Modal Verbs - Goat Guru English

🧩 Activity 1: Fill-in-the-Blanks

Complete each sentence with an appropriate modal verb.

Students (should / may / might) practice speaking every day to build confidence.
It (can / must / will) be difficult to stay focused during long exams.
Parents (could / should / may) encourage children to read newspapers regularly.
You (have to / might / can) submit your essay before the deadline.
We (must / should / might) reduce energy consumption to protect the planet.

🔄 Activity 2: Match the Modal to Its Function

Modal Verbs		Funtion
1. Can		a. Advice
2. Must		b. Ability
3. Might		c. Strong necessity
4. Should		d. Possibility
5. Have to		e. External obligation

✏️ Activity 3: Correct the Mistakes

Each sentence contains an incorrect modal use. Rewrite correctly.
1. You must to take more rest before the exam.

2. He can to drive when he was 10.

3. Students should to aware of plagiarism rules.

4. We mights need more time for research.

Why We Use the Base Form After Modal Verbs

Rule: Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) are always followed by the base form of the verb (the infinitive without to).
Reason: Modals are auxiliary verbs. They already carry tense and agreement information, so the main verb doesn’t change form.
Example: She can speak English well. (not speaks)
Example: You must write at least 250 words. (not wrote or writing)

👉 In other words, the modal verb does the grammatical “heavy lifting,” so the main verb stays in its simplest form.

📘 When to Use “Be” After a Modal Verb

Rule: Use be after a modal verb when the main idea requires an adjective, adverb, or participle.
Reason: “Be” acts as a linking/helping verb to connect the subject with a description or state.

With adjectives: You must be careful during the exam.
With adverbs: Candidates should be fluent when answering questions.
With passive voice: The essays must be checked by the examiner.
With continuous forms: Students should be studying regularly before the test.

👉 Without “be,” the sentence becomes grammatically incomplete or incorrect because adjectives/adverbs cannot directly follow a modal verb.

✅ Summary for IELTS learners:

After a modal → always use the base form of the verb.
Use be when the next word is an adjective, adverb, or when forming passive/continuous structures.

Each sentence contains an incorrect modal use. Rewrite correctly.

2. You should answers all the questions in the listening section carefully.

3. Students might submitting their essays without checking grammar

4. You must careful during the speaking test.

5. Candidates should fluent when they respond to the examiner.

6. You could completed the reading section in one hour.

7. Students must can manage their time in Task 2.

8. You may to leave the exam room after one hour.

9. Candidates must being quiet during the listening test.

10. You should confidence when answering questions in Part 3.

✍️ Activity 4: IELTS Writing Task 2 Mini-Practice

Write two sentences for each function below using modals:
Function
Advice
Example Prompt 'Some people believe students should learn soft skills.'
Your Sentences:

Function
Possibility
Example Prompt 'Cities may face serious pollution in the future.'
Your Sentences:

Function
Obligation
Example Prompt 'Governments must regulate online education platforms.'
Your Sentences:

Function
Ability
Example Prompt 'Individuals can improve communication by traveling abroad.'
Your Sentences:

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