Modal verbs of probability, also referred to as modals of deduction, speculation, or certainty, are used to express the likelihood that something may or may not be true. Modals are those helping verbs, which express the mode or manner of the actions indicated by the main verbs. Mixed modal verbs exercises intermediate level esl. There is a grammar explanation at the bottom of the page. Additional rules modals can be used in present and past only. I hope you feel a little more confident using modal verbs to talk about possibility and probability. Several modal verbs show possibility, including might, may, could, and must. We can use modals of probability to speculate on what is happening in the present, or on what has happened in the past. Present modal verbs of deduction and probability exercise check through the different uses. Use must, might, may, could, or cant plus the correct form of the verb to fill in the blanks in the quiz. In this probability worksheet, students learn and practice modal verbs of probability by talking about the weather. In this exercise you will practise using modal verbs to express past probability. In english, modal verbs of probability are helping verbs, also known as auxiliary verbs, which indicate possibility, obligation, permission and ability. Modal verbs worksheets, printable exercises pdf, handouts.
Modal verbs for possibility exercise learnenglishonline. Click here to download this exercise in pdf with answers. Modal verbs upper intermediate level my students find modal verbs quite difficult and get mixed up. English esl modal verbs worksheets most downloaded 189.
Can the modal can is used to show capability strength, nature, ability, skill, permission, probability, etc. Must, may, might, cant and couldnt are used with a present perfect verb form to show how certain a speaker is that a past situation happened or didnt happen affirmative. To express certainty in the past, we use must have, cant have and couldnt have. Modals do not have subjectverb agreement or take the infinitive to before the next verb. I you he she it we they must be might be could be may be cant be at work. The exercises use reallife situations to practise grammar in context. Modal verbs of probability click here for all the exercises about modal verbs we can use these modal verbs also called modals of deduction, speculation or certainty when we. Use of modal verbs of probability we can use these modal verbs when we want to to say how sure we are that something happened is happening will happen. We choose the modal verb depending on how sure we are.
Answers will vary, but possible answers are given on page 2 level. Modals do not serve as the main verbs of a sentence. The most commonly used modals are shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, must, ought to. English modalsverbs that express ability, permission. Modal verbs what this handout is about modal verbs must, will, would, should, may, can, could, might, must are helping verbs that precede another verb. Future possibility and probability modals exercise 1 choose the correct modal to complete the sentence. Type use modal verbs example 1 to express possibilities for the future could, may, might it may rain tomorrow. Put another way, you use modal verbs when you want to guess something, notes perfect english. Modal verbs of probability probability james abela elt. I talk about how to use these verbs and give you example sentences. English grammar practice exercise, intermediate level. Matching exercise cut out each of the cells and get students to match meanings. Modal verbs upper intermediate level interactive worksheet. Exercise 1 complete the blanks with must, cant, or might.
This is an interactive online exercise about modal verbs of probability such as can, can, could, may and might. Pay close to attention to time words to conjugate the modal verb of probability correctly. Nov 02, 2017 when using modal verbs of probability, things can quickly get confusing, but ensuring proper grammar could end in your favor. This modal verbs for possibility lesson shows you how to use them all correctly in english. Modal verbs of probability exercise 1 perfect english grammar. Past modals of probability mustcantmight have been 6. Modal verbs of ability exercise 2 learnenglishonline. Modals do not have subject verb agreement or take the infinitive to before the next verb. In this exercise you will practise using modal verbs to express present probability. Ive made this worksheet and have tried to be as clear and bried as possible.
Contents to express sometimes overlap be aware of that. Modal verbs of probability are used to express an opinion of the speaker based on information that the speaker has. 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. Modal verbs of possibility and certainty esl activities. Can could exercises may might must have to shall should will would mixed modals exercises had better home.
Exercise 1 choose the correct modal verbs of deduction for each gap below. A in general the usual restrictions on the use of modals remain valid. A collection of english esl worksheets for home learning, online practice, distance learning and english classes to teach about modal, verbs, modal verbs. Modal verbs the helping verbs which show the, mode or attitude of the main verb are called modals. Modal verbs interactive and downloadable worksheet. You can do the exercises online or download the worksheet as pdf. Its time to get your head around english modal verbs. Can cant followed by a verb in the infinitive form, to talk about something that happens sometimes, something possible. Point out that exercise 2 shows us how sure we are about something. Choose the correct option for these modal verbs of possibility. Questions like fill in the gaps with a suitable modal verb and write its function.
Modal verbs of probability perfect english grammar. Fill in each gap using must, cant, could, may or might. The most commonly used modals are shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, must, ought to, used to, need and dare. Todays lesson will focus on using modal verbs for certainty, probability, and deduction. Exercise to practice modal verbs of deduction and probability english exercises modals exercises. Future possibility and probability modals exercise 1. Modal verbs of probability english grammar exercises. Modal verbs pdf worksheets english vocabulary and grammar. In some cases, there is more than one right answer. They cannot be used with the willfuture, they have no infinitive, no toinfinitive, no ing form, and no past. Notice that each modal is followed by a present simple verb. Modal verb meaning must will future very sure can very sure ability should expect it to happen might a good chance may 50 50 may not mightnt about 3040% could it is possible wont couldnt cant mustnt negative very sure. They express modes such as ability, possibility, probability, permission, obligation, etc. Modal verb meaning must will future very sure can very sure ability should expect it to happen might a good chance may 50 50 may not mightnt about 3040% could it is possible wont couldnt.
English esl possibility worksheets most downloaded 16 results prev. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device. Different modals of probability can be used depending on how sure we are about a present situation. When expressing probability in present tense, pair a modal verb up with an infinitive. Now remember that the next lesson will talk about how these modal verbs can be used for ability, to ask for permission, to give suggestions and ask for advice.
Higherlevel classes might also benefit from a whole lesson on different grammar of modal verbs depending on their meaning, e. Modal verbs to talk about deduction and probability. Modals of possibility and probability for past situations exercise 1 choose the correct modal to complete the sentence. A past modal verb implies something was possible, permitted, obligated or able to be done in the hypothetical sense, but didnt actually happen. This modal verbs for possibility exercise checks your understanding of using may, must, and have to. Present modal verbs of deduction and probability exercise. Jun 21, 2018 its time to get your head around english modal verbs. Modals of possibility and probability with continuous. Students headway students site intermediate fourth edition grammar unit 11 modal verbs of probability. English esl possibility worksheets most downloaded 16.
Unit 7 possibility and probability oxford living grammar explains how grammar works and when to use it. You are likely to use these a lot in your academic writing for task 2, particularly if you are writing an essay which needs to give solutions to a problem. A colour code helps to identify the different uses of each modal verb with. Modal verbs of probability exercise pdf autoenglish. Jun 22, 2018 well i hope that you enjoyed that lesson. To express certainty in the present, we use must, cantandcouldnt. Modals of possibility and probability for past situations. We can use these modal verbs when we want to to say how sure we are that something happened is happening will happen.
Modal verbs of probability click here for all the exercises about modal verbs we can use these modal verbs also called modals of deduction, speculation or certainty when we want to make a guess about something. Students begin by matching modal verbs of probability with the correct day in a weather forecast, according to the probability percentage. Click here for all the exercises about modal verbs we can use these modal verbs also called modals of deduction, speculation or certainty when we want to make a guess about something. Modal verbs of certainty, probability and possibility. The most commonly used modals of probability are can, could, may and must. How to teach modals of possibilityprobabilitydeduction. Can, could, may, might, must, have to, shall, should, will, would. Past modals exercise 1 could have, should have, would have click here to return to the main modals page. Modals of possibility and probability with continuous tenses. John always fails the tests, even though hes clever. Here are some examples of modals of probability without been she must have studied in the morning. When expressing probability in the past tense, add have and a past participle to the modal verb.