Class 12 C English (NEB New Course)
Unit 2 Family Reading Family
Grammar Explanation and Complete Exercise Solution from the Book
Modal Verbs
- It means mood.
- It is used to express desire, wish, permission, advice, ability , responsibility,etc.
Example: You can speak French (ability: You are able to speak french)
You should eat fresh foods. (advice: He/she is giving an advice to you)
- Modal verbs Are also auxiliary verbs
- Known as modal/supporting auxiliary verbs
- Modal verbs show certain, possible or impossible in a sentence.
- To show ability
- To ask permission
- To make requests and offers
- Provides additional information about the main verb in a sentence.
Modal Verbs: can/could// may/might// must/ will/ would shall/should/
Examples: He must be in France.
We might win the match.
Use of May:
- To take permission (Formal manner)
Example: May I go to picnic?
- To show possibility
Example: She may visit the park.
- To express wish/blessing
Example: May God save him/her.
Use of Can:
- To show capacity/ability
Can: Can be able to/Example-We can be able to pass the test.
Example: Can I solve this puzzle?
I can win the match.
- For permission (Informal manner)
Example: You can play.
You can sit here.
Use of Could
- Polite Request
Example: Could you please switch on the TV?
Ability in the Past
Example: Yesterday, I couldn’t find my book.
- Narration (reported speech)
Example: They said that they could play the game.
Use of Should
- To give advice
Example: You should take the medicine.
Use of Must
Must=Must have to=Example-I must have to visit the patient.
- Compulsion
Example: You must work hard to pass the final exam.
- Obligation
Example: Students must learn discipline in their school.
- Probability
Example: She must me there.
Use of Would
- to make Polite request/offer: also indicates wish
- Your past habit
Example: In my childhood, I would like to watch cartoons.
- Unreal Situation
Example: I would visit the Disneyland, But I don’t have enough money.
- Indirect Speech
He said that he would play the game with me.
Categories of Modal Verbs:
| Single Concept Modal | One Meaning | Will, might, should, ought to, had better |
| Doubal Concept Modal | Two Meanings | may, must, can, could, would, shall |
| Modals in the Past | Expresses situation in the past | would have, could have, might have, should have, may have, must have |
Detail Explanation of Single Concept Modal:
| Modal Verbs | Meaning | Example |
| will | future | He will visit the temple. |
| might | probability | They might win the match. |
| should | recommendation | He should visit his father. |
| ought to | formal recommendation | We ought to find him. |
| had better | warning | He had better leave the place. |
Detail Explanation of Double Concept Modal:
| May | Permission | May I go to school? |
| May | Probability | She may come tomorrow. |
| Must | Responsibility | Drivers must follow the traffic rules. |
| Must | Assumption | My friend must be coming. |
| Would | Past habit | In my childhood, I would like to watch cartoons. |
| Would | Unreal situation of present | I would visit the Disneyland, But I don’t have enough money. |
| Can | ability | I can win the match. |
| Can | permission | Can I dance with you? |
| Could | past ability | They could dance, not anymore. |
| Could | unreal ability | She could drive the bus if she had the driving license. |
| Shall | offer | Shall I help you? |
| Shall | obligation | He shall pay his loan before 2022. |
Modals in the Past:
Actions that happened in the past
Structure:S+ Modals+have+v3+…..
Example: We should have asked her about the exam.
She must have played the game.
| Modal Verbs | Meaning | Example |
| would have | Unreal situation of past | We would have played cricket, but we didn’t have a cricket ground. |
| could have | unreal ability of past | He could have won the match. |
| may have | unreal possibility of past | I may have won the lottery, but I torn the ticket before the result. |
| might have | unreal small probability of past | She may have bought the car, if she won the lottery. |
| should have | unreal recommendation of past | They should have followed the path. |
| must have | unreal assumption of past | I must have been familiar with the teachers. |
Watch the Video of Unit 2 Family/Modal Verbs:
Grammar Exercise From the Book:
Modal verbs
- Study the given sentences carefully.
- Please read this letter for me. I can’t see without my glasses.
- After working for a couple of years in China, I can speak Chinese now.
- When he was 40, he could earn six digit salary.
- After six hours’ climbing, we were able to reach the summit.
- Yesterday, I lost my keys. I looked for them everywhere but I couldn’t find.
B) Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.
a) ‘How much was your parking ticket?’ ‘Fifty rupees.’ ‘Oh well, it ………… been worse.’
i. could have ii. must have iii. should have
b) It …………. got lost in the post. These things happen sometimes.
i. can’t have ii. might have iii. must have
c) ‘Sorry I’m late. I got delayed at work.’ ‘You ……….. called. I was really worried about you.’
i. must have ii. could have iii. would have
d) ‘I don’t think he meant to be rude.’ ‘He ……… said sorry.’
i. must have ii. might have iii. would have
e) ‘Whose signature is this?’ ‘I don’t know. It ……….. be Manoj’s. That looks a bit like an M.’
i. must ii. could iii. should
f) I had it when I left the office so I ………. lost it on the way to home.
i. mustn’t have ii. must have iii. should have
g) You ……….. think it’s funny, but I think it’s pathetic.
i. might ii. should iii. could
C) Complete the following sentences with appropriate endings. Use correct modal verbs.
Example: She could be a doctor; however,…………….…………… .
She could be a doctor; however, she preferred to be an advocate.
- At the end of the course, all of you must pass the test.
- If you want to earn a lot of money, you should work hard.
- You were not in your house yesterday. You must have gone to your friend’s house.
- I’m quite busy tomorrow. I can’t visit you.
- When you were a small kid, you must have fought with your sister.
- My car is broken. I should visit the repair centre.
- I’ve got a fast speed internet at home. I can play PUBG.
- Even though she didn’t study well, she should join modeling.
- There are plenty of newspapers in the library. You can read any if you want.
- What do you think you were doing, playing in the road? You could have faced an accident.
- I have no time. I should attend the class.
- You don’t look well. You should visit the parlour.
