Choose the correct modal verb for these statements of ability. Modals possibility, ability, permission and requests modal verbs are very useful as they help form sentences with different functional meaning. Modals of ability exercise 1 put in can cant could couldnt. Ability and possibility can could be able to by barbarai there is an explanation of the use of can, could and be able to for ability and possibility followed by a gap fill exercise and the key. Expressing possibility, probability and certainty possibility detail 1 may, may not, might, might not,could to say its possible that something is true, happens or will happen, but we dont know.
Students complete the worksheet with true or false information about their abilities as indicated. As learners progress, they begin to use can, could, and managed to. May 28, 2015 there are many modals in english modals of ability, possibility, necessityobligation, and advice, to name the most commonand students can get confused by all the different functions and meanings. Could, might, and may have the same meaning, but one is more formal than the other two, and thats may. Can and be able to can express present and future ability tom can play the piano.
Can cant shows ability, inability, request, permission, possibility, and inappropriateness. They are always followed by the simple form of a verb. Use can or be able to to express an ability or possibility. Modal verbs of advice, ability, permission and obligation. Modal verbs are helpingauxiliary verbs that express ideas like ability, permission, possibility, and necessity. We use can to talk about someones skill or general abilities. Unit 27 shows you how to make correct sentences with it. Is this the second conditional without the condition or does it refer to the past modal for. Use a form of be able to only if a form of can or could is not possible. We dont add s after hesheit we use can for all persons. Choose the correct option for these modal verbs of possibility. Modal verbs are a special class of verbs that add degrees of ability, possibility, permission or obligation to another verb.
To express certainty in the past, we use must have, cant have and couldnt have. They switch every two minutes and talk to other classmates about it. Will, shall, should, would, may, might, must, can, need, ought to, used to etc. And dont forget, if you use an ios or android device, you can get offline access to these materials through the tefl handbook app. Can is an auxiliary verb and has a negative and interrogative form. Ability can be expressed using modal verbs and phrases. All downloads are in pdf format and consist of a worksheet and answer sheet to check your results. There are a variety of forms in both past and present, making. Can is used to talk about ability in the present or future.
Unit 7 possibility and probability oxford living grammar explains how grammar works and when to use it. Could, might, and may, shown in red, plus the base form of a main verb shown in blue. We must slow down while driving in front of a school. Questions like fill in the gaps with a suitable modal verb and write its function. Review modal verbs of ability here download this quiz in pdf here. That will be maria on the phone she said shed call.
This lesson consolidates your students knowledge of expressing possibility and probability. Expressing possibility, probability and certainty by. Can is used to express ability, willingness, permission, or possibility. Can 1 ability 2 possibility 3 permission 4 asking for help. In this lesson we are going to explain the modals which express, ability, permission, requests and advice.
When they finished, they do the same exercises with another classmate. Then, when you are ready, try these practice exercises with can could. We use can and cant to talk about someones skill or general abilities. She couldnt make it to the meeting even if she wanted to come. This worksheet will help students improve to express the idea of a. In this lesson, students learn to use might, could, and may in affirmative sentences, negative sentences, and questions. For possibility and certainty in the past may have done etc. I cant breathe we use could and couldnt to talk about the past. That must be maria on the phone shes the only person with my new number. English esl ability worksheets most downloaded 764 results.
I could come to your party, but i have an exam the next day. You can find links to the exercises at the bottom of the page. Possibility we also use can to talk about possibility. Expressing ability, obligation and possibility improve. Esl modal verbs of possibility and certainty activity listening and speaking elementary a1a2 20 minutes here is a possibility and certainty guessing game to help students learn how to use the modal verbs could, may and might for possibility and must for certainty. This modal verbs of ability exercise checks your understanding of using can, could, and will be able to. Below, we will look at the differences and common uses of the modal verbs can, could, may and might. Divide the class into two groups a and b and give each student a corresponding worksheet. Learners often prefer to use be able to because it is the easiest to form. We use can and cant to talk about someones skill or general abilities she can speak several languages. Can cant worksheets, pdf exercises, printable handouts, grammar lessosn.
However, it is quite common that one modal verb can have more than one functional meaning. Children cant concentrate for long periods of time. Modals of ability 1 can, could, be able to, may, might choose the best modal for each sentence. This lesson consolidates your students knowledge of expressing possibility and probability with the modal verbs may, might, could, must and cant with the opportunity to. They have various uses such as ability, possiblity or necessity and so on. I could was able to find my way because i had a good map. This modal verbs for possibility lesson shows you how to use them all correctly in english. Modal verbs of certainty, probability and possibility.
May expresses a greater degree of certainty you should ask him. They must be here somewhere because i used them to open the front door. Combinations with other modals, perfect tenses, all uses of the ing form, toinfinitive. They cant dance very well we use can and cant to talk about the ability to do something at a specific time in the present or future i can see you. The negative of can is cannot or the contraction cant. We usually use could or couldnt to talk about general abilities in the past.
It includes a leadin activity, several classroom activities and a game. Lesson c can, could, be able to ability and possibility. Can cant worksheets pdf exercises printable handouts. It is at this point that learners encounter usage rules and often make mistakes. Can, could, be able to ability and possibility test. It can be an ability that was used over and over again, or something that was done just once, on a special, or rare, occasion. Future possibility and probability modals exercise 1 choose the correct modal to complete the sentence. Modal verbs of possibility and certainty esl activities. Lesson c can, could, be able to ability and possibility 1. Future possibility and probability modals exercise 1.
Class secrets for modals for possibility teachingenglish. An esl lesson plan for teaching english students about expressing ability and possibility in english. Present modal verbs of deduction and probability exercise check through the different uses. Matching exercises provide students with a fun, engaging way to learn. In general, we use be able to when we talk about a specific achievement particularly if it is a. Present modal verbs of deduction and probability exercise.
Neither do the ones dealt with here, in these meanings, have a past form. We use can and cant to talk about the ability to do something at a specific time in the present or future. English esl possibility worksheets most downloaded 16 results. Modal verbs pdf worksheets english vocabulary and grammar. Could in the past means the general ability to do something. Exercises for practice for use of modals lessons24x7. Modal verbs of ability exercise 1 perfect english grammar. To talk about past ability and possibility, we use couldcouldnt or. So the past of can is could without the perfect infinitive.
Modal verbs of ability and permission exercise at autoenglish. A in general the usual restrictions on the use of modals remain valid. The exercises use reallife situations to practise grammar in context. Type use modal verbs example 1 expressing ability can maria can drive. They cannot be used with the willfuture, they have no infinitive, no toinfinitive, no ing form, and no past participle. We couldnt get to the meeting on time yesterday because the train was delayed by one hour. Express necessity or compulsion must, have to examples. These are used in the sentence to express a request, permission. Can cant exercises can cant exercises 2 can vs could exercises modal verbs examples.
Modal verbs of ability exercise learnenglishonline. Could and waswere able to can express general past ability i could swim when i was five. Ability we use cancould to describe ability, and we use cantcouldnt to describe absence of ability she could play the piano very well children cant concentrate for long periods of time i can speak chinese possibility we also use can to talk about possibility. We can always use had to be meaning must have been to express certainty in. Choose the correct form of can, could, be able to affirmative or negative. Elementary intermediate advanced m006 modal verbs must, mustnt, dont have to, should, shouldnt, might, can. In this modal verbs of ability activity, students play a true or false game to practice modal verbs of ability and expressions with be able to. Modal verbs of ability modal verbs of ability tell us what someone or something is able to do. Modal verbs of ability esl activities, games and worksheets. Can, could, be able to ability and possibility test english. When i lived next to the pool, i could go swimming every day. Possibility the florist can deliver the bouquet early. The first three sentences use modals of possibility.
You should wear a helmet while riding your motorbike. Modals possibility, ability, permission and requests. We use will to express a strong possibility that something is true, especially when we dont have actual evidence at the moment. We use can for present abilities and could for past abilities. General abilities past and present some abilities are general. In this lesson youll learn how to use modal verbs in english, as well as other ways to express ability, possibility, permission, and obligation. Jan 16, 2020 grammar worksheet modals of probability. Ability nonability general ability could couldnt specific ability was were able to managed to wasnt werent able to couldnt didnt manage to note. To express certainty in the present, we use must, cantandcouldnt. If none is possible, use be able to in the correct tense.
A collection of english esl ability worksheets for home learning, online practice, distance learning and english classes to teach about. Past ability grammar intermediate to upper intermediate. Type use modal verbs example 1 to express possibilities for the future could, may, might it may rain tomorrow. Some modals can be used for more than one purpose such as could for past ability or presentfuture possibility, so its no wonder they. Modal verbs for possibility exercise learnenglishonline. We use cancant to talk about ability, possibility and permission.
Ability we use cancould to describe ability, and we use cantcouldnt to describe absence of ability. The modal verbs of ability are can, could, and be able to. English esl possibility worksheets most downloaded 16. Modals of possibility lecture modalsability, possibility. Modal verbs of ability and permission exercise check through the different uses. Students guess at each others drawings and discuss future travel and life. This modal verbs for possibility exercise checks your understanding of using may, must, and have to. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs below. Ability can be expressed in the past, present, or future. Several modal verbs show possibility, including might, may, could, and must.