Modal Verbs - Part 1

Can & Could (ability)

Once upon a time, in a small village, lived a little bird named Pip. When Pip was very young, he could not fly. He watched the other birds soaring high in the sky, and he felt a little sad. "I wish I could fly like them," he chirped to his mother.  

His mother smiled. "Don't worry, Pip. Soon you will be able to fly. You just need to practice."

Every day, Pip tried. He flapped his small wings, but he could not go up. Then, one sunny morning, something amazing happened. Pip flapped his wings harder, and this time, he felt himself lift off the ground! He could fly! Now, Pip can fly anywhere he wants. He can sing beautiful songs from the tallest trees. He is very happy that he can finally join his friends in the sky.

Could, May & Might (possibility)

The little bear, Barnaby, was playing near his home in the forest. He saw a small path he had never noticed before. "Where could this path lead?" he wondered. He wasn't sure if he should follow it, but curiosity tickled his nose.

His mother had told him, "Barnaby, stay close to home. You might get lost in the big forest." But the path looked so interesting!

Barnaby took a few steps. The trees were tall, and the shadows danced on the ground. He thought, "There may be delicious berries at the end of this path." He loved berries! Or perhaps, he thought with a little worry, there could be a grumpy badger.

He walked a little further. He saw a flash of blue. "That might be a beautiful butterfly," he thought excitedly. Or, he considered, it could also be just a blue flower.

Suddenly, he heard a rustling in the bushes. Barnaby stopped. "What could that be?" he whispered. It might be a friendly rabbit, or it may even be a deer! He held his breath. A little squirrel popped out, chattering. Barnaby giggled.

He decided not to go too far down the mysterious path today. He knew his mother might be worried. "I could explore it another time," he thought. "There may be many more adventures waiting for me." He turned around and headed back home, already wondering what he might discover tomorrow.

Must, Should & Ought To (obligation and moral obligation)

Lily lived in a small apartment building with many neighbors. Everyone there tried to be considerate of each other. There were a few important rules they must all follow to keep things peaceful. For example, everyone must keep the hallways clear, so people can walk safely. They also must not play loud music late at night, out of respect for those who are sleeping.

One sunny Saturday, Lily wanted to practice her trumpet. She loved playing, but she knew she ought to be mindful of her neighbors. It was the middle of the afternoon, so it was probably okay, but she still felt she should check with Mrs. Rodriguez next door. Mrs. Rodriguez worked hard during the week and sometimes liked to take a nap in the afternoon.

Lily went to Mrs. Rodriguez's door and knocked. Mrs. Rodriguez opened the door with a smile. Lily explained that she wanted to play her trumpet. Mrs. Rodriguez said, "That's fine, dear, but perhaps you should close your windows so the sound doesn't travel too much."

Lily thanked her neighbor. She understood that even though there wasn't a strict rule against playing in the afternoon, she ought to consider others. She also knew she must not play if it became too loud or went on for too long.

Lily went back to her apartment and closed the windows. She played her trumpet happily, knowing she was following the rules and being a good neighbor. She felt that being considerate was something everyone should do, and it made their building a much nicer place to live.

Will, Would & Shall (predictions, hypothesis and offerings)

The old lighthouse keeper, Mr. Peterson, lived alone on a small island. Every evening, as the sun began to set, he would climb the winding stairs to the top of the lighthouse. From there, he would light the lamp, its bright beam a comforting guide for the ships at sea.

One day, a young visitor named Maya came to the island. She asked Mr. Peterson, "What will happen if the lamp goes out?"

Mr. Peterson smiled kindly. "That will not happen, Maya. I check it every single day. I will make sure it stays lit." He explained that he would feel terrible if a ship got lost because of a dark lighthouse.

Later, Maya wondered about the future. "Do you think there will be flying cars one day?" she asked.

Mr. Peterson chuckled. "Perhaps! The world is always changing. I imagine there will be many amazing inventions."

As the day drew to a close, Mr. Peterson said to Maya, "Tomorrow morning, shall we go for a walk along the shore before you leave?"

Maya replied happily, "Yes, I would like that very much!" She knew that the memory of the island and the kind lighthouse keeper would stay with her for a long time. She also knew that Mr. Peterson will continue his important work, night after night, guiding sailors safely home.