Modals

modal verbs in both the present tense and the conditional form, including examples, question/negative forms, and French translations. and in songs.

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📝 Modal Verbs Worksheet: Present Tense & Conditional Form

🎯 Objectives:

• Understand how modal verbs work in the present and conditional forms.

• Practice forming affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences.

• Translate between English and French.

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📘 Part 1: Modal Verbs in the Present Tense

Modal VerbMeaningExample SentenceFrench TranslationcanabilityI can swim.Je peux nager.mustobligationYou must study.Tu dois étudier.maypermissionShe may go out.Elle peut sortir.shallsuggestion/formal futureWe shall begin now.Nous allons commencer.willfuture certaintyThey will win.Ils vont gagner.

Negative Forms (Present):

• I cannot swim. → Je ne peux pas nager.

• You must not cheat. → Tu ne dois pas tricher.

Questions (Present):

• Can you help me? → Peux-tu m’aider ?

• Must I attend the meeting? → Dois-je assister à la réunion ?

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📗 Part 2: Modal Verbs in the Conditional Form

Modal VerbConditional FormMeaning in ConditionalExample SentenceFrench Translationcancouldability/possibilityI could help you.Je pourrais t’aider.mustwould have to*obligationI would have to leave.Je devrais partir.*maymightpossibilityShe might come later.Elle pourrait venir.shallshouldadvice/formalityWe should go.Nous devrions y aller.willwouldfuture in the pastThey would win.Ils gagneraient.

*Note: “Must” does not have a true conditional form; we usually use would have to or should.

Negative Forms (Conditional):

• I could not help you. → Je ne pourrais pas t’aider.

• You might not like this. → Tu n’aimerais peut-être pas ça.

Questions (Conditional):

• Could you help me? → Pourrais-tu m’aider ?

• Should we call them? → Devrait-on les appeler ?

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🧠 Part 3: Practice Exercises

A. Complete with the correct modal verb (present or conditional): OR EXPLAIN WHY BOTH ARE POSSIBLE WITH DIFFERENT MEANINGS

1. He ___ (can/could) speak five languages.

2. You ___ (must/should) listen to your teacher.

3. ___ she go to the party? (may/might)

4. I ___ (will/would) love to visit Japan.

5. We ___ (shall/should) take an umbrella — it looks like rain.

B. Translate into French:

1. She can play the piano.

2. We should study more.

3. Could you pass the salt?

4. They must leave now.

5. I would help if I had time.

C. Translate into English:

1. Je devrais faire mes devoirs.

2. Tu peux venir demain ?

3. Il pourrait pleuvoir.

4. Nous ne pouvons pas sortir.

5. Ils voudraient apprendre l’anglais.

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🎶 Famous Song Lyrics with Modal Verbs

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1. “We Can Work It Out” – The Beatles

“We can work it out.”
→ Ability/possibility
FR: Nous pouvons arranger ça.

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2. “If I Could Turn Back Time” – Cher

“If I could turn back time…”
→ Hypothetical ability in the past
FR: Si je pouvais remonter le temps…

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3. “You Must Love Me” – Madonna (Evita)

“You must love me.”
→ Strong assumption or emotional obligation
FR: Tu dois m’aimer.

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4. “It Might Be You” – Stephen Bishop

“It might be you I’m waiting for.”
→ Possibility
FR: C’est peut-être toi que j’attends.

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5. “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” – The Shirelles / Amy Winehouse

“Will you still love me tomorrow?”
→ Future question
FR: M’aimeras-tu encore demain ?

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6. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” – The Beach Boys

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older?”
→ Hypothetical situation
FR: Ce serait bien si nous étions plus âgés, non ?

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7. “You Should Be Dancing” – Bee Gees

“You should be dancing, yeah!”
→ Recommendation
FR: Tu devrais danser, ouais !

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8. “Shall We Dance?” – The King and I (Rodgers & Hammerstein)

“Shall we dance?”
→ Polite suggestion
FR: Dansons-nous ? or Et si on dansait ?

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9. “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” – Elvis Presley

“I can’t help falling in love with you.”
→ Inability to stop oneself
FR: Je ne peux pas m’empêcher de tomber amoureux de toi.

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10. “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor

“Oh no, not I, I will survive!”
→ Strong intention/future certainty
FR: Je vais survivre !