Modals · B6 English Language

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: B6.3.9.1.1 - Use modals to express a variety of meanings

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

Identify at least eight modal auxiliaries and state the meaning each one conveys.
Use “can,” “may,” “must,” and “should” correctly in sentences to express ability, permission, obligation, and advice.
Use “could,” “would,” “might,” and “will/shall” to express politeness, possibility, and intention in speech and writing.
Distinguish between modals that express obligation (must, have to, ought to, need to) and those that express possibility (may, might, could).
Write a short dialogue of at least six exchanges using modals appropriately to convey politeness and request.

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Curriculum details

Strand: Grammar Usage at Word and Phrase Levels (Strand 3)
Sub-strand: Modals (3.9)
Content standard: B6.3.9.1 - Apply the knowledge of modals in speech and in writing
Indicator: B6.3.9.1.1 - Use modals to express a variety of meanings
Suggested placement: Term 3, Week 1 (Week 25 of the year)
Our suggestion, laid out in curriculum order across three terms of twelve weeks. NaCCA does not fix the week, so follow your school's scheme of learning.
Curriculum reference: English Language Curriculum (Basic 4-6), 2019, p. 192
Transcribed from the official NaCCA publication. Check this page against the source.

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

- Revise modal auxiliaries.
- Can: conveys ability
- May: asks for permission, expresses politeness, possibility
- Must: obligation or compulsion, necessity
- Shall/will: prediction, intention, determination etc.
- Could: tentativeness, politeness
- Would: politeness etc.
- Might: possibility
- Should: obligation
- Used to: for past activity/event
- Have to/ought to/need to: for obligation
- Introduce them in context one or two at a time.
- With examples, assist learners to use the modals in sentences to convey specific meanings such as politeness.