can, could, should, must, have to & be able to

What are modal verbs?

Have you ever seen them before? Do you know any of them? Do you know how to use them?

Ability

We can use three modal verbs to express ability.

Can Could Be able to

Can

We use can to express ability in the present. He can play the piano. I can not dance very well.

Could

We use could to express ability, but in the past. she could sing really well. I could not drive a car.

Be able to

We can use it to express ability both in the present and in the past.

They are able to sail on the sea. We were not able to speak when we were babies.

Examples

Policemen are able to carry guns, but I am not able to carry one. My grandpa could see very well when he was young, but now he cannot. You can use technology better than your parents.

Lets see a video.

Pay attention to the details of the video and then answer some questions.

Questions
1- Can the man cook? 2- Is the woman able to wear casual clothes? 3- Could the man control the dog? 4- Can the woman use her make-up? 5- Could the dog get the ball from the table? 6- was the man able to catch the cake?

Obligation or recommendation

We can use three different ways of expressing obligation or advice.

Must Have to Should

Obligation or recommendation

We use Must to express a strong obligation. We all must drink water everyday. You must not smoke in the school.

Obligation and recommendation

We use have to to express moderate obligation. You have to brush your teeth everyday. People have always to say the truth.

Obligation and recommendation

We use should to express suggestion or recommendation. You should go and see a doctor. They should not fight.

Lets watch another video

Again, pay attention to the details of the video to answer the questions.

Questions
1- Who must carry the babies? The clouds or the storks? 2- should the birds be careful with the babies? 3- Does the black cloud have to create less dangerous animals? 4- Should the black cloud make new friends?

The last video

Once again, pay attention to the details of the video to answer the questions.

Questions

1- Should the day wake up the night with a kick? 2- Do they have to fight all the time? 3- Must they be friends?

Exercises

Imagine you are a doctor talking to a patient with a flu. Tell to your classmate what can he/she do, what he/she cannot and what obligations does he/she have. example: you have to stay at home and go to bed, you cannot do exercise. You must have your pills everyday.