If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? Modal verbs such as could and would express possibility, as the installment of a compilation of informational handouts describes. A series of tables help explain the strength, frequency, and function of the words will, would, should, may, can, could, might, and must.

Concepts

modal verbs, two-word verbs, verbs

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Come up with silly advice using different modal verbs, such as "If you think you might be hungry later, you should take up hunting and gathering."
• Create a cloze reading activity where learners fill in the blanks with modal auxiliaries

Classroom Considerations

• Aligns with elementary Common Core standards, but vocabulary appeals more to a high school or college audience

Pros

• Uses visual elements to compare the meanings of different modal verbs

Cons

• Some columns of text are too narrow, which makes it difficult to read the information they contain

Common Core

L.4.1.c L.5.1.c L.9-10.3.a L.11-12.3.a