1Match the meaning. Write the German word: können, müssen, nicht dürfen, sollten.
can = können, must = müssen, mustn't = nicht dürfen, should = sollten
a)can
b)must
c)mustn't
d)should
2Circle the correct modal.
Necessary? Forbidden? Able? Good idea?
a)You (must / mustn't) do your homework.
b)You (can / mustn't) run in the corridor.
c)I (can / should) swim — I learnt it last year.
d)You look ill. You (should / can) stay at home.
3Correct the form. Write the sentence.
Modal verbs: no -s, no to, next verb in the base form.
a)She cans swim.
b)He must to go.
c)They should studies.
4Write one rule for each place.
You mustn't run at the swimming pool.
a)at the swimming pool (mustn't)
b)in the classroom (must)
c)at a friend's house (can)
1Match the meaning. Write the German word: können, müssen, nicht dürfen, sollten.
can = können, must = müssen, mustn't = nicht dürfen, should = sollten
a)cankönnen
b)mustmüssen
c)mustn'tnicht dürfen
d)shouldsollten
2Circle the correct modal.
Necessary? Forbidden? Able? Good idea?
a)You (must / mustn't) do your homework.must
b)You (can / mustn't) run in the corridor.mustn't
c)I (can / should) swim — I learnt it last year.can
d)You look ill. You (should / can) stay at home.should
3Correct the form. Write the sentence.
Modal verbs: no -s, no to, next verb in the base form.
a)She cans swim.She can swim.
b)He must to go.He must go.
c)They should studies.They should study.
4Write one rule for each place.
You mustn't run at the swimming pool.
a)at the swimming pool (mustn't)e.g. You mustn't run at the swimming pool.
b)in the classroom (must)You must listen to the teacher.
c)at a friend's house (can)You can play video games at a friend's house.
1What does the modal verb express? Write: ability, permission, obligation, prohibition or advice.
can = ability or permission. must = obligation (you have to). mustn't = prohibition (not allowed). should = advice. needn't = not necessary.
a)You must wear a helmet.
b)She can speak three languages.
c)You mustn't smoke here.
d)You should see a doctor.
e)Can I go to the toilet, please?
f)You needn't bring food.
2Fill in must, mustn't, needn't, should or can.
Think: Is it necessary, forbidden, not necessary, a good idea, or possible?
a)You … be quiet in the library.
b)You … pay — it's free.
c)You … cross the road when the light is red.
d)I … swim very well.
e)You look tired. You … go to bed early.
3Rewrite the sentence for the past or the future. Use the substitute form.
can → could / be able to. must → had to / will have to. Modal verbs have no -s, no to and no past forms except could.
a)I can swim. (last year)
b)You must finish the project. (tomorrow)
c)She can't come. (yesterday)
d)We must leave early. (yesterday)
4Write the school rules. Four sentences with different modal verbs.
You mustn't … / You must … / You should … / You can …
a)phones, homework, running in the corridor, helping others
1What does the modal verb express? Write: ability, permission, obligation, prohibition or advice.
can = ability or permission. must = obligation (you have to). mustn't = prohibition (not allowed). should = advice. needn't = not necessary.
a)You must wear a helmet.obligation
b)She can speak three languages.ability
c)You mustn't smoke here.prohibition
d)You should see a doctor.advice
e)Can I go to the toilet, please?permission
f)You needn't bring food.not necessary
2Fill in must, mustn't, needn't, should or can.
Think: Is it necessary, forbidden, not necessary, a good idea, or possible?
a)You … be quiet in the library.must
b)You … pay — it's free.needn't
c)You … cross the road when the light is red.mustn't
d)I … swim very well.can
e)You look tired. You … go to bed early.should
3Rewrite the sentence for the past or the future. Use the substitute form.
can → could / be able to. must → had to / will have to. Modal verbs have no -s, no to and no past forms except could.
a)I can swim. (last year)I could swim last year. (I was able to swim.)
b)You must finish the project. (tomorrow)You will have to finish the project tomorrow.
c)She can't come. (yesterday)She couldn't come yesterday. (She wasn't able to come.)
d)We must leave early. (yesterday)We had to leave early yesterday.
4Write the school rules. Four sentences with different modal verbs.
You mustn't … / You must … / You should … / You can …
a)phones, homework, running in the corridor, helping otherse.g. You mustn't use your phone in class. You must do your homework. You shouldn't run in the corridor. You can help others.
1Correct the mistakes.
needn't = not necessary, mustn't = forbidden — they are not the same. Past of must = had to. Future of can = will be able to.
a)You needn't smoke here — it's forbidden.
b)She musts leave now.
c)I can to help you.
d)Yesterday I must get up early.
e)You mustn't come if you don't want to. It's optional.
f)He will can drive next year.
2Rewrite with a modal verb or its substitute form.
must, needn't, mustn't, could, should
a)It is necessary for all students to wear a uniform.
b)It isn't necessary to book a table.
c)It is forbidden to feed the animals.
d)She was able to read when she was four.
e)It would be a good idea to see a doctor.
3Explain the difference in one German sentence each.
must can also mean „that's surely the case".
a)You mustn't open the window. — You needn't open the window.
b)You must be tired. — You have to be there at eight.
4Write the rules for a new club (eight sentences). Use must, mustn't, needn't, should, can, and one substitute form (had to or will have to).
Make the reasons clear: You must … because …
a)Meeting times, phones, guests, fees, what happens if someone is late
1Correct the mistakes.
needn't = not necessary, mustn't = forbidden — they are not the same. Past of must = had to. Future of can = will be able to.
a)You needn't smoke here — it's forbidden.You mustn't smoke here.
b)She musts leave now.She must leave now.
c)I can to help you.I can help you.
d)Yesterday I must get up early.Yesterday I had to get up early.
e)You mustn't come if you don't want to. It's optional.You needn't come if you don't want to.
f)He will can drive next year.He will be able to drive next year.
2Rewrite with a modal verb or its substitute form.
must, needn't, mustn't, could, should
a)It is necessary for all students to wear a uniform.All students must wear a uniform.
b)It isn't necessary to book a table.You needn't book a table.
c)It is forbidden to feed the animals.You mustn't feed the animals.
d)She was able to read when she was four.She could read when she was four.
e)It would be a good idea to see a doctor.You should see a doctor.
3Explain the difference in one German sentence each.
must can also mean „that's surely the case".
a)You mustn't open the window. — You needn't open the window.mustn't: Es ist verboten. needn't: Es ist nicht nötig, du kannst es aber.
b)You must be tired. — You have to be there at eight.must be tired: eine Vermutung (du bist sicher müde). have to be there: eine Pflicht.
4Write the rules for a new club (eight sentences). Use must, mustn't, needn't, should, can, and one substitute form (had to or will have to).
Make the reasons clear: You must … because …
a)Meeting times, phones, guests, fees, what happens if someone is lateOwn text. Check: six different modal forms, one substitute form, reasons with because.
What they mean
can = ability or permission. must = it is necessary. mustn't = it is forbidden. needn't = it is not necessary. should = it is a good idea. may / might = it is possible.
You mustn't smoke here. (forbidden)You needn't pay. (not necessary)
Form
Modal verbs never take -s, never to, and the next verb is in the base form: She can swim. He must go.
not: she cans, he must to go
Past and future
Modals have no past or future forms (except could). Use substitutes: can → be able to, must → have to. Yesterday I had to get up early. Next year he will be able to drive.