Практика Shadowing: MODAL VERBS: All you need to know about CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, MUST, SHOULD, SHALL, WILL and WOULD - Изучайте разговорный английский с YouTube

There are nine words in the English language that cause my students so much grief, suffering, anxiety.

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There are nine words in the English language that cause my students so much grief, suffering, anxiety.

They are modal verbs.

They are can, could, may,

might, must, shall, should, will, and would.

The stress stops here.

In this lesson, you are going to learn all about their different functions.

You are going to see loads and loads of examples to help solidify your understanding.

We're going to solve all the problems you have with these modal verbs once and for all.

That's my promise to you.

We're going to look at the theory.

We're going to look at examples and we're going to test your understanding with two quizzes that I've inserted into the video.

And if that wasn't enough,

I've also created a PDF modal verbs study guide.

You can download it for free.

It contains all of the information we're going to cover together,

plus lots of alternatives to these modal verbs like have to

and be able to

but wait there's more this pdf study guide also contains a

secret link to some interactive exercises for you to check your understanding yes it's a lot yes it's generous

and yes you are very very welcome

if you would like to download this pdf study guide all

you've got to do is click on the link in the description box

or scan that qr code there enter your name email address and choose your English level,

and then the PDF will arrive directly in your inbox and then after that you will have joined my PDF club.

You'll automatically receive all of my free weekly PDFs alongside all of my news,

course updates and offers.

It's a free service, you can unsubscribe at any time with just one click.

I need to calm down,

as you can tell I am very excited about this topic.

Let's get started by talking about form,

and I have some really good news.

The modals that we're talking about in this video have one form.

This is so rare in English.

Just one form, nothing more.

The base form that you see in the dictionary.

We don't add ing, so it's always could, never coulding.

We don't add ed, so it's always must, never musted.

And we don't add s in the third person singular,

so it is always should, never shoulds.

These pure modals are followed by another verb,

not a modal, in the base form.

So they're not followed by a to infinitive.

For example, I might bake a cake later.

Modals will sometimes appear alone when we don't want or need to repeat a previous verb.

For example, I'm going to jump the queue.

No, you can't.

No, you can't jump the queue.

Is there anything more British than that example?

We love cues.

We form questions by inverting the subject modal verb word order.

We don't use do or did.

For example, can I help you?

Or should I dye my hair green?

I bet you're thinking, no,

you shouldn't, which brings me to negative forms.

We form negatives by adding not,

could not, should not, etc. Cannot is different as it is one word in the negative.

We often use contractions, can't,

won't, but note that we don't usually contract may not.

Maynt, as great as it sounds,

does exist, but it isn't common at all.

Okay, are you ready to dive into our nine modal verbs we're going to talk about the most typical

and most useful ways we use these verbs let's start with

can we use can to talk about present ability i can speak spanish now did you hear

that i used the weak form con with a schwa not

the strong form can with an a sound we often use the in weak form in statements and questions.

I can speak Spanish.

Here's an example using knowability.

I can't speak Spanish.

Notice the pronunciation difference between can with a short a,

which is the pronunciation we use in short answers.

I can can't with the long R sound.

This is in my accent modern RP.

In other regional dialects or in North American English, it's different.

Moving on, we use can to ask for and give permission.

Can I have pizza for breakfast?

And we use can't to refuse permission.

No, So, you can't.

We also use can to make requests.

Can you make me a pizza?

And we can use can to talk about general possibilities.

For example, it can be cold and rainy in the UK in March.

It's not always cold and rainy, but it is sometimes.

We use can't to make deductions when we're sure something is not true or not happening.

For example, Ellen can't be Tim's sister.

doesn't have a sister.

Now, let's continue that thought with a different modal verb.

Ellen could be Tim's cousin.

He has about ten.

Am I sure?

No, but it's a decent guess based on some evidence I have.

We use could to make deductions when we think something is possible,

but we're not certain.

How else do we use could?

Well, it's pretty similar to can in many ways.

You know that we use can to talk about present ability,

we use could to express past ability.

I could see perfectly when I was younger.

100

Now I'm as blind as a bat.

101

That's a common simile, meaning you can't see very well.

102

Could expresses general ability in the past.

103

You can use was or were able to or managed to

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to talk about something that was possible on a specific occasion in the past.

105

See the PDF for a couple more examples.

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We also use could to make requests.

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It's more formal and more polite than can.

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For example, excuse me, could you help me look for my glasses?

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I can't see a thing without them.

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And we use could to talk about things that are possible in the present or future.

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My glasses could be in my bag.

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It's like a black hole in there.

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Okay, another modal verb with similar functions.

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Might.

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In formal language, we use might to make requests.

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Might I borrow your umbrella for a moment?

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Now, this isn't really common in everyday speech.

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Can or could are used much more often.

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We use might to make deductions when we're not sure.

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We can use all of our modals of deduction to talk about the past as well as the present and future.

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The structure to talk about the past is modal plus have plus past participle.

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An example, where's the fish we're having for dinner?

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Not sure, the cat might have eaten it.

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And we can use might plus base verb to talk about things that are possible in the present or future.

125

I might not go to Spain this summer and I might head to Italy to practice my Italian instead.

126

Okay, that sounds really nice.

127

Brilliant.

128

So are there any other ways to talk about possibility?

129

Yes, we may have to reschedule the meeting if the boss doesn't arrive soon.

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Now, do you think may is more or less formal than might or could?

131

It is more formal.

132

We also use may to ask for permission,

133

and again, It's quite formal.

134

An example, may I use the conference room to make a personal call?

135

Even more formally, we use may to give and refuse permission.

136

Yes, you may.

137

No you may not.

138

And we use may to make deductions about things we think are probably true,

139

but we're not sure.

140

For example, oh dear, the boss looks annoyed.

141

She may not be happy that we cancelled the meeting.

142

Or she may just be annoyed that we ate all the doughnuts.

143

Who knows?

144

Note that we tend to use might more often in speech.

145

Okay, that's clear.

146

But what if we're sure something is true?

147

We might say something like this.

148

The boss must be annoyed that we cancelled the meeting because she came all the way from Berlin.

149

We use must to make deductions when we are certain about something.

150

And remember, when making deductions,

151

the opposite of must is can't, not must not.

152

When we're unsure, we use may, might and could.

153

Now, are there any other ways we use must?

154

Yes, we use must to talk about obligations,

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often things we think are important for us to do.

156

And these are often called internal obligations because I think it's important to do it.

157

I must call my dad later.

158

It's his birthday.

159

And we use must and mustn't.

160

Notice the pronunciation there.

161

I don't pronounce the first t mustn't to talk about rules and laws let's imagine we're going to the cinema

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you must put your phone on silent mode while the film is playing

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or you mustn't talk loudly during the film we can also

164

use must to make strong suggestions you must try the cheddar jalapeno popcorn.

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It's delicious.

166

We stress the modal verb with this meaning.

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You must try it.

168

The flappy hand is optional,

169

but I like it for emphasis.

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You must try it.

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Note that we don't usually stress modals in the present.

172

You must try it is an exception.

173

Okay, let's pause here for a moment and check what you've learnt so far with a little quiz.

174

Complete the sentences with the modal verb that best fits the gap.

175

And don't forget to conjugate it.

176

Ah, that was a trick.

177

We're not changing the modal verbs here.

178

We use their base form.

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To make things even trickier,

180

sometimes more than one verb is possible.

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Ready?

182

One.

183

When I was at school,

184

I speak French fairly well.

185

Have a little think.

186

This is a past ability,

187

so the answer is could.

188

Number two, I'm sure it be difficult for English speakers to learn Mandarin.

189

This is a deduction, and I'm sure it is true,

190

so the answer is must.

191

Number three, try watching your favourite K-dramas in Korean.

192

learn a bit of the language.

193

Number three expresses a possibility and three options could fit the gap.

194

You could say might, you could also say may,

195

and you could also say could.

196

Number four, you teach me a few phrases in Arabic.

197

This is a request and there are two possibilities.

198

You could say can or could.

199

Now, do you remember which one is more formal?

200

It's could.

201

Okay, last question now, and then we'll move on to the next part of the lesson.

202

Number five, I really tidy the kitchen this afternoon.

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It's such a mess.

204

This is something I think I really need to do,

205

so it is an internal obligation.

206

Must best completes the gap.

207

How did you do?

208

Keep a note of your score as we're going to do another little quiz later,

209

and then you can share it in the comments section.

210

But for now, we have four more modal verbs to go.

211

We're over halfway there.

212

Before the quiz, we were talking about how to use must,

213

now we're looking at should.

214

And it's used similarly to must in some ways, though it's less strong.

215

We use should to talk about obligations and the right or wrong thing to do.

216

For example, you should always wear your seatbelt on the plane.

217

Or we shouldn't call Sarah now, it's after midnight.

218

We also use should to make suggestions and give and ask for advice.

219

For example, you look exhausted.

220

You should take a nap.

221

Or should we get a taxi to the airport?

222

Another way we use should is to express expectations.

223

For example, the flight should be on time.

224

Or shouldn't Alice be here by now?

225

She said she'd be arriving an hour ago.

226

We can also make suggestions using shall.

227

And this modal verb is one

228

that really tends to confuse my students don't worry i'll sort

229

it out for you we usually use shall with i

230

and we for example shall we go to the beach today

231

we can also ask for advice what shall we do with all the sandwiches we didn't eat.

232

And we use shall to make offers.

233

Shall I help you with them?

234

Now, here's an important note.

235

Used like this, shall is fairly common in British English,

236

but it's not that common in North American English.

237

Speakers of that variety often use should or another verb instead.

238

Let's stick with offers now and look at our next verb and also the name of my husband, Will.

239

An example.

240

I'll drive tomorrow so you can enjoy the views.

241

That is something Will would say.

242

I hate driving.

243

In spoken sentences, we almost always contract will to all,

244

apostrophe LL, and will not to won't.

245

We also use will or won't to make promises.

246

I won't be late to pick you up, I promise.

247

We use it to make statements and predictions about the future.

248

The hike will be stunning in this gorgeous sunshine.

249

And what about this sentence here?

250

What's the function?

251

Will you pack us some snacks, please?

252

Yep, this is a request.

253

We use will to make requests.

254

Okay, are you still with me?

255

Can we talk about our final modal verb, would?

256

Note the pronunciation there.

257

I don't pronounce the L.

258

Uh, would, would.

259

Now, like will, we use would to make requests.

260

But which one is more polite and less direct?

261

Listen to these two examples.

262

Will you pass me the map?

263

Would you pass me the map?

264

I might have given you a clue with my body language.

265

Would is more polite.

266

We can also use would to give advice.

267

For example, if I were you,

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I'd turn the map around.

269

You've got it the wrong way up.

270

Now, this sentence also demonstrates another use of would, expressing a hypothetical situation.

271

We can use would to talk about hypothetical situations in the present, past, or future.

272

An example, so what would you do if I said we were lost?

273

And finally, would is used as the past form of will in indirect speech.

274

For example, direct speech, we'll find the path again, I promise.

275

In direct speech, he promised that we would find the path again.

276

Okay, shall we do one more short quiz?

277

Just three questions this time,

278

and then you can share your score in the comment section.

279

You ready?

280

What is the function of the modal verb in these sentences?

281

One, are you coming for dinner tomorrow?

282

I'll make sure there's a vegetarian option.

283

Is it a request or a promise?

284

It's a promise.

285

Number two, I'd make a dessert if I had more time.

286

What is the function of would here?

287

To express a hypothetical situation or to make a request?

288

Yes, it is a hypothetical situation.

289

And finally, you should ask Pete to make his famous trifle.

290

Is this advice or an expectation?

291

It is advice.

292

Trifle is always a classic.

293

So how did you do?

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Add your score from before and let me know in the comments.

295

I really hope you feel more confident about using modals now.

296

And remember, I have created your free PDF Modals Study Guide.

297

Just click on the link in the description box or scan the QR code here if you'd like to download that.

298

Remember you get a link to a secret interactive exercise pack too,

299

so you can really practice what you've learnt.

300

Thank you so much for being my student today.

301

It was a pleasure to teach you and I'll see you in the next lesson.

302

you

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