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Modal Auxiliaries - Vocabulary Flashcards (Grade 9 Anglophone-American Literature)

Modal Auxiliaries: Grade 9 English (Anglo-American Literature)

  • Learning focus (from transcript): identify how modal auxiliaries are used in sentences; determine the modal to be used in a sentence; create dialogue using modal auxiliaries.
  • Key idea: Modals are helping verbs that express the speaker's attitude toward the action of the main verb (mood, modality). They cover permission, obligation, and prohibition, among other functions.
  • Main modals discussed for permission, obligation, prohibition: can, may, could, must, have to, mustn’t, can’t.
  • Structure of the lesson: explanations of each function, example sentences, and practice items (fill-in-the-blank and scenario-based).

Permission

  • What it means: Modals used to express permission to do something.
  • Most common modal auxiliaries for permission: can, may, could.
  • Usage notes:
    • Can: everyday, informal permission. Example: You can sit here if you want.
    • May: most formal way to ask for and give permission. Example: May I call you later?
    • Could: used to ask for permission; it is not used to grant permission. It is more formal and polite than can when asking. Example (permission context): Could you move a little bit to the left? I can’t see the blackboard.
  • Key nuance: Could is more formal and polite than can when asking for permission; it is not used to grant permission.
  • Quick summary of permission terms:
    • Can, may, could are the most common for permission.
    • May is the most formal; can is informal; could is a polite alternative for requests.

Common Modal Auxiliaries for Permission (listed in transcript)

  • CAN
    • You can sit here if you want.
  • MAY
    • May I call you later?
  • COULD
    • Could you move a little bit to the left? I can’t see the blackboard.

Permission: Practice Scenarios (from transcript)

1) You are a student and you formally ask a teacher for permission to leave the room.

  • Potential answer forms: May I leave the room? (formal)
    2) You ask your mum for permission to go to a party tonight. You are polite but don’t use ‘may’.
  • Possible forms: Could I go to a party tonight? / Can I go to a party tonight?
    3) Ask for permission to finish your essay next week.
  • Possible forms: Could I finish my essay next week? / May I finish my essay next week?
    4) Ask a friend for permission to use her phone. Be informal.
  • Possible forms: Can I use your phone? / Could I borrow your phone?
    5) Tell someone they have hypothetical permission to go to the meeting instead – you’re sure it would be okay.
  • Example intent: You may go to the meeting instead (expresses hypothetical/conditional permission).

Obligation

  • Key modals: Must, Have to.
  • Must vs Have To:
    • Must expresses a strong obligation or necessity. The obligation often comes from the speaker or the authority that issued the sentence (internal obligation).
    • Have to expresses obligation that comes from outside the speaker (external obligation).
  • Common modals for obligation: MUST, HAVE TO.
  • Example sentences:
    • Must: I must submit this report tomorrow.
    • Have to: You have to slow down while driving in front of a school.

Obligation: Fill-in Exercises (from transcript)

  1. Ms. Agoncillo told me today that I ___ give in that assignment by Friday at the latest. → must
  2. John, this is a one-way street. You ___ turn back and use P. Burgos Street. → have to
  3. The local council is really strict about protecting that piece of lawn. You ___ walk around it! → must
  4. Thanks for everything. It was a great party. I ___ go now. I am really tired. → have to
  5. You are not supposed to be in this room. You ___ leave now! → must

Prohibition

  • Modals used to express what is not allowed or forbidden:
    • CAN’T: used to say something is against the rules or not permitted by rule (often rule-based). Example: You can’t go there. The road is closed.
    • MUSTN’T: stronger, expresses prohibition or not permitted, often closer to the speaker’s own prohibition.
  • Important nuance:
    • Cannot / Can’t commonly used for rules or established prohibitions.
    • Mustn’t emphasizes not being allowed, especially when the prohibition comes from the speaker.
  • Example sentences from transcript:
    • CAN’T: You can’t go there. The road is closed.
    • MUSTN’T: You mustn’t interrupt our conversation.

Prohibition: Key Points and Examples

  • In public notices and signs, you will often see mustn’t or can't used to convey prohibitions.
  • Distinction to remember:
    • Can’t = not allowed according to a rule or situation.
    • Mustn’t = not allowed, often reflecting the speaker’s prohibition.

Quick Connections and Practical Implications

  • Register and formality:
    • Permission: can for informal, may for formal contexts, could as a polite request form.
    • Obligation: must for strong internal/authoritative obligation; have to for external obligations.
    • Prohibition: can't for rules; mustn't for speaker-based prohibition.
  • Real-world relevance:
    • Using the appropriate modal affects politeness, formality, and perceived authority in speech.
    • Confident use of modals helps in dialogues, negotiations, and safety-critical communication (eg, driving safety, school rules).
  • Connections to foundational principles:
    • Modality as a way to express attitude toward actions (permission, obligation, prohibition).
    • Speech acts: requesting permission, issuing obligations, and declaring prohibitions are common communicative acts.

Quick Reference (Summary)

  • Permission modals: can (informal), may (formal), could (polite request; not for granting)
  • Obligation modals: must (strong internal/authoritative obligation), have to (external obligation)
  • Prohibition modals: can’t (rule-based prohibition), mustn’t (speaker-prohibition)
  • Practice prompts in transcript illustrate typical sentence frames and context for each function.

Notes on Methodology and Exam Preparation

  • When you need to decide which modal to use, consider formality, source of obligation, and whether you are granting permission or imposing a rule.
  • For hypothetical or conditional permission, may and could are common choices; context will guide formality level.
  • For exam questions that include fill-in-the-blank, recall whether the obligation is internal or external to choose between must and have to; for permission questions, choose among can, may, or could depending on formality.