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6.1.2: Negatives of Modals

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    256014
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    The Negative Form of a Modal

    Subject Modal Auxiliary Base Verb Rest of Sentence
    I can't/cannot run very fast.
    You could not /couldn't jump high.
    He /She/It may not take much time.
    We might not go to the party
    They should not /shouldn't share answers on the homework.
    You must/ must not drive over the speed limit.

    Examples and Meanings

    Example Meaning

    1. You must not drink and drive.

    Prohibited / against the law / against the rules

    2. You don’t have to sit in the same seat or work with the same partner everyday.

    Not required / a choice

    3. When he was a baby, he couldn’t feed himself.

    Unable to in the past (general ability)

    4. When I was a child, I couldn’t go out by myself at night.

    Not permitted in the past

    5. You may not use your notes on the test.

    Not permitted 

    6. You shouldn’t go to bed late on the night before a test.

    Advice / bad idea

    7. Youd better not lose your wallet [or someone can steal your money and credit cards].

    Warning

    Exercise 1.2 

    Answer each question with the negative form of the modal:

    1. What are things you must not do:

    • On an airplane:
    • In our class:
    • In a car:

    2. What are things you cannot/may not do if you rent an apartment?

    3. What are some things you don't have to over the weekend?

    4. What should children not do if they want their parents to be happy?

    5. What are some things you had better not do or your neighbors might get angry?

    Exercise 1.3

    For each sentence, underline the negative modal and circle/hi-light the verb after the modal. Then write the meaning of the modal - what does it mean in the sentence? You may want to refer to the chart on the previous page.

    Example

    Meaning

    1. You must not smoke in the building.

    It is against the rules (or the law) to smoke in the building.

    2. You don’t have to wear a uniform at this school.

     

    3. I don’t have to work this weekend.

     

    4. She can’t ride a bicycle.

     

    5. When she was a child, she couldn’t reach the top of the refrigerator.

     

    6. You may not use a cell phone in class.

     

    7. When I was a child, I couldn’t drive a car.

     

    8. You shouldn’t forget to lock your door.

     

    This page titled 6.1.2: Negatives of Modals is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Allyson Marceau.

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