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Y11 Idiomatic Modals

Yellow Level

Lesson Eleven:

Modal Verb Phrases

These verb phrases are a little unusual and sometimes hard to use:

Idiomatic Modal

Picture

Example in a sentence

(be) going to

future

(similar to "will")

garden

(scroll down for video lessons)

They’re going to do some work in their garden.

Main verb is in the simple form

S + (be) going to _______

I am going to do	We are going to do
You are going to do	You are going to do
He is going to do
She is going to do	They are going to do
It is going to do

negative: (be) + not + going to

am not / isn’t / aren’t going to

(be) able to

possibility

(similar to "can")

A penguin is a bird that is also able to swim, but it’s unable to fly.

Main verb is in the simple form

S + (be) able to _________

I am able to swim	We are able to swim
You are able to swim	You are able to swim
He is able to swim
She is able to swiim	They are able to swim
It is able to swim

negative: (be) + not + able to

or….(be) + unable

am not / isn’t / aren’t able to

have to

necessity

(similar to "must")

She has to clean the bathroom. She also has to do some other chores around the house.

Main verb is in the simple form

S + has or have to ________

I have to clean	We have to clean
You have to clean	You have to clean
He has to clean
She has to clean	They have to clean
It has to clean

Negative: don’t/doesn’t have to

Notice the negative requires the verb "do"

will = (be) going to

can = (be) able to

must = have to

Next: Lesson Twelve

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