Year 5 - English
Modal verbs
Three tense forms and modal verbs
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils review the rules for the simple and progressive present, past and future tenses as well as the perfect present tense. They learn about modal verbs for the first time, learning that they can be useful for applying to speech sentences, persuasive writing and rhetorical questions.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify a modal verb and its purpose in a clause.
Key Notes
- The verb carries the tense of a sentence.
- A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb.
- A modal verb is most often paired with the main verb of a clause.
- A modal verb is not paired with the main verb if it appears in a question.
- A modal verb expresses the degree of possibility, intent, ability or necessity of the clause.
Vocabulary To Learn
- auxiliary verb: the helping verb that is always paired with the main verb
- modal verb: a type of auxiliary verb that helps us to talk about how likely, possible, necessary or obligatory something is to happen
- clause: a group of words that contains a verb
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may find the concept of 'obligation' tricky to grasp.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
The verb carries the tense of a sentence. A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'auxiliary verb'
the helping verb that is always paired with the main verb.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may find the concept of 'obligation' tricky to grasp. Correction: Explain that obligations are things we think we should do or that should happen or that others think we should do or should happen.
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