Expressing Certainty with Modals
Grade 9th Grade · ELA · 45 min
What's Included
Learning Objective
I can use modal auxiliaries to express degrees of certainty.
Warm-Up Video
Oxford English Now · 6:38
Modals of Certainty - Must, Can't and Couldn't - Learn English Grammar
Guided Notes
3 key concepts
- 1
Modal verbs of certainty, such as must, can't, and couldn't, are used when you are nearly sure of something being either true or not true.
- 2
When you're sure something is NOT true in the present, use can't or couldn't, but not 'mustn't,' which expresses prohibition.
- 3
To talk about the past, use must + have + the past participle when you're sure that something is true.
Practice Questions
9 questions · Multiple choice & Short answer
Exit Ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Complete the sentence using a modal auxiliary to express certainty: 'The lights are off and no one is answering the door. They ______ out.'”
Complete Lesson Package
Get all 3 ready-to-use resources:
