Showing posts with label modal verb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label modal verb. Show all posts

Apr 15, 2015

The Leftovers: Past Modals for Speculation

This is the second post based on a TV series. The Leftovers is an intriguing HBO dramatic series and its first scene is perfect for modals for speculation.




I. Watch the movie segment and work in small groups of three students. Number the students (1, 2 and 3).



II. Imagine you are  police officers talking about the happening to a reporter. Describe what happened and present two different possibilities for what happened during the scene. What happened to the baby? What happened to the kid's father? And what about the car accident? Then prepare a speech about your conclusions and imagine you are going to give an interview to explain the community what went on that day. Make sure you include the modal verbs you have been studying.
III. Have the students who have the same numbers sit together and share their theories to their new group.

IV. The students choose the most plausible (or creative) explanation to share with the class.


Mar 25, 2015

The Boxtrolls: Present and Past Modals for Advice and Regrets

This is a lovely movie with a moving story. It is a must. You can't miss this British animation.

I. Work in pairs:

1 - What would you recommend someone if you knew he/she were going to a formal party, but he/she didn't know anywhere there?

2 - What about an informal party? Would your recommendation change?

3 - Have you ever done something in a party that you regretted having done? Talk about it.

4 - What is something someone should NEVER do in  a party?



II. Watch the movie segment and complete the chart. Write 5 pieces of advice that were given to Egg.


ADVICE GIVEN:
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5 -

III. Work in groups. Talk about the mistakes Egg made during the party. 
1 - What shouldn't Egg have done, but he did? Mention as many things you can remember.
2 - What should he have done, but he didn't? Mention as many things as you can remember.
IV. Imagine Egg is going to the following places. Make a list of social etiquette recommendations he should follow, according to your own culture.
1. A wedding
2. A funeral
3. Church
4. Christmas Dinner
5. Theater
6. Plane trip

ANSWERS WILL VARY

Jan 5, 2015

Jack and the Giant Slayer: Modal Verb for Drawing Conclusions - Must

This is a great movie, but the legend became scarier that I had thought it would be. I would avoid showing it to young teens.



I. Discuss  these questions:

1. Are tales important or lies that make children believe the impossible can happen?
 

2. Why are tales so popular until today?
 

3. Do you know other tales? Talk about the ones you know.
 

4. What is your favorite one? Why?
 

5. Do you think fairy tales can be harmful? Why (not)? 

6. Is Jack and the Beanstalk a popular tale in your country? What do you know about it?


 


II. Watch the movie segment. What is the most plausible answer for the questions below? Then write sentences drawing conclusions, using MUST.




1. What do you think about Jack and his dad's relationship?

a. It is a bad relationship;
b. They are very distant from each other.
c. They love each other.

They must love each other.

2. What time of the day does the scene take place?

a) bedtime, late at night
b) early evening
c) right before sunrise

__________________________________________ .

3. Jack

a) believes giants exist
b) thinks giants are stupid
c) believes giants are pure imagination

_________________________________________ .

4. The legend of the giants

a) are funny
b) are real
c) are scary

_________________________________________ .

5. Jack's father believes

a) Jack has noble blood in his veins.
b) Jack has ordinary blood in his veins.
c) Jack is prepared to fight against the giants.

_________________________________________ .

6. According to the first scene of the movie:

a) the movie is a comedy
b) the movie is romantic
c) the movie has spectacular visual effects

__________________________________ .

7. How do you think life was like in the times giants ruled the world.

a) it was terrifying
b) people lived peacefully
c) people lived in harmony.

__________________________________ .

 8. Before the king expelled the giants.

a) he waited for the giants to leave his kingdom
b) the population suffered a lot
c) the giants tried to be friends with humans


________________________________________ .


Answer key - POSSIBLE answers

2. It must be late at night.
3. Jack must believe giants exist.
4. The legend of the giants must be scary.
5. Jack's dad believes his son must have ordinary blood in his veins
6. The movie must have spectacular visual effects
7. It must have been terrifying
8. The population must have suffered a lot.




Nov 25, 2014

Flight Plan: Present and Past Modals for Speculation



I. Watch the movie segment. Then write down three different explanations for what happened in the segment on a piece of paper. Use your imagination.





Ex: The girl is sleeping somewhere on the plane.

1 ___________________________________
2 ___________________________________
3 ___________________________________


II. Teacher collects the sheets and redistributes them among the students. 

III. Students analyze their peers' explanations and write sentences with modal verbs for speculation. Remember that you should vary the modal verb according to what you believe really happened to the boy.

Observe if the sentences refer to the present or to the past. You will have to choose the correct verb form.

(PRESENT IDEA: MIGHT + BARE INFINITIVE)
(PAST IDEA - MIGHT + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE)


Ex: 

The girl might be sleeping somewhere on the plane. (It is possible, but you don't think that is what really happened)

The girl must be sleeping somewhere on the plane. (It is very possible. You probably agree with the idea)

The girl can't be sleeping anywhere on the plane (It is not a plausible explanation. You don't believe it happened at all)


IV. Read the sentences out loud. Explain why you chose those modal verbs. Agree and disagree with your friends' ideas.


V. What is the most plausible explanation decided by the class?


Sep 4, 2014

Under the Dome: Modals for Speculation

I am a great fan of Stephen King and his imaginative stories. This one is no exception. The book, which I loved, became a CBS series. The book explores the psychological shades of the characters much more deeply than the series, but it is still worth following. This scene is one of my favorite scenes on this blog. This is the first post taken from a TV series. Others will come up.


I. Watch the segment. Then check the alternatives that you believe are possible explanations for the "dome".
1. ( ) It is a force field.

2. ( ) Extra terrestrials want to isolate human beings for experiments.

3. ( ) It is a military operation.

4. ( ) It is a natural phenomenon.

5. ( ) It is their imagination.

6. ( ) It is a nuclear shelter.

7. ( ) Your guess.


II. Check your guesses with a partner. Then write sentences speculating about what the dome is.

1. ________________________________ 

2. ________________________________ 

3. ________________________________ 

4. ________________________________


III. Look at the pictures below. Chester's Mill, a small town in Maine - USA, was isolated from the rest of the world by this mysterious dome. No one goes out; no one comes in. Think about possible consequences of such a happening. Think about the climate, water resources, food supplies, family members, politics, security, hospitals, etc. Then write down at least 5 sentences speculating about what might happen to Chester's Mill's population OR what they might have to do to survive.





CLIMATE: ___________________________

WATER RESOURCES: _______________________________

FOOD SUPPLIES: ______________________________

FAMILY MEMBERS / FRIENDS _________________________

POLITICS: ___________________________

SECURITY: ____________________________

HOSPITALS / HEALTH WELFARE ____________________



IV. Check your ideas with the students from the other groups.


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - UNDER THE DOME

Jun 5, 2014

Grown-ups 2: Modals for Advice - Should & Past Modal for Regrets - Should (not) have Done


This movie is full of interesting scenes, but this one is special. I think it is funny and perfect for practicing modals for advice.


I. Work in small groups. Make a list with five things people should and should not do while shopping at a department store.

Ex: People should not shoplift.

1. ___________________________
2. ___________________________
3. ___________________________
4. ___________________________
5. ___________________________


II. Watch the movie segment. What did the character do that he shouldn't. Make a list with  your partner.



III. Role-Play.

Student A: You are the owner of the department store. Talk politely to the customer and tell him what he should or should not do while visiting his or any other department store.

Student B: You are the character in the movie. You are very sorry for the way the manager felt about your behavior, but you don't think you actually did anything wrong. Try to convince the manager that you are right and that nothing wrong happened there.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD

May 15, 2014

Man of Steel: Could x Managed to








IMPORTANT NOTES:


We use could to talk about an ability somebody had in the past. We use managed to to talk about a specific event in the past.
 Examples:

          I could swim when I was six.
Last Saturday evening was tough. I felt good because I managed to swim 6,500 meters.
          He could speak French quite well.

           He managed to speak French to the policeman to explain what had happened.
She could design beautiful outfits. 
They managed to design a dress  which pleased that customer immensely. 

However, with verbs that refer to the five senses, see, hear, smell, feel, taste, and with verbs that refer to thought processes, understand, believe, remember, decide, we normally use could, even when we are talking about specific occasions.

I. Talk to  a partner.

1. Imagine that you are a person with super powers. Make a list of five powers you would like to have, ranking them in order of priority.

2. Show your partner your list and come up with five powers you both would like to have.

3. Think about three things that you could do very well when you were a child/teen.

4. Think about one or two situations in which you managed to do something that you didn't expect you would be able to do successfully, but that you actually did.

II. Watch the movie segment and answer the questions using  "could" or "managed to", according to the situations presented in the segment. The segment is about Superman's childhood and teenage years, as well  his adults years.





1. Make list with at least three things that Clark Kent could do (general ability)  when he was younger and that his other friends couldn't.

2. Write down three things that Clark Kent managed to do (specific situations) when he was younger.

3. What can Superman do now that he is an adult?


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - MAN OF STEEL

Apr 5, 2014

Europa Report: Past Modal Verbs for Speculation

This movie could have been better, but it has intriguing moments. This scene, though, is wonderful for past modals for speculation because of the range of possibilities it may unravel.


I. Watch the segment and discuss the questions:


1. What is the new step for mankind the scientist mentions in the beginning of the segment?
2. What were the astronauts doing when they received their last image from the mission.
3. Dr. Samantha Unger was Europa Ventures Lead Mission Planner. She asked herself - What happened?

TASK:

Work in small groups. Speculate about what might have happened to the astronauts and present a report to Dr. Unger. You must come up with five possible/plausible explanations for the mystery. Use your imagination and creativity. 





WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - EUROPA REPORT


Answer key:

1. They put men and women into deep space to explore Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, with similar atmospheric conditions as Earth. It was the first manned trip into deep space.

2. Nothing special, they were working and waiting for the following events to take place.

3. - TASK - Answers will vary.

Mar 15, 2014

Warm Bodies: Modal Verbs for Advice

This is an awesome movie. It is funny, but not stupid. I loved the way the story is told - from the point of view of the zombie. I recommend it.






I. Make a list of 10 things you should do to make your life better:

1 _______________________________
2 _______________________________
3 _______________________________
4_______________________________
5 _______________________________
6 _______________________________
7 _______________________________
8 _______________________________
9 _______________________________
10 ______________________________


II. Read the statements below and check the ones that are true to you:



(      ) I should get out more.

(      ) I should eat better.

(      ) I should stand up straight.

(      ) I shouldn't be so hard on myself.


III. Watch the movie segment and decide what you and the movie's main character - R - have in common. Which of the statements in II are true to R.





IV. Write three pieces of advice to R, using Should/Ought to...


1 _______________________
2 _______________________
3 _______________________


V. Discuss the questions below:

1. Why are people so fascinated by zombies? Why are there so many movies about them?

2. Are zombies scary or funny? Why?

3. What's your opinion about horror movies. Do you like them? Why (not)?

4. Is this scene scary or funny?


WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - WARM BODIES

Mar 5, 2014

Click: Regrets with Past Modal SHOULD and WISH

This movie provides us with entertainment and food for thought when it comes to our life choices. Having a remote control to extend my favorite moments of the day sounds like a dream, but we have to deal with its consequences. This scene is really touching.



 


Work in pairs:

1. Are you an impulsive person or do you mull an idea over for a long time before taking action?

2. How does it affect your life decisions? Have you ever regretted a decision you have taken? Give examples.

3. Think about three things that you regret having done in your life. Share them with your partner.

4. Would you do anything differently if you could go back in time? Explain it.

5. Imagine that you had a remote control that would allow extending your most pleasurable moments and speeding up your boring moments. Which moments would you extend and which ones would you speed up? Think at least about 5 different moments for each situation.




Watch the movie segment and discuss the questions:

- Is the scene about the past, present or future?

- Can he change his past? Why (not)?

- How does he feel about his relationship with his father?


Make a list of 5 things he regrets. Use both should have + past participle and wish.
EX: He wishes he had spent more time with his dad OR He should have spent more time with his dad.


Feb 5, 2014

Emperor: Mixed Modal Verbs - Permission and Obligation


I. Read the social etiquette that is followed by someone who addresses a Japanese Emperor. In this case, Hirohito, the Post-World War II Japanese Emperor. Complete the sentences with the modal verbs provided. You may try to guess which  obligations are firmer in order to choose the best modal verb. 
CAN - MAY - MUST - HAVE TO
1. His Majesty's image _______________ only be recorded by a court-approved photographer from a distance.
2. You __________________not shake His Majesty' hand or touch him.
3. You ____________________ never look His Majesty directly in the eyes.
4. You _____________________  not step on his shadow.
5. When you sit down with His Majesty, you _______________________  sit on his left.
6. You _________________ never call His Majesty by his name.
II. Watch the segment and check your answers.
 
III. The Emperor talked with two different American generals. Which of the rules didn't they conform to? What were the consequences of such procedures?
GENERAL FELLERS - GENERAL MacARTHUR




ANSWER KEY
I. 
1. His Majesty's image can only be recorded by a court-approved photographer from a distance.
2. You may not shake His Majesty' hand or touch him.
3. You must never look His Majesty directly in the eyes.
4. You may not step on his shadow.
5. When you sit down with His Majesty, you have to sit on his left.
6. You must never call His Majesty by his name.


II.
General Bonner Fellers - 

He conformed to all the rules.


General MacArthur - 

He took a picture from a short distance
He looked His Majesty directly in his eyes.
He shook hands with the Emperor.


III. The consequences were not negative. In fact, General MacArthur's informality won His Majesty's over and the conversation was profitable for both of them.

Jan 15, 2014

Monsters University: Modal for Advice - Should (not), Ought (not) to


This is one of my favorite animated features. I love the characters and the plot. It is incredibly funny. This segment shows a stereotyped librarian and the way she acts when somebody disturbs her. I used this scene to have students use should (ought to) in a contextualized way. I think this scene is hilarious.

I. Talk to a partner:
What are the characteristics of a librarian? Make a list of the qualities one must/mustn't have in order to be a good librarian.
1 _________________________ 
2 _________________________
3 _________________________
4 _________________________
5 _________________________


II. What should a librarian do in these situations:

1. I f someone is walking quietly in the library, trying not to make any loud noise.

__________________________

2. If someone makes a little noise in the library.

__________________________

3. If someone is very noisy in the library.

__________________________

4. If someone steals a book from the library.

__________________________

5. If someone makes a mess in the library.

__________________________

6. If someone is talking to a group of people in the library.

__________________________


III. Watch the segment and write two sentences what the Monsters' University librarian library should do and two other sentences saying what she shouldn't do, according to the segment.




SHOULD/OUGHT TO DO (or BE)

1 __________________________

2 __________________________


SHOULD (NOT)/OUGHT (NOT) TO


1 __________________________

2 __________________________


MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - MONSTER'S UNIVERSITY

WORKSHEET

Jul 13, 2013

Dark Skies: Past Modals for Speculation


Dark Skies is a great thriller, but the ending is a bit disappointing. The movie gave me chills, which I love while watching thrillers. I recommend it. This is an intriguing scene, perfect for modals for speculation.


I. Watch the segment, discuss the questions below, and then check the items that you believe are possible explanations for the  phenomenon in the segment.





1. Describe the phenomenon.

2. What was so peculiar about it?

3. Have you ever heard of anything similar to it? Talk about it.

4. How would you react if you lived in that house?


Which items below are possible explanations for the phenomenon? Write I if you believe it is possible, according to your own opinion. Write C if at least one of the characters believe it is possible. Write B if both characters and yourself believe they are possible explanations.

( ) The birds were contaminated.

( ) It was the start of an outbreak - a sudden beginning of a disease or something else dangerous or unpleasant.

( ) The birds were sick.

( ) It was avian flu.

( ) It happened because of environmental causes, such as hail storms or lightning.

( ) It was caused by fireworks.

II. Rewrite the sentences above, using past modals for speculation.

Ex: The birds might have been contaminated.


III. What MUST have happened, in your opinion? What is the most plausible explanation?Justify your answer.

IV. Rewrite the sentences in II, using past modals for speculation.
 

Ex: The birds might have been contaminated.

2 _______________________________________________
3 _______________________________________________
4 _______________________________________________
5 _______________________________________________
6 _______________________________________________

WORKSHEET
MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - DARK SKIES

Answer Key:

Answers will vary, but all of the items in I are possible explanations, according the movie characters.



2. It might have been the start of an outbreak.
3. The birds might have been sick.
4. It might have been avian flu.
5. It might have happened because of environmental causes.
6. It might have been caused by fireworks.

 

Jul 6, 2013

The Curse of the Jade Scorpion: Giving Orders/Instructions with WILL




Woody Allen is one of my favorite directors. This is one of his best/funniest movies of all times. This scene is wonderful. My students had a ball performing this task.




An official way of giving orders is to use simple or passive future tenses .

For example:

"Male workers will wear ties at all times."
"Male workers are supposed to wear ties at all times."

"Female workers will be properly dressed."
"Female workers are to be properly dressed."

Source:
http://www.english-online.org.uk/int2/aski1.htm


I - Read the orders given to someone who has been hypnotized. The commands or instructions are given with WILL.Then choose one verb from the list below and add WILL to make the orders clear. You may repeat some of the verbs.


FALL / OBEY / REMEMBER / WAIT / HAVE / HIDE / RETURN / DO / PROCEED


You______________________ deeper and deeper under the sway of my words.

You _____________________ my instructions carefully.

You _____________________ to the Kensington estate, where you will obtain the jewelry.

You _____________________ this with the utmost secrecy.

You _____________________ it with great ease and facility.

Then you ____________________ to your apartment taking the jewels with you.

You ______________________ them in a safe and secure hiding place.

You _____________ then ________________ into a deep slumber from which you will awake refreshed.

You ________________________  no memory of anything that has occurred.

You ____________________ to hear from me again.

You _____________________ my instructions to the letter.

You ____________________ absolutely nothing that occurred under trance.


II - Watch the movie segment and check your answers.

















 III - Choose five sentences above and rewrite them, using "to be + to" or "to be supposed to".

Ex:

You are supposed to fall deeper and deeper under the sway of my words.
You are to obey my instructions carefully.


1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
3. _______________________________
4. _______________________________
5. _______________________________


III. Role Play:


All the students are to imagine that they are  hypnotists. They come up with a list of 8 orders to give a classmate. Don't let the students share their lists before the activities.

Ex: You will open your book. Then you will write your name on the blackboard, etc.

STUDENT 1: S1 hypnotizes his classmates and gives S2 eight orders, using the grammar point. S1 reads all the activities sequentially  just once.

STUDENT 2: S2 listens to the eight orders of the hypnotist. He/She cannot ask for repetition or write them down. Then he/she performs all the given commands in the order they had been given.


Next, students switch roles. If you want to make this a competition, the winner is the student who manages to remember and perform most orders in the correct sequence.

WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE CURSE OF THE JADE SCORPION


Answer key:

You will fall deeper and deeper under the sway of my words.

You will obey my instructions carefully.

You will proceed to to the Kensington estate, where you will obtain the jewelry.

You will do this with the utmost secrecy.

You will do it with great ease and facility.

Then you will return to your apartment taking the jewels with you.

You will hide them in a safe and secure hiding place.

You will then fall into a deep slumber from which you will awake refreshed.

You will have no memory of anything that has occurred.

You will wait to hear from me again.

You will obey my instructions to the letter.

You will remember absolutely nothing that occurred under trance.


May 18, 2013

Hotel Transylvania & Mr. Popper's Penguins: Modal for Ability/Permission CAN







Hotel Transylvania is an awesome movie. Funny, somewhat scary, and with lots of interesting lessons to teach. Mr. Popper's penguins is an effective family movie, but the penguins are fantastic!

I. Watch the movie segment from the movie Hotel Transylvania about Dracula and his daughter, Mavis, and complete the blanks with can/can't and the verbs in parentheses. 




1. Mavis __________ (crawl) up the walls.
2. Mavis ______________ (go) outside .
3. Dracula ______________ (play)  the guitar.
4. Mavis and Dracula __________ (fly).
5. Dracula and Mavis ________________ (be) humans and bats.
5. Mavis _____________ (read).
7. Dracula ___________ (sing)


II. Which item in I CAN is not used for permission, not ability?


III. Guess what the penguins can do. Check the items you think they can.

1. __ Speak English
2. __ Walk
3. __ Run
4. __ Fly
5 __ Walk in line
6 __ Dance
7 __ Cross streets
8 __ Jump


IV. Watch the segment from the movie Mr. Popper's Penguins and check your answers.






V. Write 3 sentences saying what penguins can do and can't do.

1______________________________
2______________________________
3______________________________


Answer key


I.
Mavis can crawl up the walls.
Mavis can't go outside .
Dracula can play the guitar.
Mavis and Dracula  can fly.
Dracula and Mavis can be humans and bats.
Mavis can't read.
Dracula can sing


II. # 2



III.
Penguins can't speak English, fly and jump.