National Service of learning

Industry and the Construction Center

BILINGUALISM PROGRAM

MODAL VERBS
A Modal Verb is a type of Auxiliary Verb that is used to indicate Ability, Obligation,
Advice, Permission, etc.
EXPRESSING ABILITY

The girl can swim.

Frank can play the guitar.

Erik can cook very well.

He can drive cars.

To express ability in present and future simple form, use the modal verb can. The
negative form of can is : cant. Read and analize these examples:

Hecant sing at all !

Theycant be good friends.

The boycant play the piano.

Harrycant skate well.

Exercise 1. Make a list of these things you can and cant do.
I can
I can sing well
I can work hard
I can play football on the beach
I can study at a distance
I can have a girlfriend

I cant
I cant go to the beach
I cant drink coffee
I cant buy car
I cant lose my job
I cant drive my car

Learning through doing is more effective than anything!

Aprender haciendo es ms efectivo que cualquier otra cosa!

National Service of learning

Industry and the Construction Center
BILINGUALISM PROGRAM

EXPRESSING OBLIGATION
I have to work in the hospital every day.
I have to operate some patients.
I have to help many people in emergency cases.
I have to do much paper work in my office.

Shehas to take the clientsorders.

Shehas to serve people at their tables.
Shehas to be very friendly and kind with the clients.
Shehas to clean and prepare the tables after the service.
Hemust catch thieves and whores.
Hemust keep the city safe of offenders.
Hemust follow the sergeants orders.
Hemust help with the traffic, too.
To express obligation in present form, use the modal verbs have to and must. The
negative form of these modal verbs are : dont have to and mustnt.
The form has to is used only for he, she and it and its negative form is doesnt
have to.
Exercise 2. What do they have to do? What dont they have to do?

She must make entry list

She has to injecting the patient
She doesnt have to do surgeries
Learning through doing is more effective than anything!
Aprender haciendo es ms efectivo que cualquier otra cosa!

National Service of learning

Industry and the Construction Center
BILINGUALISM PROGRAM

She doesnt have to clean floors

Firefighter must extinguish the fire

He has to be alert
He mustnt repair the road
He doesnt have to go alone

EXPRESSING ADVICE

He should find a new job.

He should see a doctor.

He must ask for a raise.

He must talk to someone.

He ought to quit his job.

He ought to express himself.

To express advice, use the modal verbs should, must and ought to. The negative form
of these modal verbs are : shouldnt and mustnt. ought to is always used for
affirmative advice.

Exercise 3. Give these people advice. Start every sentence using You should / must
for positive advice and you shouldnt / mustnt for negative advice.
..You should go to the
doctor
You shouldnt go to the

You should give up

smoking
You shouldnt buy

work

cigarettes

You should correct the

You should control

child
You shouldnt buy

rabies
You shouldnt mistreating

Learning through doing is more effective than anything!

Aprender
haciendo es ms efectivo que cualquier
otra cosa!
weapons
people

National Service of learning

Industry and the Construction Center
BILINGUALISM PROGRAM

READING : MY DUTIES AT WORK

Hello. My name is Tricia Michaels. Im 35 years old, I am
from Pasadena, California. I was born on January 24, 1976. I
Am the youngest of three sisters. I live and work in L.A., I
graduated from the School of Psychology in California. It
indicates that I am a Psychologist. I graduated in 2001. I
work for the local Mental Care Center Unit. I can learn many
things from my patients, especially from children, I sometimes cant help to control
mental diseases because there is no current medicine for it and its hard to see these
kids getting worse. Im happy when I can help in certain cases because the cure is at
hand. I also have to write all the information and describe my patientsprogress, as well
as full report of medicine and dose of these medications. I dont have to visit them at
their homes or anywhere else, and I dont have to work on weekends!!! I work 15 hours
a day from Monday to Friday and thats enough. I think I should take a vacation soon
because I cant resist so much work. I need free time to do the things I like to do. I
must make the decision at the end of this month. I need your opinions about this. I am
sure I shouldnt be telling you this but I think it worthed the try. Can you answer these
questions and make suggestions and give me some advice? Thanks a lot.
a. Should I work Saturdays, too? I dont have to work on Saturdays
b. Should I work less hours a day? I ought to work 15 hours a day
c. How can you help me in my job? I can help my patients, especially children
d. Do I have to get an assistant? Yes, you ought to have an assistant
e. I mustnt take a vacation now. Yes, you ought to take a vacation now

Learning through doing is more effective than anything!

Aprender haciendo es ms efectivo que cualquier otra cosa!