9

English
Quarter 1 - Module 1
Use of Modals (permission, obligation and
prohibition)
 In this module, you will learn to express permission, obligation, and
prohibition using modals. You will learn the usage of each modal verbs in
context in written and spoken language.

To be mindful with them, this module uses situations that provide

examples of actual grammar usage as it paves the way for a deeper
understanding of the usage of modal verbs in written and spoken language.
In addition, the role of teacher is crucial in helping the students understand
that learning grammar, essentially modal verbs, entails direct
understanding by means of verbal language.

For the completion of this module, you are expected to:

1. Identify modals in sentences and its features
2. Use modals that express permission, obligation and prohibition
3. Demonstrate understanding by using modals in their conversation
 In your previous grade level, you might have already learned the
modal verbs. Let us try to remember and identify the appropriate modal in
the following statements.

A. Choose the correct modal that will fit in the sentence Write the
answer on the blanks provided for.

1. Boys you _____ clean up your rooms.

a. Can b. must c. could
2. Girls, you ____ play with them if you want.
a. Can b. may c. must
3. Gerald, you _____ to work in order to meet your needs.
a. Can b. have c. could
4. You ______ keep it secret or else you will be blamed.
a. have b. must c. could
5. Jaime ______ come to the party
a. might b. must c. could

B. Tell whether the highlighted modal used is to ask permission,

obligation or prohibition.

__________________ 1. May I use your phone?

_________________2. We can’t win the game
_________________3. You mustn’t smoke here.
_________________4. Can you pass it to me?
________________ 5. The doctor can’t see you now
_________________6. Can you manage please?
_________________7. I might be late if I will not ride too.
_________________8. May I have my phone please?
_________________9. For me to be safe, I mustn’t go outside.
_________________10. In this new normal situation, I must wear a mask
everytime I will go out from the house.

1
Competency Express permission, obligation,
1 and prohibition using modals

Day 1

In this lesson, we will be given clear explanations as to when we need

to use modals verbs that expresses permission, obligation, and prohibition.

a. Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs (also called helping verbs)

like can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, and must.

b. Modal verbs add meaning to the main verb in a sentence by

expressing permission, obligation and prohibition.

To get a clear view, let us study the table and explore how to use these
modals in the activities:

Types of Modals
Permission Prohibition Obligation
Can, Can’t Have to,
may, mustn’t must
could

2
 1. Use of Modals: can, may, could
(permission)
A. Activity: Let’s go Interview

The picture on the side is a class session

having an interview.
Read the conversation below and answer
the questions that follow.

Interviewer 1: Can you tell us something about your self?

Interviewee: Yes Mam. Good morning to all of you. I am Dana Gutierrez, 22
years of age, single. I could handle computer works, since I finished the
course of Computer Science. I am willing to be part of your company.

Interviewer 2: Can you tell us what you have known about our company?

Interviewee: From a reliable source your company is known for a quality

standards in dealing their employees that brings me here in
front of you Ma’am.

Interviewer 3: Can you tell us why are you here?

Interviewee: This is my first time in applying a job Sir, and I am looking for
exposure so I can continue to improve my skills. Knowing about
your Company, I feel unhesitant to come for this interview.

Interviewer 3: Do you think you will be hired? Give me a reason why do we

need to hire you?

Interviewee: Sir, as you can see my resume I am a fresh graduate on the

course. I have no experience yet. But, I can be an asset to your company.

Interviewer 2: So, with the information given to us about yourself, and your
willingness to be a part of this company, you may wait a for call
on the update of your application.

3
Interviewer 1: Congratulations and good luck Ms. Gutierrez.
Questions:
1. What are the modal used in the conversation?
2. How are these modals used?
3. Why do we need to use these modals?

2. Use of Modals: 'Can't' and 'mustn't' - Prohibition

B. Activity: Know the Library Rules

You may now read the school library rules that focus on the things that
you cannot and must not do.

1. You cannot play hide and seek inside the library.

2, You must not deceive with the librarian.
3. You cannot bring home the materials on the vertical file.
4. You can’t bring foods in the library.
5. You must not leave your garbage behind for the librarian to clean up.
6.. You can borrow books but you mustn’t return it overdue.
7. You mustn’t set conversation on your mobile phones in the library, you
can disturb others if so.
8. You must not destroy the books and other materials inside the library.
9. You must not litters in the library.
10. You must always observe silence and cleanliness.

C. Activity: Let’s get new normal

Read the protocols of the COVID 19 in going out and entering the house.

1. When we come home we have to avoid holding anything without washing

our hands with soap or any hand sanitizers.
2. We must take off our shoes.
3. We must take off our outer clothing.
4. We have to leave our bags, keys in a box and disinfect everything that you
have carried outside.
5. You have to take a shower before mingling with your family.

4
Questions:
1. What are the modals used?
2. When do we use the modal have to?
3. When do we use the modal must?
4. How are these modals used in statements?
5. Why do we need to use these modals?

A. The conversation below is all about the student’s experiences during

their vacation. Read and take note of the highlighted words.

Hello everyone! Can you

share to me your
experiences on this new
normal situation?

Yes Mam, I
Teacher Santos planted
some
Due to the
pandemic flowers. I
situation might sale
Mam, I this soon.
must have
to drink
lukewarm
water and
refrain in
cold
liquids.
Agatha Verna

With this
For me Mam, new normal
I can’t afford situation
to forget in Mam, we
my prayers to have to
include our follow the
brothers and social
sisters who distancing
are affected in and the
Corona Virus. wearing of
mask when
we go
outside.
Lino
Berto and Berta
5
Questions:

1. What do you observe on the highlighted words?

2. What modals are being used in the situation given in the conversation?
3. Who among the person express permission, prohibition and obligation?

Day 2 Discussion

Modals and its Meaning

Modal Verbs Meaning

Must Strong Obligation

Can Permission

Mustn’t Prohibition

Can’t Absence of Permission

Have to Obligation

Don’t have to Absence of Obligation

6
 7

Below is a table showing the most useful modals and their most
common usage.

Modals Usage Sample Sentence

can, Permission Can I stay here for an
Can' is most often used to ask hour?
for or give permission
She can play here, this is
available.

may, May and could are also Could I open my face book
could possible even though they are account?
not used as often as can
May I ask a question?
Can't' Prohibition You can't go outside
Cannot, must not are used without a mask.
to show that something is You can't fall in line
prohibited (not allowed) country unless you will
and
have the social distancing.
Can't usually give the idea of
something that is against the You mustn't use your
rules. gadget in class.

mustn't Mustn’t usually means that it

is the speaker who is setting
the rule.
Have Obligation We have to be at the
to 
airport at least two hours
Have to' and 'must' are
both used to express before the flight.
obligation.
I have to work on
 There is a slight difference
Saturday.
in the way that they are
both used.
and They have to wear their
b. Have to' shows that the uniforms at school.
obligation comes from
someone else, not the I must hand in my work by
speaker. This is usually tomorrow.
referring to a rule or law.
I really must call my
must c. Must' shows us that the parents.
obligation comes from the
speaker. His doctor said that he has
to stop smoking or he'll
Here is an example of the risk serious problems. (He
difference between 'have to' has no choice) He must
and 'must': stop smoking. It’s costing
him too much money. (It’s
We use 'don't have to' to his decision
show that there is no
obligation. You can do You don't have to wear a tie
something if you want but to go to that restaurant but
it is not an obligation. it would be nice.

You didn't have to call for

me. I could have got a taxi.

Students don't have to wear

uniforms to school.

8
Activity I. Now choose the correct modal verb for these sentences:

Use modals must, can, could, have to, may, can’t, mustn’t correctly in the
following sentences.
1. Students _______ abide the classroom rules.
2. Teachers _______ be firm in their implementation of the class law.
3. COVID 19 _________ keep us from achieving our dreams.
4. Parents ___________ send their children in online or offline classes in
school.
5. School is our second home, thus we _______ take care of it.
6. _____ you spare your precious moments to listen this information?
7. The disease _____ spread elsewhere, anybody, and anytime, thus, we
______ keep safe always.
8. I _____ enrol in online class, ______ you be my mentor this school year?
9. In this new normal classroom situation we______ follow the rules
religiously.
10. Social distancing, face mask wearing, sanitizing, are essentials
now. We ______do nothing than to embrace these things.
11. Some people are hard headed, they _______ follow the stay at home
policy.

12. Teachers ________ have to embrace the new teaching-learning on this

pandemic situation. They’ve got no choice.

13. They were given chances to _____ webinars during their vacation.

14. Now they ______ use both online and offline teaching-learning
modalities.

15. Education _______ continue despite pandemic situation, as one said among
the nation leaders.

9
This time you will learn about the features of modals. Observe the table below:

Features of Modals Sample Sentences

 Modal verbs are invariable You must wear mask

they have one form for all
She must wear mask.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd form
That means you don’t add “S” in He must wear mask.
the third person

 Modal verbs don’t have “Do Must you wear the mask?
Support” in interrogative
Can I go now?
and negative sentences
I mustn’t go outside because of COVID
19.

I can’t go out because I have to finish

this module.

 After modal verbs you use I must finish my work.

infinitive form of a verb
without to. I can do this.

 Modal verbs don’t have Past Can only can ( in Past only could)
Participle form, future
Must – only MUST
tense or ING form

 The exception is “ HAVE

TO”
a. It has “S” in the 3rd form She has to wear mask.

b. HAVE TO - has “Do support” I don’t have to wear mask in home Do

you have to?
c. HAVE TO - has Past
I had to wear mask yesterday. I’ll have to
Participle and Future Tense.
wear mask tomorrow.

10
 A. Below are sentences that need modal to add meaning. Choose your
answers inside the parenthesis.

1. You (must, don’t have) to join to the conference but it would help us all if
you’re there.
2. I can’t get a connection on my phone. ( have to, can ) I borrow yours?
3. 3. The rules say that you (can, have to) only invite one guest to the club.
4. I (must, have to) stay on for a few hours because I’d rather work late today
than over the weekend.
5. There’s a lot of noise coming from outside. (Must, could) I close the
window?
6. You (can, have to) start saving money if you want to retire early.
7. I can’t get a connection on my phone. ( have to, can ) I borrow yours?
8. Did she tell you that you (cant, don’t have to) join the webinar. It’s
restricted to teachers only.
9. We (can, have to) be there fifteen minutes before the concert starts.
10. You (can, have to) be here tomorrow before she comes.

11
Day 3

A. In this activity, try to indicate modalities in each statement. Think of

a modal form (can, could, must, may, have to, can’t mustn’t) that best
completes the sentence.

1. ____you help me bring these to the front liners?

2. Brandon ___ get tired of his work. It is so uninteresting.

3. Benny ___ visit her Aunt, she is sick.

4. It is left undone. I almost surrender. You ___ help me.

5. ___ this be really happen?

6. When I was a kid I _____ go on with my playmates alone. Ate was

there.

7. I ______ study tonight. My examinations are this week.

8. Tomorrow is Saturday, I ________wake up early.

9. If you want to lose weight you __________eat too much chocolate, drink
cold liquids.

10. People __________ drink and drive cars. It is prohibited.

12
 B. In your MAPEH subject, you have an art activity. Below are
images/symbols, formulate a sentence for each of the image or
illustration using modals of prohibition, permission and
obligation.

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

9. 10.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10

13
Day 4

A. In this activity you are to recall modals according to their uses. Fill in the
diagram below:

On the rectangle are the type of Modals that express permission,

obligation and prohibition. Fill in the smileys with modal verbs in
each type and in the call out boxes formulate a sentence in each type.

Permission Obligation Prohibition

14
A. Inside the parentheses are modals used to give more meaning on
each statement. Underline the appropriate modals expressed.

1. I (can, may, must) speak a little Russian.

2. ( Can, Must, May ) I open the window?
3. I (may can, mustn’t) be home late.
4. (Can, Might , May) I sit down, please?
5. I (can, must, cannot) go now, my baby is crying.
6. She (must, can, can’t) be over 90 years old on his looks.
7. You (should, can, may) stop smoking you are getting sick.
8. (May Must, Should, ) I have a cup of tea?
9. If I were you, I (would, should, could) say sorry.
10. If a picture paints more, then why I (may, can, can’t) paint you.

Exercise B: Choose the correct modal verb (Can, Could, or Be Able To) to
complete each sentence.

1. I don't think I will have much work next week. I think I will ______________
take a day off.
2. Excuse me, ______________ you tell me where the bus station is?
3. They haven't been ______________ solve the problem yet.
4. She ______________ play the flute and the guitar.
5. When we were younger, we ______________ watch movies all afternoon!
Now we think it's boring.

Exercise C: Choose the correct modal verb (Must, Might, or May) to

complete each sentence.

1. Oh no, I think they _______ be hurt! But I'm not sure.

2. They look just the same! I am sure that boy _______ be his son.
3. That looks delicious, and I am so hungry! _________ I have some?
4. He is running very well! I think he _________ win!
5. That looks like fun! __________ we paint some eggs with you

15
 Day 5

Reading / Writing
Complete the sentences by filling the blanks with appropriate modals rom the
box below
May, will, can, could, will must, mustn’t, can’t, have to

Perhaps by this year my parents_____ (not) allow me to have the face to face
schooling. As I had heard on their conversation, they _____ enrol me in an online
study because of the pandemic situation now. It drives me crazy because I ____ no
longer see my friends. But on the other hand, I am so excited because my parents
_____ procure a computer and install an internet connection for me to be used in
my on line session.

I had texted my friends for them to know. I asked them too what _____be their
parents’ decision. Emmanuel said he ______ be in an online class because his
father’s concern. While Margo and Fatima _____enrol in a face to face schooling
since they have no internet connection.

Yes, it’s tough to adjust on this new normal situation. But I ______have to
complain my parents and enjoy staying at home with this distance learning which I
think and believe ______ make myself safe. With this new normal situation, you
_____ have also the same as mine.

16
Day 5

This time you compose a 10-sentence- paragraph using modalities

that express permission, obligation, and prohibition. Consider
your experiences would be, if you are in this place.

____________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________

17
In the chart below, write down your reflection inside the box about this lesson.

On page ______ I am
feeling...

On page ______ I am
thinking....

On page ______ I am
reminded of...

On page ______ I am
seeing...

18
 Answer Key

A. A.
A.
1. Can 1. Don’t have to 1. Can 6. can
2. Can 2. Can 2. Might 7. must
3. Have 3. Can 3. Have to 8. Don’t have to
4. Must 4. Must 4. Must 9. Shouldn’t
5. Might 5. Could 5. Can 10. Mustn’t
B. 6. Have to
1. Permission 7. can
B. Possible Answers:
2. Prohibition 8. can’t
3. Obligation 9. have to 1. You mustn’t make noise in
4. Permission 10. have to this area.
5. Prohibition 2. You mustn’t speak on the
6. permission
mobile phone in an airplane.
7. permission
B. 3. I have to do my homework.
8. permission
9. obligation 4. You mustn’t smoke in this
10. obligation 1. Must room.
2. Have to 5. I can’t watch TV late at
3. Mustn’t night. My parents say I must
4. can go to bed early
5. must 6. I can listen to the music. My
6. can parents like it too.
7. Can, have to. 7. We must be quiet
8. May, can 8. You mustn’t take photos in
9. must this museum
10. can 9. You mustn’t swim in this
11. can’t area.
A. 12. must 10. Can I smoke here?
13. have to
1. Can 6. must 14. can
2. Can 7. should 15. must
3. May 8. may
4. May 9. would
5. Must 10. Can’t

B. C.
1. be able to 1. Might /
may
2. Could 2. must
3. able to. 3. may
4. Can 4. Might /
may
5. could 5. may

19
 Perhaps by this year my parents may (not) allow me to have the face to
face schooling. As I had heard on their conversation, they will enroll me in an
online study because of the pandemic situation now. It drives me crazy
because I can no longer see my friends. But on the other hand, I am so excited
because my parents will procure a computer and install an internet
connection for me to be used in my on line session.

I had texted my friends for them to know. I asked them too what could be
their parents’ decision. Emmanuel said he might be in an online class because
his father’s concern. While Margo and Fatima have to enroll in a face to face
schooling since they have no internet connection.

Yes, it’s tough to adjust on this new normal situation. But I must have to
obey my parents and enjoy staying at home with this distance learning which
I think and believe might make myself safe. With this new normal situation,
you ought to have also the same as mine.

20