Modal sentences

Practice with modals

ACTIVITY ONE (sentences) | ACTIVITY TWO (conversations)

ACTIVITY ONE: Complete these sentences about IEI students' visits to McKinley Student Health Center with modal phrases, according to the meanings indicated:
(there are no "right" answers, but a few possibilities can be found here:)

"probability" (is it true?)

nonpast
1. I'm not sure, but the Preventive Medicine Department closed on Saturdays.
2. You to McKinley from FLB.
3. If you write your appointments down in your calendar, you about them.
4. Sophia to go. She keeps making excuses.
5. It dangerous to have a TB test, or the university wouldn't require it.
6. Some classes must be going to

past

7. You information about this in the packet your received before you came here.
8. Karen has been a U of I student for 2 years, so she turned her medical history forms in to McKinley.
9. Carlos didn't, so he n't able .
10. He his form when he looked through his papers.
11. Some IEI students could
12. Section 3B went to McKinley last week. They Tuesday, or Wednesday.
13. They Sunday, because McKinley isn't open then.

"advisability" (is it good?)
nonpast
14. All students evidence of immunity to certain diseases.
15. Students for UI classes unless they've met these requirements.
16. You to McKinley from FLB if you want, or you a bus.
17. You your ID card with you when you go to McKinley.
18. Jane better
past
19. Carlos to McKinley last semester, but he didn't.
20. He ought his form in a safe place.
21. Eventually, he his doctor to send him another copy.
22. He gone with his class, but he didn't.

"politeness" or "conditional"
23. If you to go to McKinley with some other students, we can arrange something.
24. But, if you go by yourself, that's OK, too.
25. Your teachers happy to go with you, though.
26. you tomorrow?
27. mind ?

future

28. When you go to McKinley, a nurse your ID card and the forms you have brought.
29. Section 5B to McKinley tomorrow at 4.
30. Section 4A's teacher is taking a VCR to class. They .

passive

31. This form by a doctor.
32. The immunization card in your wallet.
33. McKinley looks like a pretty old building. It a long time ago.

progressive

34. When you get to McKinley, other students in line to talk to the nurse.
35. When I called McKinley yesterday afternoon, the line was busy. The nurse to someone.

negative

36. International students pay to have the TB test done at McKinley.
37. But they mustn't .

two modal ideas

38. When you get to McKinley, you wait in line to talk to a nurse.
39. If you don't take care of this, you register for another semester in the IEI.
40. Kenji didn't go with his class last week. He somewhere else then.
41. If you go to McKinley now, you find it if you ever need to go there again.

Back to the beginning of ACTIVITY ONE (sentences)

MODAL "FAMILIES":
1. can -- could -- be able to
2. may -- might -- be permitted/allowed to
3. must -- have to -- has got to -- need to
4. should -- ought to -- shall -- had better -- be supposed to
(5. will -- would -- be going to)

ACTIVITY TWO: With your partner(s), write a conversation, using phrases from one of the "modal families" above, including the following forms and meanings. Be prepared to "perform" your conversation for the class. (Here are some conversations created by members of the fall 1996 and spring 1997 classes.)

a "probability" meaning -- nonpast

a "probability" meaning -- past

an "advisability" meaning -- nonpast

an "advisability" meaning -- past

a "politeness" or "conditional" meaning (IF POSSIBLE)

a verb phrase referring to a future time

a passive verb phrase

a progressive verb phrase

a negative verb phrase

a verb phrase with two modal ideas (yours and one of the others, or two of yours)

Here's a partial sample:

(Family 2: may -- might -- be permitted/allowed to)

a "probability" meaning -- nonpast (may be out of ink)
a "probability" meaning -- past (may have left)
an "advisability" meaning -- nonpast (may I borrow..?)
an "advisability" meaning -- past (weren't allowed to ..)
a "politeness" or "conditional" meaning (IF POSSIBLE)
a verb phrase referring to a future time
a passive verb phrase (weren't allowed to ..)
a progressive verb phrase
a negative verb phrase (weren't allowed to ..)
a verb phrase with two modal ideas (yours and one of the others, or two of yours)
A: May I borrow your pen?
B: Sure. .... Oh dear, I may have left it at home. .. Oh, good, here it is.
A: Thanks. Uh ... it doesn't seem to be working.
B: Oh, sorry. It may be out of ink. Here. You can use Professor Knowitall's pen.
A: Did you just take your professor's pen??!! In my old school we weren't allowed to do that!
(etc, ....)

ACTIVITY ONE (sentences) | ACTIVITY TWO (conversations)
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Ann Salzmann
Intensive English Institute
University of Illinois