Name: Date: Period:

G9-12.ECRS.B14-A: Modal Verbs

Link to the ECRS: Form present-perfect verbs by using have rather than of.

Key Information:
Reflexive Modal verbs Modal verbs are a type of helping verb that give more information about the function of the
main verb that follows it. You know that some situations in writing call for the right verb and helping verb to tell the
story.

Modal verbs provide a good selection of writing possibilities, and these possibilities can all be related to a scale ranging
from possibility (can or could) to a necessity (must).

Here are some common modal verbs:
can could may might will
would must shall should ought to

What else do you need to know about modal verbs?
They don't use an 's' for the third person singular.
They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she go?')
They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to')

Probability When we want to communicate how sure we are that something
happened/is happening/will happen.
Its possible that Ron could
have missed his flight.
Ability Using words like can and could, you can write about a skill or
ability.
She can score three-points
from mid court.
Advice &
Must-dos
Using words like must and should can help communicate when
something is necessary (or not!) or when you want to give
advice.
You must try the empanadas
from the food truck.
You should consider running
for office.
Permission Can, could, and may communicate a request for permission. May I please go to the
restroom?
Can you please pass the salt
and pepper?
Habits Will and would help to express habits, whether current or from
our past.
When I was a child, my mother
would bake the best cookies.

The Basics:
Pick a modal verb to complete the sentence. Then identify if it is used to show probability, ability, advice/must
do, permission, or habits.
Example:
I should have considered the impact of my actions. Advice/must-do

1. Sebastian _________ have missed the ceremony. ______________________
2. Tyrone _______ do 12 cartwheels in a row. ______________________
3. The cafeteria _____ serve salads on Healthy Fridays. ______________________
4. Parents _____ consider encouraging kids to apply for financial aid. _________________
5. ______ you be showered with attention. _______________________
Practice:
Fill in the blank with the best modal verb to complete the sentence. See the type of modal that you will want to
use.
Example:
Permission May I go to the park with my friends?

6. Ability Shauntay ___________ jump the high jump at six feet.
7. Advice/must-do You just ____________ go try the new ice cream store.
8. Probability Clare _____________ have done better if she had studied.
9. Habits When I was little, I _____________ have been so scared.
10. Permissions Travis, _______________ you please clear the table?

Writing Connection:
Write a mini-paragraph using three modal verbs. Circle your modals and over them, write how you are using it
(e.g., ability, permission, etc.).
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

How This Looks on the EPAS (EXPLORE, PLAN
or ACT):
Certain words and/or phrases below are underlined and
numbered. In the right-hand column, you will find alternatives
for the underlined part. If the original version is best, choose
NO CHANGE.


I really want to be able to go to a great four-
year university so I asked my mother for her
permission. I asked, can I take a trip
11
with school to a downstate university to learn more
about it?

11. A. NO CHANGE
B. would
C. should
D. must

Whats the Rule?
Modal verbs can help you to express:
1.________________ 2. _____________________ 3. ______________________

4. ___________________ 5. ________________________