MODALS OF PERMISSION

Title

Name: ______________________________________Section: ____________________

School: ______________________________________Date: ______________________

I. Introduction:

Have you ever been confused of whether to say “May I go out?” or “Can I go
out?” or “Could I go out?” when asking for permission from your teacher for your personal
necessities during class hours? The words may, can, and could are called modal verbs.
They can be used to give or ask for permission. These modals have multiple meanings that
can be confusing for English Learners.

In this lesson, you will learn how to use may, can, and could to give or ask for
permission whether formally or informally. Performing the given activities is necessary to
develop this skill in you.

II. MELC with code:

Express permission, obligation, prohibition using modals (EN9G-IVC-23)

Sub-tasked Competency:

Express permission using modals

III. Strategy:

A. Explore:

Activity 1. Sentence Completion

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate modals. Use a separate sheet of
paper for your answer.

1.You _______ leave if you`re finished.

may might
2. _________I come in?
Can May

3. We ______ not get into the concert without tickets so we went

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 home.
might could

4. ______I open the window?

Could May

5. _______You turn the heating up bit, please?

Could May

6. _______You help me?

Can Could

7. I`m afraid you ________ not take the exam until you pay for it.
may might

8. You _________ take a while phone into the exam.

can`t may not

9. You ___________ smoke anywhere on the train.

cannot might night

10. You ___________ use my dictionary if you want

can might

B. Learn

Key Points:

Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs are auxiliary verbs (also called helping verbs). They add
meaning to the main verb in the sentence by expressing possibility, ability,
permission, or obligation. After a modal verb, the base form of a verb is generally
used. The word to should not appear after a modal verb. An exception is the phrase
“ought to”, which is considered a modal verb.
(Source: grammarly.com, 2021)

The modal verbs are:

Can Could
May Might
Must
Shall Should
Will Would

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 We use modals to show if we believe something certain, possible or
impossible. We also use them to do things like talk about ability, ask permission and
make requests and offers.

(Source: grammarly.com, 2021)

Modals of Permission

When you ask for or give permission, you use the following modal verbs.
may
can
could

May is a polite modal verb used to ask permission.

Here are some examples:

* May I use a calculator on the test?
* May I have another piece of cake?

The polite answer using may are as follows:

* Yes, you may.
* No, you may not.

Could is also used to ask for permission. It is less formal than using may.

Here are some examples with could:

* Could I have some more juice?
* Could I bring a friend to the party?

(Source: LEARNENGLISH-ONLINE, 2021)

Can is the least formal of the modal verbs used to ask permission.
* Can I ask a question?
* Can we have something to drink? We are thirsty.
* Can I wear short?
* Can I play music?
When asking in a simple or direct way we use can.
(Source: LEARNENGLISH-ONLINE, 2021)

C. Engage

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Activity 2: Which is Which?

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Use a separate

sheet of paper for your answer .

1. Which is correct?
a. May I go to the mall?
b. May I went to the mall?

2. Which is correct ?
a. Can she try again?
b. Can she try again?

3. Which is correct?
a. She can has another glass.
b. She can have another glass.

4. Which is correct?
a. Can they drive the car?
b. Can drive they the car?

5. Which is correct?
a. Yes, she cans.
b. Yes, she can.

6. Which is correct?
a. May I borrowing your bike?
b. May I borrow your bike?

7. Which is correct ?
a. Could I speak with Fred please?
b. Could I to speak with Fred please?

8. Which is correct?
a. May the children plays in the garden?
b. May the children play in the garden?

9. Which is correct?
a. You may stay here.
b. You may stay here?

10.Which is correct?

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 a. May I say something?
b. May I say somethings?

D. Apply

Activity 3: Express It!

Directions: Based on the situation given, formulate a statement using modals of

permission. Write your answer in a separate sheet of paper.

1. You`re a child and you formally ask a teacher for permission to

leave the room.
Answer: ________________________________________________________

2. You ask your mom for permission to go to a party tonight. You are
polite but don`t use `may`.
Answer: ________________________________________________________

3. You ask for permission not to come early tomorrow. You`re feeling
informal.
Answer: ________________________________________________________

4. You tell your colleague that hypothetically he asks permission to come in later
tomorrow, but it would really be a problem.

Answer: ________________________________________________________
5. Tell your friend that everyone has permission to wear any kind of
socks to school.
Answer: ______________________________________________________
6. Ask if Jose had hypothetical permission in the past to do report.
Answer: ______________________________________________________
7. Ask for permission not to call John. Use informal language.
Answer: ______________________________________________________

8. Ask a friend for permission to use her phone. Be informal.

Answer: _______________________________________________________

9. Say that the rule is that everyone has permission to park here on
Sundays.
Answer: _____________________________________________________

10. Tell someone that she has permission to leave when she`s finished
the exercise.
Answer: ____________________________________________________

IV. REFERENCES

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 Most Essential Learning Competencies page 192

Almonte, et. al. (2015). Celebrating Diversity Through World Literature: English 9
learner’s material. Philippines: REX Book Store, Inc.

Almonte, et. al. (2015). Celebrating Diversity Through World Literature: Teacher’s
guide. Philippines: REX Book Store, Inc.

Online Sources:

Grammarly.com (2021). Modal Verbs: Definition and Usage. Retrieved from:

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/modal-verbs/

UsingEnglish.com (n.d.). Grammar Quiz: Modals-Permission and requests.

Retrieved from https://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/106.html

LEARNENGLISH-ONLINE. (2021). Modal Verbs for Requests Exercise. Retrieved

from:
http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/modals/tests/modalrequests.html

V. KEY TO THE CORRECT ANSWERS:

A. Explore: D. Apply
1. may 1. May I leave the room?
2. can 2. Could I go to party tonight?
3. could 3. Can I not come early tomorrow?
4. could 4. You could come in later tomorrow,
5. could but it would really be a problem.
6. may not 5. You can wear any kind of socks to school.
7. Can 6. Could Jose have done the report?
8. may 7. Can I not call John?
9. cannot 8. Can I use your phone?
10. can 9. You can park here on Sundays.
10. You can leave when you`re finished the exercise.
C. Engage:
1. a 6. b
2. b 7. a
3. b 8. b
4. a 9. a 6
5. b 10. a
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