A selection of English ESL modal verbs speaking printables

Activity to practice the modal verb CAN to express ability. Each student gets a handout. They walk arounf the classroom asking their classmates if they can do any of the activities written on the worksheet. When they found someone who has that ability, they write the student's name inside the square. Whoever gets all the squares signs first wins.

abilities bingo can/can't activity

Generally speaking, the word order in English sentences tends to be pretty strict and less flexible than, for example in Spanish. 



This is why you should remember that adverbs of time (yesterday, today, in three weeks, two days ago, tomorrow, for three days, since October….) are almost always placed at the end of a sentence:



I’ll see him tomorrow.

She went to China yesterday.

They have been married for ten years.

I’d like to see you now.



Most of these adverbs of time, may sometimes be placed at the beginning of the sentence, though this is not so common:



Yesterday I saw a very good film.

Tomorrow we’ll fly to New York.





Exceptions



The adverb of time just, which is used with the present perfect tense  has to be placed after the auxiliary verb have/has,  never at the end of the sentence:



She has just left the office.

They have just finished the meeting



PLease notice that the adverbs of frequency are also places between the subject and the verb:



I often listne to music in the evening.

However, when we have a modal verb (to be, can, could, must, should, will..) the adverbs of frequency are usually put behind them:



She is always late.





word order in English sentences

This worksheet uses a variety of modal verbs to say how you would respond to 20 different situations. For lower level students, I normally cut the sheet in half Student A / Student B as they tend to read the question rather than developing listening skills. In class you can use phrases such as: I don't follow you/ Again please / What does __________ mean? Etc.

How would you respond?

One person is the doctor, the other is the patient. The patient choses an illness in their head. The doctor has to guess the illness based on the patient's symptoms using modal verbs of deduction. Once the doctor has identified the likely illness, the doctor might provide advice about how the patient can cure their illness or reduce their symptoms.

Illnesses and Modals of Deduction Worksheet #2

One person is the doctor, the other is the patient. The patient choses an illness in their head. The doctor has to guess the illness based on the patient's symptoms using modal verbs of deduction. Once the doctor has identified the likely illness, the doctor might provide advice about how the patient can cure their illness or reduce their symptoms. *This worksheet is not medically accurate.*

Allergies and Modals of Deduction

A mind map designed for practicing the modal verb CAN / CAN'T in speaking or writing.

Level: elementary - low pre-intermediate

* It's possible to use it for the intermediate level if you provide students with additional instructions to use more complicated patterns (e.g. using COULD / USED TO BE ABLE TO )



The ways to use it:

► talking in pairs;

► a teacher-student talking;

► for practicing questions;

► homework assignment (writing a composition) 



.

Abilities mind map (CAN, BE ABLE TO)

Students have to write the correct conjugations of the Modal verbs. The questions related to können, sollen, müssen, dürfen, wollen, möchten are given in the worksheet. This worksheet has also got many words to learn. It is very helpful for German A1 learners. Modal verb conjugations are bit difficult to learn for the beginners. In order to master these conjugations, this worksheet will be useful. The questions have different subject pronouns so that all types of conjugations are used. Students have to learn all the conjugations. It will be helpful when they write the sentences or in letter writing. Writing skills are also equally important because the students have to the A1 German exam. In A1 exam 4 modules will be there. Reading, listening, Speaking, Listening. So, Writing skills is also important to clear the A1 exam and als to get the good marks. Solutions / answers are also given at the end of the worksheet. Have a happy learning. 

In this Worksheet, you can learn Modal verbs and vocabulary in German. All A1 German learners can benefit from this worksheet.

This is a listening and speaking activity to make students practice the structure of the modal verbs (can could and be able to).

PRE-TEACH:

TO BE IN THE PAST

TOO + ADJECTIVE

VOCABULARY: scared/ raise / go out on a date

spicy/ enjoy(yourself) / stomachache / take care of / blackout / shy/ lift /plumber /self help books/ to order



Here's the link to do the activity (SIDE BY SIDE VIDEO):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es26z0sRGIg&t=127s



I hope you like it! :D

Teacher Gio.

Can/Could/Be able to - Listening Activity

This fun video activity is to practise using past modals "should have.." and "would have..." to discuss past mistakes. The video describes the Top Ten Stupid Mistakes made by people. Learners should listen and fill in the missing information to show they understand the mistakes. Then they can give their opinions and suggestions about the past using past modals. This can be done as a speaking and/or writing activity. There are more detailed instructions on the worksheet. 



Copy and paste this link to find the video:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5AvDdeEx48

Or search YouTube for:   "English Through Videos: Past Modals "Should have...Would have..." - Discussing Mistakes"



Past Modals: "Should have... Would have..." - Discussing Mistakes

Ability - can & can't
This is the 5th worksheet about the Taylor Family. See previous worksheets for other grammar points.

Background
This is a worksheet from a book that I created to help visual learners review grammar, learn vocabulary and practice speaking. The book is about a typical family who live in England. John and Sue are the parents of Emily and Peter. They live with their dog Barney. 

Introduction
This worksheet can help learners practice a number of different things, for example,
             - vocabulary
             - modal verbs for ability (can & can't)

Task 1: Remind SS of the Taylor Family (if you are using this worksheet as part of a 
             series). What do they remember about the family? For example,
             'Peter plays computer games.'
             'John drives to work every morning.'
             Tell the SS that John, the father, has bought a robot from ebuy to help with chores in 
             the house etc. Ask SS if they would like a robot, and if they would, what would they 
             like their robot to do?

Task 2: Look at the worksheet and using vocabulary describe each picture. 
             Ask SS: 'What can you see in each picture?'
             Go through the vocabulary and difficult verbs (apron, catch, arrest ...)

Task 3: If you only have one student ask that student what John's robot can and can't do.
             In each picture there is a small box with either a tick for can, or a cross for can't.

             If you have more than one student you could also get them to ask each other 
             questions, for example,
             A: 'Can the robot/John's robot swim?'
             B: 'No, it can't.'
             A: 'Can the robot/John's robot sink?'
             B: 'Yes, it can.'

Task 4: For homework, SS could design their own robot and write about the things it can and 
             can't do.

The Taylor Family - ability

Picture description oral activity and gapfill task for pre-intermediate and intermediate learners of English as a second language based on a cartoon depecting a marriage scene. 



You can have pairs of students take a try all on their own to describe the scene in speaking. You can collect a few ideas with the whole class after the first round. There are also some ideas included in the worksheet. Then you can repeat the task.



Then you can do the gapfill task with the students: they have to choose the right answer from 4 options. Grammar topics: past modals, present simple and present continuous. State verbs, like "seem". The gapfill task will also teach students a bunch of useful vocabulary to describe this particular scene and also for general picture description. KEY included for the gapfill exercise. 



Bless up, Kisdobos

Picture Description: Cure for my cat allergy (with KEY)

Obligation - must, have to, mustn't
Lack of obligation - don't have to

This is the 6th worksheet about the Taylor Family. See previous worksheets for other grammar points.

Background
This is a worksheet from a book that I created to help visual learners review grammar, learn vocabulary and practice speaking. The book is about a typical family who live in England. John and Sue are the parents of Emily and Peter. They live with their dog Barney. 

Introduction
This worksheet can help learners practice a number of different things, for example,
             - vocabulary
             - modal verbs for obligation (must, mustn't, have to, don't have to)

Task 1: Remind SS of the Taylor Family (if you are using this worksheet as part of a 
             series). What do they remember about the family? For example,
             'Peter plays computer games.'
             'John drives to work every morning.'
             Tell the SS that Emily and Peter go to a typical school in England. 

Task 2: Look at the worksheet and using vocabulary describe each picture. 
             Ask SS: 'What can you see in each picture?'
             Go through the vocabulary and difficult verbs (uniform, pupil, offer, give presents ...)

Task 3: This worksheet would probably work best if you have already taught the language of 
             obligation and lack of obligation. However, it can be done as an introduction. 
             As an introduction to obligation you can ask SS to look at each picture and say what     
             are good things to do and bad things to do, from the point of a pupil at school.
             Then you could teach obligation.

             If SS are familiar with obligation then it's a simple review exercise. To make it more 
             challenging you could go over the difference between 'must' and 'have to', for        
             example,
             T: At Emily and Peter's school you must OR have to wear a school uniform.
             S: You 'have to' wear a school uniform because the rule is from somebody else, i.e, the 
                 school.

Task 4: For group work, SS could write the rules for students and teachers in their 
             dream school.

The Taylor Family - Obligation

Culture, intercultural communication, cross-cultural communication

Adjectives to describe feelings, emotions

Adjectives to describe personality and character

Adjectives: Gradable / Non-gradable adjectives

Articles: Definite or indefinite article (a, an or the)

BE + infinitive structures (e.g. he was to become famous)

Clauses of contrast (e.g.  although, while)

Clauses of purpose (e.g. in order to, so that, so as to)

Clauses of reason (e.g. because, because of, due to, as, since)

Cleft sentences (e.g. It's Joey we're looking for)

Comparison: Comparative adjectives and structures

Comparison: Superlative adjectives and structures

Conditional 2 (second conditional) - would

Conditionals: Conditional phrases (e.g. unless, provided that, as long as)

Conjunctions (aka connectives, e.g. and, but, or, so, then)

Contractions (shortened forms, e.g. don't, aren't, etc.)

Determiners (words that can come before nouns)

Formal and informal English (politeness or colloquial language)

Future perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Future perfect simple and continuous (progressive) tense

Future phrases (e.g. be about to, bound to, likely to, due to, set to + INF)

Homonyms (two words with the same pronunciation - homophones and homographs)

It as preparatory subject (e.g. it's raining, it's nice of you to)

Linking verbs (aka copulas, e.g. I am a student)

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how to accuse somebody of something in English

how to apologize, say sorry, forgive and express regret in English

how to ask for information and make inquiries in English

how to ask for something, make requests in English

how to blame somebody for something in English

how to defend yourself from criticism in English

how to deny or admit something in English

how to describe things or people in English

how to emphasize important things in English

how to encourage or discourage people in English

how to evaluate people or progress in English

how to express agreement /disagreement in English

how to express approval and disapproval  in English

how to express cause and effect in English

how to express interest in something in English

how to express likelihood, probability in English

how to express likes and dislikes in English

how to express sequence and chronology in English

how to express shock and disbelief in English

how to express sympathy and condolences in English

how to give permission, authorization in English

how to inform somebody about some news in English

how to interpret what was said in English

how to keep a conversation going in English

how to make guesses about something in English

how to make, accept and refuse offers in English

how to order or make a booking in English

how to persuade, convince people in English

how to praise people and express appreciation in English

how to reassure somebody of something in English

how to refuse and object to something in English

how to remind people of something in English

how to rephrase, paraphrase what was said in English

how to say thank you, express gratitude in English

Nouns: Collective nouns (team, class, family, committee)

Nouns: Proper nouns (names of people, cities, companies)

Oxymorons (phrases with words of contradictory meaning, e.g. living dead)

Participles: Past participle (e.g. HAVING DONE)

Participles: Present participle (e.g. DOING)

Parts of Speech (aka word classes, e.g. nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs)

Past perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Phonetics (pronunciation, IPA, phonetic symbols)

Plural nouns: regular plurals with S ending

Prefixes (e.g. A, UN, IM, DIS, MIS, EN, etc. )

Prepositions vs adverbs (e.g. before me, saw him before.)

Prepositions: Double prepositions (e.g. out of)

Prepositions: Participle prepositions (e.g. pending, concerning)

Prepositions: Phrase prepositions (e.g. by means of)

Present perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Present perfect simple or present continuous tense

Present simple tense: S for third person singular verbs

Present simple vs continuous (progressive) tense

Pronouns: EACH OTHER, ONE ANOTHER (reciprocal pronouns)

Pronouns: Possessive pronouns (e.g. my, mine)

Pronouns: Reflexive pronouns (e.g. myself, yourself))

Pronouns: SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, EVERYBODY, NO ONE, NOTHING, etc.

Pronouns: THIS, THAT, THESE, THOSE (demonstratives)

Pronouns: YOU and THEY to talk about people in general

Quantifiers (e.g. some, many, much, any, few, little)

Questions: WH questions (open-ended questions)

Reported speech: reported questions (indirect questions)

There is / there are / there was / there were / there will be, etc.

Verbs: Transitive or intransitive verbs (words that can or cannot stand with objects)

Working with Paragraphs: ordering, titling

Role play, miming, drama activity or improv game

Pictionary (picture dictionary) or picture matching

Writing an opinion essay (persuasive essay)

Learners who are Pre-A1 have just begun learning English and will first learn how to:<ul><li>Say the letters in the alphabet and numbers</li><li>Say hello, talk about names and age</li><li>Name the colors and dates, express likes and dislikes</li></ul>

Absolute beginners who have begun to learn the letters and numbers

Learners taking the A1 Elementary exam should be able to:<ul><li>Introduce themselves and ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, things he/she has, people he/she knows.</li><li>Communicate using very basic phrases as long as the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: common adjectives & adverbs of frequency, going to, how much/how many, imperatives, I'd like, 's – possessive, common prepositions of place and time, present simple & continuous, there is/are</li></ul>

A very basic tourist level, which is enough for buying food and a bus ticket

Learners taking the A2 Pre-intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand sentences and frequently used expressions (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).</li><li>Complete tasks that are routine and exchange information about familiar matters.</li><li>Describe matters of immediate need in simple terms.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: countable/uncountable nouns, adverbs of frequency, future will/going to, much/many, present perfect, past simple, past continuous, common phrasal verbs, common modals: can/should</li></ul>

A tourist who can do basic conversations about the past, present and future

Learners taking the B1 Intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand points regarding family, work, school or leisure-related topics.</li><li>Deal with most travel situations in areas where the language is spoken.</li><li>Create simple texts on topics of personal interest.</li><li>Describe experiences, events, dreams, and ambitions, as well as opinions or plans in brief.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: question tags, intensifiers: too/enough, future tenses, past tenses, modals, conditionals, wh-questions in the past</li></ul>

Learners who can deal with both familiar and routine situations, in friendly and work contexts

Learners taking the B2 Upper-intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization.</li><li>Interact with fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without difficulty for either party.</li><li>Produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain an opinion on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: perfect tenses, mixed conditionals, modals in the present, phrasal verbs, reported speech, wish, relative clauses</li></ul>

The level where you can be a tour guide for your foreign friends and talk about a lot of topics, even abstract ones, with ease and fluency

Learners taking the C1 Advanced exam should be able to: Express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts. Produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, using linking phrases (=words that connect ideas between sentences). Main grammar points to know: inversion, mixed conditionals, modals in the past, all passive forms, phrasal verbs (all patterns), wish/if only for regrets

Learners who can smoothly communicate in every walk of life, read long texts and write well

Learners taking the C2 Proficient exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand almost everything read or heard with ease.</li><li>Summarize information from a variety of sources into a coherent presentation.</li><li>Express themselves using precise meaning in complex scenarios.</li><li>Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations</li></ul>

Get here and you are ready to study in English at university

48 Modal verbs speaking English ESL worksheets pdf & doc