Lesson video

Hi, I'm Mr. Buckingham, and I'm really glad to have you with me today for our lesson on modal verbs.

Now, you use modal verbs all the time without even thinking about it.

So, I'm hoping after this lesson you'll start to spot them in things you read and things you say.

But they're also very useful to use in our writing and I'm going to explain how during this lesson, so I hope you'll find this really useful.

Let's make a start.

Today's lesson is called modal verbs from my unit called "Three Tense Forms And Modal Verbs." By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to identify a modal verb and its purpose in a clause.

Now, being able to identify modal verbs is a really interesting skill in itself.

But if we can learn to use these verbs really well, then it's very helpful to us when we're trying to persuade people to do things and trying to win an argument as well.

So, let's see if we can master this skill together today.

Here are our keywords.

Auxiliary verb, modal verb and clause.

Well done.

Now an auxiliary verb, as you might know, is a helping verb that's paired with a main verb to change the tense or the meaning.

A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb and it helps us to talk about how likely or possible, or necessary or obligatory something is.

If something is necessary, it's something we need to do.

If something's obligatory, it's something we or someone else thinks we should do, we are obliged to do.

And a clause is a group of words that contains a verb.

Let's look at our lesson outline for today.

We're going to start off by identifying modal verbs and then we'll go onto looking at how modal verbs can change a meaning in a sentence.

So, auxiliary verbs are helping verbs that are paired with a main verb in a sentence to change the tense or the meaning.

Let me show you how that works.

Here's a sentence.

We will develop a new system.

We could do it slightly differently.

We are developing a new system.

Or we could say, we have developed a new system.

Those sentences are quite similar, but they're not the same.

Here we've got three main verbs.

Develop, developing, and developed.

They're all based on the same verb, to develop, but they're slightly different.

And then, in front of them we have these auxiliary verbs.

Will, are and have.

And these auxiliary verbs help the main verb.

They change what exactly we're trying to say.

They create as well, different tenses.

So for instance, will develop is talking about the future.

So, this is the simple future tense, something that's going to happen.

We will develop it in the future.

We are developing is the progressive present tense.

It's something that's happening right now.

And we have developed is the perfect present tense.

So, it's something which we've started in the past.

So, we can see that the main verb can change in these sentences, but the auxiliary verb really helps that main verb to show a different meaning or a different tense.

So in these sentences, can you see if you can identify the main verb and the auxiliary verb as well? Pause the video and have a go.

Well done.

Let's take a look.

In A, we have was as the auxiliary verb and occurring as the main verb.

In B, we have will as the auxiliary verb and occur as the main verb.

And in C, we have has as the auxiliary verb and occurred as the main verb.

So, we can see those main verbs are quite similar, but we've used those auxiliary verbs to change the meaning and change the tense in these sentences.

Really good job if you spotted those.

Now, another type of auxiliary verb, the one we're focusing on today is a modal verb.

Here are some examples of sentences that use modal verbs.

They may attend the party, or they might stay at home.

He should rest because he's not feeling well.

We will be in France soon, sipping coffee by the Eiffel Tower.

And we can see these modal verbs here.

May and might, should and will.

These are all modal verbs.

And these modal verbs help to show how certain or possible something is, or if we think someone should do it.

So for instance, may and might suggest we think something is possible, it could happen.

Should suggest something we think someone should do.

He should rest.

And will suggest something we're certain is going to happen.

Soon we are going to be in France, sipping coffee by the Eiffel Tower.

So, the purpose of that modal verb is to tell us something new about the main verb in a clause.

Here's another example of a sentence that uses modal verbs.

We could visit the neighbours tomorrow or we could go next month.

Now, we've got two main verbs there, visit and go.

Those are the main things we're actually doing in that sentence.

But then, in front of them we have could and could.

These are the modal verbs.

And in this sentence they're trying to show us a possibility we could go tomorrow or we could go next month.

It's showing us that both are possible and neither is certain.

Look at this example.

Because Sofia can speak the language, she will ask the waiter about the food.

Now, here we've got two modal verbs.

We've got can in front of the main verb speak, and we've got will in front of the main verb ask.

So, she can speak the language and she will ask.

So, can shows us a possibility.

She is able to speak the language.

It's possible for her to speak that language.

But this modal verb will shows us she certainly, she definitely will speak to that waiter.

So in both those cases, the modal verb is telling us a bit more about how likely or possible or certain it is that Sofia will do those things or is able to do those things.

So, what's the purpose of the modal verbs in this sentence? I've circled them for you.

We may eat at a restaurant, but we might cook at home instead.

What are those modal verbs trying to do in that sentence? Pause the video and choose the right answer.

Okay, let's take a look.

Hopefully you said that it was B.

The point of may and might, the modal verbs in this sentence is to show there are different possibilities about what we might do.

We may eat at the restaurant or we might cook at home.

And we can see in both cases the modular verb is in front of a main verb.

May is in front of eat and might is in front of cook to show us that those main verbs could happen, but it's not certain.

Really good job if you got B as that answer.

Now, there are many different modal verbs that can help us to express or show different ideas.

And we can put them along a line like this, and we'll talk more about this later on.

We could use these modal verbs.

We could say may or might, can or could, should or ought to, will, need to, have to, and must.

All of these are modal verbs that can be placed in front of a main verb to change its meaning.

So, they have to be linked to that main verb in a clause.

Here's an example.

We need to study, or we won't succeed.

So, we've got need to there as our modal verb in front of the main verb study.

And we've got won't as our modal verb in front of the main verb succeed.

So, what's the modal verb in each of these sentences and what's the main verb that it links to? And remember, most of the time the modal verb is going to be coming in front of the main verb.

See if you can find those modal verbs and the main verbs as well.

Have a go.

Okay, let's have a look.

In A, we've got should as the modal verb and stretch as the main verb.

In B, can as the modal verb, pronounce is the main verb.

And in C, must is the modal verb and persuade is the main verb.

And look how each time there, the modal verb comes in front of the main verb.

Now, we often use modal verbs when we're trying to be persuasive, when we're trying to persuade someone to agree with us or maybe trying to persuade someone to do something as well.

Here are some examples.

We must protect the environment, or future generations will suffer.

When we get the opportunity to improve our community, we have to take it! We should stop polluting our oceans so that sea life can thrive.

And you can see my modal verbs in purple there.

Must, will, have to, should, can.

And we can see their place before the main verb again in these sentences.

Must protect, will suffer, have to take, should stop, can thrive.

And you can see that these modal verbs are being really persuasive.

We're trying to persuade someone that we must protect things, that we have to take this opportunity, that we should stop the pollution.

So in each case, the modal verb helps to make that point.

So, what tells us that have to is a modal verb in this sentence? We have to communicate better, or we will fail.

Pause the video and decide all the options which you think explain why have to is acting as a modal verb in this sentence.

Have a go.

Okay, let's have a look.

A is true.

It does come before a main verb.

And in this case, that main verb is communicate.

We have to communicate.

And the reason that happens is because like it says in B, this is acting as an auxiliary verb.

It needs that main verb communicate to make sense.

We couldn't just write, we have to better.

We need that main verb as well.

We have to communicate, which tells us this is a type of auxiliary verb, and a modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb.

And C is also true.

It is helping us to be persuasive.

It's saying we have to communicate better or we will fail.

It's making that point really clear to us that we need to do better communication.

It does contain the word have, which is a verb, but that's not a reason that this is a modal verb, because have isn't always a modal verb is it? We could say we have time, in which case it's just a normal verb.

It's not acting as an auxiliary verb at all and not as a modal verb either.

Really well done if you've spotted those three.

Now, one way we often use modal verbs is in speech sentences when we're saying, using direct speech, exactly what a person has said and we put it in inverted commas or speech marks.

Here are some examples.

"You should visit Parliament while you're in London!" recommended Sofia excitedly.

Alex said apologetically, "I would go to your party, but my mum says I have to practise the guitar." "I could come after lunch, or you could come to my place this evening," Laura pondered.

Look at those modal verbs there.

Should, would, have to, could, and could again.

And again in each case, the modal verb is coming before the main verb.

Should visit, would go, have to practise, could come, could come again.

So in each case we have the modal verb first and then the main verb.

So, can you find the modal verbs in each of these speech sentences? Pause the video and have a go.

Okay, let's take a look.

In A, the modal verb would be can't, linking to that main verb, find.

And B, it would be might, linking to the verb, have.

And in C, it would be will, linking to that verb, be.

Really well done for getting this.

Now another time we often use modal verbs is when we're writing questions, and that includes questions within speech sentences like the ones we just saw.

Here are some examples.

Would Izzy like to watch this programme with us? "Should we suggest to Mrs. Begum that we have an end of year performance?" asked Andeep.

Will the environment cope with this poor treatment? Can you see the modal verbs here at the start of each question? Would, should, and will.

And what happens in these questions is that the person or the thing that we're talking about comes in between that modal verb and the main verb.

So, let's look at those people and things in these sentences.

We've got would Izzy, should we, will the environment.

So, we've got in that first example, the modal verb word followed by Izzy, the person we're talking about.

And then, we have our main verb.

And in this case, that's like.

In the second one we can see we've got the modal verb, should, followed by, we, the person we're talking about.

And then, suggest, our main verb.

And in the last one, will is our modal verb.

The environment is a thing we're talking about and cope is our main verb.

So, we have a slightly different order of words when we ask these questions.

So, can you see if you can spot the modal verb and the main verb it links to in each of these questions? Pause the video and have a try.

Great effort.

Well done.

So, let's have a look.

In A, wood is the modal verb and take is main verb.

In B, can't is the modal verb and tidy up is that main verb.

And in C, might is our modal verb and then we've got a long jump to be as our main verb there.

Really well done for spotting those ones.

Now, let's do our first task for this lesson.

I'm going to show you some sentences and what I want you to do is to highlight all the modal verbs in each sentence and then circle the main verbs that they link to.

Here are the sentences.

Pause the video and see if you can spot all of those modal verbs and all of those main verbs as well.

Good luck.

Okay, let's take a look.

In A, we've got must and will as our modal verbs.

In B, should.

In C, can.

In D, could.

In E, should and would.

And in F, may.

Now, let's look at the main verbs that they link to.

In A, it's exercise and suffer.

In B, go.

In C, pick.

Oh, and notice that one 'cause it's a question.

We have the modal verb, then the person, you, and then the main verb, pick.

In D, we've got be hiding.

Now, be is another auxiliary verb there as well.

So we have the modal verb, the auxiliary verb, be, and then that main verb, hiding.

In E, we've got complain and make as our main verbs.

And in F, we've got have as the main verb.

If you've managed to get all of those, you've done an absolutely fantastic job.

Really well done.

Okay, we're now gonna think about how modal verbs change the meaning of a sentence or a clause.

Now, one of the really good things about modal verbs is that they help us to show how certain or likely something is to happen.

And we can put them on a spectrum that looks like this going from ones that show if things are possible, they could happen, all the way to ones that show if things are certain to happen, they definitely will happen.

So, we might put them on like this.

We might start off by using may and might to show something is able to happen.

It's possible to happen.

Then, we might say can and could.

Then, we could use should and ought to which are showing something is much more likely to happen.

Then, we can add in must or need to to show we think it definitely should happen.

And then, we could use have to and will and shall to show that we think something is definitely going to happen.

So, that could look like this in sentences.

You might recognise him.

You should recognise him.

You will recognise him.

Can you see how the likelihood of us recognising him is increasing as we use those different modal verbs? You might recognise him suggest it's possible.

You should suggest, we think it's something which ought to happen.

And then, you will, suggest it's something we definitely believe is going to happen.

So, the modal verb is used to show how likely the action in that main verb recognise is to happen.

And different modal verbs as well can have different purposes.

So, we saw on our last page that some modal verbs can show certainty, that something is definitely going to happen.

So, we will queue here.

We shall queue here.

These are showing us that something is definitely going to happen or that it's planned to happen.

This is the place where we're going to queue.

Then we have some modal verbs, quite a few, which can show possibility that something could happen.

We can queue here.

We might queue here.

We could queue here.

We may queue here.

All of these show us that something could possibly happen.

It's not certain, it's possible.

So, which of these modal verbs show certainty? And can you prove it by putting them in a sentence? Pause the video and have a go.

Okay, let's take a look.

So, shall, definitely shows certainty.

We shall be on time today tells us that we plan for that definitely to happen.

Could does not show certainty.

We could collect the equipment suggests we might or might not do it.

It's possible but not certain.

Will definitely shows certainty.

He will find all the bargains.

We believe he's definitely going to do that.

And might, no, that doesn't show certainty.

He might find some bargains suggest it's possible but not certain that he will.

Great job for getting those.

And which of these sentences contain modal verbs showing possibility? Pause the video and see if you can decide.

Okay, let's take a look.

In A, yes, we do have possibility because we have the modal verb might which shows it's possible we could cause a nuisance but not certain.

In B, no, it doesn't show possibility because shall suggests we definitely shall, will persuade him to stop.

It's definitely going to happen.

And in C, yes, it does show possibility.

There's two modal verbs here, could and could.

It's showing some different options.

We could do this or we could do this.

They're not certain, they're possible.

Really well done for getting those.

Now we can choose between those different modal verbs to show how much certainty there is about whether something's going to happen.

So, I take this sentence.

The temperature blank increase in the coming years.

I could put different modal verbs in that gap to show how much certainty I have about that increase, about that main verb increase.

So, I could say the temperature might increase in the coming years.

That shows possibility.

I could say the temperature could increase in the coming years.

Again, showing possibility.

Or I could say it may increase.

But I could say the temperature will increase in the coming years.

And that's showing certainty.

So, can you see how changing that main verb really changes how much certainty I'm trying to show about that increase? We can do that with questions too.

Blank we learn a new language together.

I could say, could we learn a new language? Can or shall we learn a new language together? So, changing that modal verb changes the meaning of the sentence.

So, which of these sentences here shows the highest likelihood? That means the most certainty of happening? Pause the video and have a go.

Really good job.

Hopefully you spotted these modal verbs.

Could, will, and may.

And hopefully you agreed with me that will is the one which shows the highest likelihood.

Will shows a certainty.

They believe they're definitely going to find that sufficient food.

Could and may show possibility.

These things could, but are not certain to happen.

Really good job.

Now, we've seen that modal verbs can be used to show certainty and possibility.

They can also be used to show different levels of obligation.

Now, obligations are things we think should happen or need to happen, or perhaps that other people think we should do, things we think other people should do.

So, things we think we're obliged to do.

Here are some examples.

We must meet up when you're available.

You should visit their restaurant.

I ought to do more for the environment.

They have to sacrifice a lot to succeed.

We need to watch that programme.

All of these sentences are showing something which someone believes should happen or believes we have an obligation to do.

So, these modal verbs can be very useful when we're trying to persuade someone to do something.

And they can help us to show a few different things.

For instance, to give advice, you should visit their restaurant.

To give suggestions, to tell people what they should do, or to tell ourselves what we think we should do.

Like in the case of I ought to do more for the environment.

And to tell people what needs to be done.

We need to watch that programme.

They have to sacrifice a lot to succeed.

So, these modal verbs for obligation are very helpful in our persuasive writing and when we're talking to people to encourage them to do things with us or for us.

So, we can now use modal verbs to show certainty, possibility, and obligation.

And we can add them to sentences to show those different meanings.

Let's take a look.

We could have this sentence.

Mrs. Begum blank be able to give an explanation.

And we can add different modal verbs to show whether that's certain or possible, or an obligation whether we think Mrs. Begum should be able to do that for us.

So we could say, Mrs. Be might be able to give an explanation, showing possibility.

Or we could say must, showing obligation.

And should, another obligation.

And finally we could say, Mrs. Begum will be able to give an explanation.

We're showing certainty there.

We definitely believe that's something she can do.

And you can do something similar with questions.

Blank we go to the government with this issue could become should we, shall we, could we? So, different modal verbs here change the meaning of those sentences.

So, which of these sentences contain modal verbs that show obligation? And remember that's what we're trying to show.

We believe someone should do something or they believe we should.

Pause the video and decide which sentences contain modal verbs, showing obligation.

Well done.

Good effort.

Let's share.

So A, yes it does.

That verb, must, it's suggesting we believe that this person we're talking to has an obligation to meet our lovely neighbour.

B does as well.

We've got need to.

So, here may be the teacher's saying, you children have an obligation to get your parents' signatures.

You need to get them.

C does not.

We've got will which shows certainty, not obligation.

But D does.

We've got that modal verb should.

We're saying this person should.

They have an obligation to accompany us on the trip.

Really good job for getting those three.

Now, let's do our final task for this lesson.

I want you to rewrite each sentence below, using the given type of modal verb to show a different meaning.

Let me explain.

Here are your sentences.

And I've put the type of modal verb I want in brackets, so we blank appreciate her more, or she might leave! So, I need a modal verb obligation there.

And we've got our modal verbs we could use down here.

So, maybe we could say we should appreciate her more or she might leave.

So, each time I want you to pick what you think is the best modal verb to fill that gap from the category I've given you.

Pause the video and let's write those sentences.

Okay, let's take a look at some example sentences you might have written.

Remember, you could have chosen a different modal verb to meet.

But hopefully you chose the same type of modal verb to show you the certainty or possibility, or obligation.

So, I went for we ought to appreciate her more or she might leave.

They might win the competition if we don't improve.

Will I have a bruise on my shoulder when I get home? You should return this vehicle to its owner.

Next year, we could go to a foreign country on holiday.

And shall we record this programme or shall we watch it LIVE? So, hopefully you've got something similar for each one, showing those different levels of certainty and possibility and obligation, which we're able to do when we use these modal verbs.

Really good job.

Let's summarise our learning for this lesson.

We learned that a modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb that can change the meaning of a main verb.

We learned that modal verbs can show different levels of certainty, possibility, and obligation.

And usually the modal verb comes directly before the main verb.

But we learned that in a question.

The person we are talking about comes in between the modal verb and the main verb.

Really great job this lesson.

You've done a fantastic job to get all the way through to the end and to complete those tasks.

I really look forward to seeing you again in a future lesson.

Goodbye.