choose the best modal for a polite request: _____ you pass the salt? A) Must B) Could C) Will
Q4: Which sentence shows a past habit? A) I can run fast. B) I used to run fast. C) I will run fast.
/Q4: Which sentence shows a past habit? A) I can run fast. B) I used to run fast. C) I will run fast.
Q5: Fill in the blank with be going to or will (future plan): I _____ visit Grandma next weekend. (already planned)
/Q5: Fill in the blank with be going to or will (future plan): I _____ visit Grandma next weekend. (already planned)
Q6: Choose the correct meaning of might: A) certain B) possible C) obligation
/Q6: Choose the correct meaning of might: A) certain B) possible C) obligation
Q7: Make a short sentence using have to (obligation).
/Q7: Make a short sentence using have to (obligation).
Q8: Choose correct contraction and meaning: She’ll = A) She will B) She had C) She is
/Q8: Choose correct contraction and meaning: She’ll = A) She will B) She had C) She is
Q9: Which is advice, not obligation? A) You must finish. B) You should rest. C) You have to pay the fine.
/Q9: Which is advice, not obligation? A) You must finish. B) You should rest. C) You have to pay the fine.
Q10: Fill in the blank with used to: When I was small, I _____ play outside every day.
/Q10: Fill in the blank with used to: When I was small, I _____ play outside every day.
◆ Answers
A1: B) can.
/◆ Answers
A1: B) can.
A2: must → You must wear a helmet when you ride a bike.
/A2: must → You must wear a helmet when you ride a bike.
A3: B) Could.
/A3: B) Could.
A4: B) I used to run fast.
/A4: B) I used to run fast.
A5: am going to / I’m going to visit Grandma next weekend.
/A5: am going to / I’m going to visit Grandma next weekend.
A6: B) possible.
/A6: B) possible.
A7: I have to go to school at 8 o’clock.
/A7: I have to go to school at 8 o’clock.
A8: A) She will.
/A8: A) She will.
A9: B) You should rest.
/A9: B) You should rest.
A10: used to → When I was small, I used to play outside every day.
/A10: used to → When I was small, I used to play outside every day.
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Good work today.
/🦉Professor Owl: Good work today.
Practice by telling short sentences about ability, permission, plans, and advice.
/Practice by telling short sentences about ability, permission, plans, and advice.
🐧Igupen: I will try to make one sentence for each modal every day.
/🐧Igupen: I will try to make one sentence for each modal every day.
🦉Professor Owl: That habit will help a lot.
/🦉Professor Owl: That habit will help a lot.
Keep practicing little sentences and soon these helpers will feel natural.
/Keep practicing little sentences and soon these helpers will feel natural.
