can → to express criticism in a less definite way

Ex. Susan can be very insensitive sometimes.

Although he is usually quiet, he can become very noisy at times.

can’t → to express you are sure something is not true

Ex. he can’t be hungry! He has just had supper.

Mary can’t be at work. Her car is still in the garage.

must → to express you are sure something is true

→ to make a logical guess

ex. He has been studying all morning, so he must be tired.

I don’t know how old he is exactly, but he must be in his mid twenties.

may → to express formal wishes or hopes

Ex. may your life be filled with happiness!

May the new year bring us peace and love.

need/ | has exactly the same meaning as the verb “to need”
needn’t | but is used as a modal

Ex. no one need know about our secret (= No one needs to know about our secret)
He needn’t wait for me. (= He doesn’t need to wait for me.)

Complete the sentences using the correct modal:

1. Although my hair looks nice and sleek, it ___________ get very knotty if I don’t brush it.

2. You___________ do your homework today, it’s Saturday tomorrow.

3. ___________ all your dreams come true in the best possible way.

4. He told me he loved me, so he ____________ be cheating on me!

5. You____________ be exhausted after that long flight.

6. My job ____________ get very stressful at times, but I love it anyway.

7. You__________ go to the supermarket today. We still have plenty of food.

8. I love you but you ___________ be rally annoying sometimes!

9. He only started german a month ago, so he ___________ be speaking it already.

10. This dress looks very expensive. It ____________ cost a lot of money!

11. Laura___________ clean her room because her mum cleaned it for her.

12. He called and said he was leaving home 15 minutes ago, so he ___________ be on his
way now.

13. You ______________ water the flowers today- I watered them yesterday.

14. He _____________ be studying with that loud music coming out of his room!

15. She’s wearing a ring on her left hand- She ______________ be engaged.

16. ______________ your life be filled with joy and happiness.

17. Although History of Art is a very interesting subject, it ____________ become quite
demanding at times.

18. You ___________ give the kids a ride to school today. I will drive them on my way to
work.

19. He ____________ be really disappointed because he didn’t pass his exams although he
studied so hard.

20. Although not impossible, weight loss ___________ be hard to achieve if you suffer from
hormonal problems.

21. _________ 2021 be a great year for us all.

22. No one __________ help John with his homework. He is clever enough to do it on his
own.

23. The house is warm already, so you ____________ turn on the heating.

24. -”It ____________ be really hard raising three children on your own!”
-”Yes, it ____________ get very demanding, believe me!”

25. All these rumors about John __________ be true! I know him and he’s a really nice guy.
Rewrite the following sentences using “need” and “needn’t” as modal verbs:

Examples:
No one needs to know about our secret. Does he need to do that?
No one need know about our secret. Need he do that?

You don’t need to act like that.

You needn’t act like that.

1. You don’t need to help me with this, I can handle it on my own.

________________________________________________________________

2. Do you need to make so much noise?

________________________________________________________________

3. I don’t need to be told what to do.

________________________________________________________________

4. She doesn’t need to be told what to do.

________________________________________________________________

5. No one needs to worry about that.

________________________________________________________________

6. We don’t need to buy any milk, there is some in the fridge.

________________________________________________________________

7. Nobody needs to act surprised over Anna’s success.

________________________________________________________________

8. Does he really need to shout that loudly? We are trying to work over here.
________________________________________________________________

9. He doesn’t need to behave this way.

________________________________________________________________

10. Do the children need to go to bed this early?

________________________________________________________________
Should → when we expect something to happen

Ex. they should be arriving any minute now.

→ to express personal reactions, often after adjectives

Ex. It’s strange you should say that, ’cause I was thinking the same thing!
|
(adjective)

→ to show you are annoyed with something

Ex. - “Where’s Mary?” - “How should I know?”

→ used together with: If to make the action seem less likely

In case
For fear that

Ex. I will make some extra food in case you should get hungry later.

Won’t → used in formal invitations and offers:

Ex. “Won’t you have a seat, Madame?”

→ at the end of a sentence to make it extra polite:

Ex. “Have a seat, won’t you?”

Would → to stress that something is uncertain:

Ex. “ It is unlikely he would help us if we asked him”.

Might → to show criticism or that we are unhappy with someone’s actions.

Ex. “You might ask me before you borrow my new coat!”

1. You ___________ tell me before you wear my new dress!

2. It’s funny he ____________ be angry at me because I have done nothing wrong.

3. I doubt that Anna __________ be in love with Mike. she hates him.

4. How ___________ I know where my sister is? She never tells me anything.

5. It’s suspicious that the dog ___________ behave so well, it is usually very naughty.

6. ____________ you follow me to your seat, sir?

7. You _____________ tell us next time you decide to do something this stupid.

8. The train arrived 5 minutes ago, so John __________ be coming out of the platform

soon.

9. It is highly unlikely that the President ___________ resign.

10. Take a jacket with you in case you _____________ get cold.

11. If you ____________ need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.

12. Join us for dinner tonight, __________ you?

13. That friend of yours __________ phone you first instead of showing up at our house

so late at night!

14. It is highly improbable that George ___________ cheat on his exams.

15. -What’s for dinner? -How ___________ I know? Go ask mum.

16. It is strange Helen __________ talk that rudely to us, she is usually so polite!

17. __________ you help yourselves to a drink, gentlemen?

18. It is 10 o’clock. The show __________ start any time now.

19. He put on his raincoat for fear that it ____________ rain.

20. You __________ give me a “heads up” next time you find out I am in trouble with the

boss!