Modal Verbs of Possibility and Certainty ESL Games, Activities and Worksheets
Here is a fun modal verbs of possibility game to help students practice the modal verbs of possibility may and might and the demonstrative pronouns this and these. In the activity, students play a guessing game where they describe objects by saying what they may or might do with them. In groups, students take it in turns to pick up a card and describe the everyday object on the card, e.g. 'I always carry this because I might need to buy something'. The first student to guess the object (a wallet) wins and keeps the card. The student with the most cards at the end of the game wins.
This comprehensive modal verbs of possibility and certainty worksheet helps students practice will, won't, probably will, probably won't, may and might. First, students read a short holiday text and complete a table that indicates the level of certainty or probability of each activity mentioned in the text. Next, students match vocabulary definitions with words to create rules for using modal verbs of possibility and certainty. Students then unscramble words to create sentences that express possibility and certainty. After that, students look at a table and complete sentences using modal verbs of possibility or certainty and the verbs provided. Lastly, students imagine they are going away to a city and write four sentences using modal verbs of possibility and certainty describing their plans. In pairs, students then read out their sentences and their partner tries to guess where they are going.
In this free modal verbs of possibility and certainty speaking activity, students make predictions and express possibility and degrees of certainty for statements about life in the year 2050 using will, will probably, may, might, probably won't and won't. Working alone, students complete each statement on the worksheet with an expression of possibility or certainty that best expresses their opinion, e.g. 'In the year 2050, people might live on the moon'. In groups, students then take it in turns to read each statement to the other group members. After all four students have read a statement, students discuss any differences of opinion and come to a consensus for the statement. When they have reached an agreement, each student writes yes or no in the second column, depending on whether the group agreed with their original statement or not. Afterwards, each group shares their ideas with the class, giving reasons for their opinions. Finally, students see if they can reach a class consensus for each statement.
In this engaging may and might game, students use modal verbs of possibility to make sentences about things they are going to take on a day trip. First, students imagine that they are going on a day trip and that they are going to say what they are taking with them and why. Students then take it in turns to pick up a picture card and make a sentence about the object on the card, e.g. 'I'm going to take a camera because I might want to take some photos'. If a student manages to make a suitable sentence, they win and keep the card. If a student can't think of anything to say or makes a grammar mistake, the card is put back at the bottom of the pile. The student with the most cards at the end of the game wins.
In this insightful may and might speaking activity, students practice asking and answering questions about the future using will and won't for predictions and the modal verbs of possibility may and might. Students go around their group asking each other the questions on their card and recording their group members' answers by writing their names in the appropriate column. Students also ask follow-up questions to gain more information and note down the answers. When the students have finished, they join together with people who have the same cards and compare answers. Finally, groups give feedback about the information they found out.
Here is an imaginative modal verbs of possibility and certainty game to help students learn how to use the modal verbs could, may and might for possibility and must for certainty. Invite one student to operate various objects that make a recognizable sound behind a screen. For each object, teams take it in turns to guess what they think it could be. Each time a team makes a guess, they use a modal verb of possibility by saying 'It could/may/might be a/an...' If a team is certain what the object is, the team uses a modal verb of certainty by saying 'It must be a/an...' Teams are allowed one guess per turn. If a team guesses correctly using a modal verb of possibility, they score one point. If a team guesses correctly using a modal verb of certainty, they score two points. If a team makes an incorrect guess with a modal verb of certainty, they lose two points. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
In this creative may, might and could game, students describe places and situations using modal verbs of possibility for other students to guess. In pairs, students describe the place or situation on their card by writing five sentences with the modal verbs of possibility: may, might, and could. When everyone has finished, pairs take it in turns to read their sentences to the class who tries to guess the place or situation being described.
In this thought-provoking modal verbs of possibility speaking activity, students ask and answer questions about what changes they think will take place in the next 30 years. This activity covers making predictions, adverbs of probability and modal verbs of possibility. In groups, students prepare questions based on the topic and prompts on their worksheet. Next, students make a group of four with the people from the other groups, students then take it in turns to ask and answer the questions and complete the chart with their classmates' answers. When students respond to a question, they use one of the adverbs of probability on the worksheet in their answer and give a reason for their opinion. Afterwards, students return to their original groups to collate their answers for the whole class. Each student then uses adverbs of probability and modal verbs of possibility to summarize their group's results. Finally, students take it in turns to present their group's results to the class.
In this useful modal verbs of probability worksheet, students learn and practice modal verbs of probability by talking about the weather. Students start by matching modal verbs of probability with the correct day in a weather forecast, according to the probability percentage. Next, students use the key they have created in Exercise A to complete sentences using modal verbs of probability. Students then create their own weather forecast for this week by drawing pictures and writing the percentage probability for each type of weather. Students then write five sentences about the forecast using modal verbs of probability. Finally, in pairs, students take it in turns to choose a day from their forecast and read the weather type and percentage to their partner who tries to make an identical sentence to the one the student wrote.
This free modal verbs of possibility and certainty speaking activity can be used to help teach students modal verbs of possibility, adverbs of probability, predicting and expressing certainty. First, students prepare questions from prompts on the worksheet, e.g. 'Do you think you will do some exercise today?' In pairs, students then take it in turns to ask and answer the questions and complete the chart with their partner's answers. When students respond to a question, they use one of the modal verbs of possibility or adverbs of probability from the worksheet in their answer. When the pairs have finished, they join with two other pairs to make a group of six. Working as a group, students write about the information they found out, e.g. 'In our group, four people think they might do some exercise today, but two people think they definitely won't, etc.' Lastly, students take it in turns to present their group's results to the class.
In this memorable could, may and might activity, students read a short story and write sentences with modal verbs of possibility about what they think the people in the story might do or say next. To begin, students read a short story on the worksheet together as a class. Students then write two sentences about what they think the people in the story might do or say next using the modal verbs of possibility: could, may and might. In groups, students then read their sentences to each other and discuss the various possibilities. Afterwards, students give feedback to the class and the class discusses the dilemma in the story.
In this entertaining modal verbs of possibility game, students practice explaining how something is possible. Players take it in turns to pick up a possibility card and read the item on the card to the other students, e.g. 'Something that could be dangerous'. The player who picked up the card then chooses one of their picture cards (e.g. money) and explains how the two cards can correspond with each other. Players can be as imaginative or amusing as they like in order to convince the other students how the cards match. If the other students accept the explanation, the player discards their picture. If the other students find a reason to disagree, the player keeps the picture card. The first player to get rid of all their picture cards wins the game.
In this enjoyable modal verbs of possibility and certainty board game, students express possibility and degrees of certainty for statements about the future. Players take it in turns to roll the dice and move their counter along the board. When a player lands on a square, they read the statement about the future aloud and say whether they agree or disagree with the prediction by expressing possibility or degrees of certainty and explaining their opinion. The other group members listen and judge the player's response. If the player is able to give their opinion, expressing possibility or degrees of certainty appropriately, they stay on the square. If not, they move back two squares. The first player to reach the finish wins the game.
