Modality Review

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Faculdade de Formação de Professores

Prof. Gysele da S. Colombo Gomes
English VI - Review
A- Make guesses about what happened in each of the situations described

below:
Situation 1: Dafny’s hair had always been short and curly. Yesterday I saw her and her
hair was very long and straight.
Dafny might have gotten a hair extension or used a temporary straightening treatment
to achieve the long and straight hair.
Situation 2: Berguer always takes the bus to university, but the other day she drove to
university in a brand new car.
Berguer might have borrowed or rented a brand-new car for the day, or she could have
bought a new car recently.
Situation 3: José Carlos was very dedicated to the course. I can’t understand why he
signed out this subject.
José Carlos might have had a change in circumstances or priorities that led him to
drop or withdraw from the subject, despite his previous dedication.
B – Indicate the meaning expressed by each near verb in italics. Some modals
express a basic meaning and others express an extended meaning.
1. Bob can't let on that he knows about the party. His parents have worked so hard
planning this surprise. They would be terribly disappointed.
 Can't: Expresses ability or possibility (basic meaning) - Bob is unable to reveal
or disclose that he knows about the party.
 Would: Expresses conditional or hypothetical situation (extended meaning) -
Bob's parents would experience great disappointment if they found out that he
knew about the surprise party.
2. You couldn't have told Jim about the party. We were the only people who knew about
it, and we didn't tell anyone else.
 Couldn't: Expresses impossibility or strong doubt (extended meaning) - It is
highly unlikely or impossible for you to have told Jim about the party because
we were the only ones who knew about it and we did not share the information
with anyone else.
3. You may not speak until you are spoken to.
 May: Expresses permission (basic meaning) - You are not allowed to speak until
you receive permission or until someone addresses you.
4. You mean you went to Italy, you had a chance to meet the Pope, and you turned it
down? You can’t be serious!
 Can't: Expresses inability or disbelief (basic meaning) - It is hard to believe or
it is not possible for you to have turned down such an opportunity.
5. I really don't know much about repairing car engines, but you might try connecting
that wire down there and seeing if it starts up.
 Might: Expresses possibility or suggestion (basic meaning) - It is possible or
suggested that you try connecting that wire down there.
6. I could do 35 chin-ups when I was 16 years old.

 Could: Expresses ability or past capability (basic meaning) - I had the ability or
capability to do 35 chin-ups when I was 16 years old.
7. They can get as much as 60 inches of rain in a year in Seattle.

 Can: Expresses ability or possibility (basic meaning) - It is possible for Seattle
to receive as much as 60 inches of rain in a year.
8. Tom might have told me that he was bringing someone home for dinner! All I ask for
is a little advance notice so that we have enough food. I am a MOTHER, not a MAID!
 Might: expresses a sense of frustration, annoyance, or disbelief. It implies that
the speaker expected or desired Tom to inform them about bringing someone
home for dinner, but they were not given that information.
9. I could be a big star if I just practice enough.

 Could: Expresses possibility or potential (basic meaning) - There is a possibility
or potential for the speaker to become a big star.
10. She's your sister, you know. You might try being a little more friendly when
she's around.
 Might: Expresses suggestion or advice (basic meaning) - It is suggested or
advised that the person tries to be a little more friendly when their sister is
around.
C – Circle and classify the modal, then state its meaning.
1- I need to study to pass this subject.

Need = marginal modal
Meaning: Expresses necessity or obligation. In this sentence, "need" indicates that
studying is necessary in order to pass the subject.
2- Might I have a look at this gold watch Getulio Vargas used to wear?
Might = pure modal
Expresses possibility or permission. In this sentence, "might" is used to request
permission or inquire about the possibility of having a look at the gold watch
that Getulio Vargas used to wear.
3- You erased all the answers in my book?!?! I might have, at least, asked me
before doing it.
Pure modal verb
Meaning: Expresses past possibility or regret. In this sentence, "might" is used
to express a sense of regret or a hypothetical past action. The speaker is
expressing that it would have been better if they had asked before erasing the
answers in the book.
4- It’s freezing here. It could even snow…

Pure modal verb
Meaning: Expresses possibility or likelihood. In this sentence, "could" is used to
indicate the possibility or likelihood of snowfall. It suggests that there is a
chance that it may snow in the current freezing conditions.
5- The students should have arrived for class 30 minutes ago. I wonder what’s
holding them up.
Pure modal verb
Meaning: Expresses expectation or obligation in the past. In this sentence,
"should have" indicates that it was expected or necessary for the students to
have arrived for class 30 minutes ago.
D - Read the statements and mark either FALSE or TRUE. In case the statement
is FALSE, rewrite the sentence so that it becomes TRUE.
a) Modals can be classified into three categories: Epistemic, Deontic and Dynamic.
b) Pure modals display contraction, inversion, repetition in retorts and tags, and
variant forms.
c) Marginal modals have more than three members. They are classified as marginal
because they display only two of the characteristics of pure modals - contraction
with not and subject-aux inversion.
d) Marginal modals are very commom in American English°
e) Semimodals, are fixed idiomatic expressions beginning with have, had, or be -
for example, have to, had better, and be going to with most of the semimodals,
the words have, had, and be contract with not, are involved in subject-aux
inversion, and occur in tags. Like the pure modals, the semimodals are not
invariant, since be and have both change form (eg, has to, were going to). Have,
had, and be often contract with preceding pronouns (eg, you’d better, I'm going
to).
E- Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given.
Example: It wouldn't have been right to leave you to do all the work on your own.
couldn't
I couldn't have left you to do all the work on your own.
a) Perhaps they didn't notice the tire was flat.

might
They ………………………………………………………...the tire was flat.
b) All that trouble I went to wasn't necessary in the end.

needn't
I....................................................................................... all that trouble.
c) School uniform wasn’t compulsory at my school.

Wear
We …………………………………………………………. school uniform at my
school.
d) Apparently someone has borrowed the projector.

may
Someone ……………………………………………………..... the projector.
e) I'm disappointed that you didn't back me up!

might
You………………………………………………………... me up!
f) Our worrying so much was a waste of time.

needn't
We………………………………………………………..... so much.

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Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Faculdade de Formação de Professores

A- Make guesses about what happened in each of the situations described

6. I could do 35 chin-ups when I was 16 years old.

7. They can get as much as 60 inches of rain in a year in Seattle.

9. I could be a big star if I just practice enough.

C – Circle and classify the modal, then state its meaning.

1- I need to study to pass this subject.

4- It’s freezing here. It could even snow…

a) Perhaps they didn't notice the tire was flat.

b) All that trouble I went to wasn't necessary in the end.

c) School uniform wasn’t compulsory at my school.

d) Apparently someone has borrowed the projector.

e) I'm disappointed that you didn't back me up!

f) Our worrying so much was a waste of time.

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