Modals (Class 7th, 8th, 9th)

SGJ DAV. SR. SEC. PUB. SCHOOL, HARIpURA

Class – 7^th, 8^th, 9th Subject - English

Chapter - Modals

Brief Synopsis :

The following table shows the modals that express Ability.

Can	Could	Be able to
Indicates ability to do something- it means to be able to, be capable of, know how to	suggests ability in the past	Indicates ability to do something which is more possible than ‘can’

The following table shows the modals that express Obligation, Advice, Suggestion.

Should	Must	Ought to
Used to make a suggestion or to give an advice	Suggests strong obligation	Conveys a sense of moral duty
	Suggests compulsion and the desire of the speaker	It also suggests that it is the right thing to do
	Suggests necessity

The table shows the modals that ask for and express Permission.

May

Can

Could

Suggests permission which is formal in nature and polite

Suggests permission which is less formal than ‘may’. ‘Can’ is informal.

Suggests permission in the past

More polite than ‘may’.

The following table shows the modals that express Possibility.

May	Might	Can	Could
Indicates a possibility which is stronger than ‘might’, in other words a good possibility.	Indicates a weak possibility.	Indicates general and occasional possibility.	It is used when there is a weak possibility
	Past tense of ‘may’		Past tense of can
	conditionals		Conditionals

The following table shows the modals that express Prohibitions.

Must Not	Ought Not To
Indicates that something should not be done because it is a rule	Indicates that something should not be done because it is a duty

Home Assignment :

1. She can drive the new racing car. (ability)

2. May I drink water? (permission)

3. You should take the medicine twice daily. ( advice)

4. It may rain today. ( stronger possibility)

5. It might rain today. (weaker possibility)

6. Would you open the window, please? (request)

7. The Mayor ought to get the road repaired as early as possible. (duty)

8. Can I pay the ticket fare?

English