Unit 2 - People
Review of Modal Verbs
Refresh B1 modal meanings and fine-tune them for nuanced B2 communication.
1. B1 Snapshot
- Have to: I have to wear a uniform at work.
- Must: You must wear a helmet on this site.
- Should: You should eat more vegetables.
- Could: It could rain tomorrow.
2. Comparing Strength and Source
| Modal | Strength | Typical Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| must | Strong, internal | Personal obligation, deduction | You must submit the form today. |
| have to | Strong, external | Rules, schedules | I have to finish by 5 p.m. |
| should/ought to | Medium | Advice, expectation | You should review the figures. |
| could/might/may | Low | Possibility | It might rain later. |
3. Expanding Function
- Obligation vs. Advice: You must not smoke here (rule) vs You shouldn’t smoke so much (advice).
- Possibility vs. Deduction: *It could rain* (maybe) vs He must be tired (logical conclusion).
- Permission & Politeness: Could I borrow your pen? sounds softer than Can I…?
Don’t mix modals
Use one modal per verb phrase. Say You must submit, not You must have to submit.
4. Practice
- Rephrase obligations using different modals to change the force (must → should → could).
- Create three deduction sentences using must, might, and can’t.
- Write polite requests using could and would.
Quick Review
- Revisit meanings from B1 and adjust the tone by changing modals.
- Modal choice communicates obligation strength, certainty, or politeness.
- Keep only one modal per verb phrase and use base verb forms.