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Author: Beyond English

  • Learn How to Use Modals in English

    Learn How to Use Modals in English

    Modals are special verbs that help us express ability, possibility, permission, advice, and necessity or obligation.
    In this post, you’ll learn how to use modals in English modals correctly in affirmative, negative, and contracted forms.

    1. Can and Be Able To – Expressing Ability

    We use ‘can’ and ‘be able to’ to talk about ability.

    Structure:
    Affirmative:
    Subject + can + base form
    Subject + am/is/are + can + base form
    Negative:
    Subject + cannot + base form
    Subject + am/is/are + not + base form
    Contractions:
    cannot → can’t; is not → isn’t; are not → aren’t

    Examples:

    • I can swim very fast.
    • She is able to drive a car.
    • We can’t speak Japanese.
    • He isn’t able to lift that box.
    ⚠️ Remember! You cannot contract the Be verb ‘am’ and ‘not’

    2. Can – Expressing Possibility

    We also use ‘can’ to show that something is possible in general.

    Structure:
    Affirmative:
    Subject + can + base verb
    Negative:
    Subject + cannot (can’t) + base verb
    Contraction:
    cannot → can’t

    Examples:

    • It can be hot in Texas in summer.
    • That restaurant can get very busy.
    • It can’t be easy to work and take English classes!

    3. Can or Be Allowed To – Asking for and Giving Permission

    We use ‘can’ or ‘be allowed to’ to talk about permission.
    The negative form shows prohibition (something you are not allowed to do).

    Structure:
    Affirmative:
    Subject + can / am, is, are + allowed to + base verb
    Negative:
    Subject + cannot (can’t) / am not, isn’t, aren’t + allowed to + base verb
    Contractions:
    cannot → can’t; is not → isn’t; are not → aren’t

    Examples:

    • Can I leave class early today? (asking for permission)
    • You can park here. (giving permission)
    • Students are allowed to use their phones during break. (giving permission)
    • You can’t smoke in the classroom. (prohibition)
    • We aren’t allowed to eat in the library. (prohibition)
    💡 Tip! If you need a refresher on other grammar topics, check out our Blog for more lessons.

    4. Should – Giving Advice

    We use ‘should’ to give advice or recommendations.

    Structure:
    Affirmative:
    Subject + should + base verb
    Negative:
    Subject + should not (shouldn’t) + base verb
    Contraction:
    should not → shouldn’t

    Examples:

    • You should study every day.
    • He should eat more vegetables.
    • They shouldn’t stay up too late.

    5. Must and Have To – Expressing Necessity or Obligation

    We use ‘must’ or ‘have to’ to talk about something that is necessary or required.

    Structure:
    Affirmative:
    Subject + must / have to + base verb
    Negative:
    Subject + must not (mustn’t) / do not (don’t) have to + base verb
    Contractions:
    must not → mustn’t; do not → don’t

    Examples:

    • You must wear a seatbelt.
    • We have to do our homework.
    • You mustn’t touch that wire!
    • They don’t have to work on Sunday.

    6. Must Not vs. Not Have To

    Be careful! These two have very different meanings:

    • Must not (mustn’t) = It’s not allowed / It’s forbidden.
    • Not have to = It’s not necessary.

    Examples:

    • You mustn’t be late. (It’s forbidden.)
    • You don’t have to come early. (It’s not necessary.)

    7. May and Might – Possibility in the Future

    We use ‘may’ and ‘might’ to show that something is possible but not certain in the future.

    Structure:
    Affirmative:
    Subject + may / might + base verb
    Negative:
    Subject + may not / might not + base verb

    Examples:

    • I may go to the party.
    • It might rain tomorrow.
    • She may not come tonight.

    8. Will – Certainty in the Future

    We use ‘will’ to talk about something we are sure will happen in the future.

    Structure:
    Affirmative:
    Subject + will + base verb
    Negative:
    Subject + will not (won’t) + base verb
    Contractions:
    I will → I’ll; He will →  He’ll; She will →  She’ll; It will →  It’ll; They will →  They’ll; We will →  We’ll; will not → won’t

    Examples:

    • She will graduate next year.
    • They won’t forget your birthday.
    • I’ll call you tomorrow.

    Common Mistakes with Modals in English

    ❌ She can to sing.
    ✅ She can sing.

    ❌ He doesn’t can drive.
    ✅ He can’t drive.

    ❌ You must to wear a helmet.
    ✅ You must wear a helmet.

    ❌ They don’t must work today.
    ✅ They don’t have to work today.

    Quick Review of Modals in English

    Modal Use Example
    Can / Be able to Ability I can play the piano.
    Can / Be allowed to Permission We can go out now.
    Should Advice You should rest.
    Must / Have to Necessity You must study.
    Must not Prohibition You mustn’t smoke.
    Not have to Not necessary You don’t have to come.
    May / Might Possibility It might rain.
    Will Certainty I will call you.

    Let’s Practice Modals in English!

    Exercise A

    Choose the correct modal for each sentence.

    1. I _______ swim very fast.
    a) am able
    b) can
    c) should

    2. He _______ wear a uniform at work. It’s the rule.
    a) must
    b) can
    c) might

    3. You _______ eat in the classroom. It’s not allowed.
    a) don’t have to
    b) mustn’t
    c) might not

    4. They _______ come to the meeting if they are busy. It’s not necessary.
    a) must not
    b) don’t have to
    c) shouldn’t

    5. We _______ use our phones during the test.
    a) can
    b) are allowed to
    c) aren’t allowed to

    6. You _______ study more if you want to pass the test.
    a) should
    b) might
    c) can

    7. I _______ play the guitar, but not very well.
    a) should
    b) can
    c) must

    8. It _______ rain tomorrow, so take an umbrella.
    a) must
    b) might
    c) should

    9. You _______ smoke here. It’s forbidden.
    a) don’t have to
    b) must not
    c) may

    10. She _______ call you later. She promised.
    a) will
    b) might
    c) should

    Exercise B

    Read each sentence carefully. There is one mistake in every sentence.
    Rewrite the sentence correctly.

    1. Alejandra can swims very fast.

    2. You must wears your ID card at school.

    3. He don’t can drive a car.

    4. Diego and Frida are can speak three languages.

    5. You do must study tonight.

    6. Students mustn’t to eat in class.
    7. You should to drink more water.

    8. She mights go to the party tonight.

    9. He willn’t come tomorrow.

    10. We are able to can play the piano.

    Check Your Answers

    Scoring and Feedback

    🔵 17 – 20 Correct

    Excellent work! 🎉You really understand Modals. Keep using it in your everyday conversations and writing.

    🟢 14 – 16 Correct

    Great job! ✅ You have a good understanding of Modals. Review the ones you missed.

    🟡 12 – 13 Correct

    Good effort! 💪You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Take a moment to review the examples and do the quiz again.

    🔴 0 – 11 Correct

    No worries! 🌱 Modals can be tricky at first. Go back and review the examples in the lesson.

    📚 Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Modals are short words with powerful meanings! When you learn how to use modals in English, you can talk confidently with other people!

    Remember! Learning a language is not about perfection—it’s about progress. Keep practicing, stay curious, and trust the process. You are moving beyond English to more opportunities, connections, and self-expression!

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!

  • How to Ask Questions in the Simple Past Tense – A Practical Guide for ESL Learners

    How to Ask Questions in the Simple Past Tense – A Practical Guide for ESL Learners

    Asking Questions in the Simple Past Tense

    Have you ever asked someone, “What did you do yesterday?” or “Did you watch that movie?”
    These are questions in the simple past! We use them to ask about things that already happened — usually yesterday, last week, or at another time in the past. Before jumping into this lesson, review our guide on asking Yes/No questions in the simple present.

    ⚠️ Remember! We use did to form most questions in the simple past.

    Yes/No Questions in the Simple Past

    Did + subject + base form of the verb + other information?

    ✅ Examples:

    Did I pass the grammar test?

    Did you watch TV last night?

    Did he score a goal yesterday?

    Did she call you yesterday?

    Did it rain last week?

    Did they go to the concert?

    Did we have any homework in class this morning?

    Did Regina take piano lessons when she was a child?

    Did Diego and Frida paint together?

    👉 Notice that after did, the main verb returns to its base form (no -ed!).

    WH- Questions in the Simple Past

    When you want more information (not just yes/no), use a Wh-  word (who, what, where, when, why, or how) before did.

    Wh- Word + did + subject + base form + other information?

    ✅ Examples:

    What did I make on the assignment?

    What did you make for dinner last night?

    Where did he travel last summer?

    Who did she go to the movies with on Saturday?

    Why did it take so long to drive to class?

    When did they arrive?

    When did we start class?

    How did you learn English?

    Who did Karina meet at the mall?

    Why did the dogs bark all night?

    Be Verb Questions in the Past (was / were)

    With questions in the past with a Be verb, you do not use did. Instead, you use was or were.

    Yes/No Questions in the Simple Past

    • We use was with the following subjects:

                        I, He, She, It, and Singular Nouns.

    ✅ Examples:

    Was I your favorite teacher?

    Was he your boyfriend in high school?

    Was she tired after class?

    Was it hot last weekend?

    Was Maria in your grammar class?

    • We use were with the following subjects:

                        You, They, We, and Plural Subjects

    ✅ Examples:

    Were you at school yesterday?

    Were they in Mexico last weekend?

    Were we loud last night?

    Were your keys in your coat?

    Wh- Questions in the Simple Past

    ✅ Examples:

    Where was I last night?

    When was he in your class? 

    Why was she late to class?

    How was it?

    How was the food at Taco Bell?

    Where were you yesterday?

    What were they doing at the park?

    What were we studying in the last class?

    What were Luis and Karina eating for dinner?

    🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ Where did she went?
    ✅ Where did she go?

    ❌ Was you happy yesterday?
    ✅ Were you happy yesterday?

    👉 Remember! After did, always use the base form (go, eat, study).
    Never say did went or did ate.

    Let’s Practice!

    Exercise A

    Complete each question with the correct word.
    Use did, was, or were.

    1. ______ you go to the store yesterday?
    2. What ______ you eat for breakfast?
    3. ______ she call you last night?
    4. Where ______ they travel last summer?
    5. ______ you tired after class yesterday?
    6. When ______ he finish his homework?
    7. ______ it cold yesterday morning?
    8. Who ______ you talk to after school?
    9. ______ your friends play soccer last weekend?
    10. Why ______ she cry during the movie?

    Exercise B

    Read each sentence carefully. Find and correct the mistake.

    1. Did you went to school yesterday?
    2. Where did she went on vacation?
    3. Did he studied for the test?
    4. What did you ate for dinner last night?
    5. Was you at the party yesterday?
    6. Did they was late for class?
    7. Where were she yesterday?
    8. Did your brother plays soccer last weekend?
    9. Why did she cryed after the movie?
    10. Did we are in the same class last year?
    Check Your Answers

    Scoring and Feedback

    🔵 17 – 20 Correct

    Excellent work! 🎉You really understand how to make questions in the simple past. Keep using it in your everyday conversations and writing.

    🟢 14 – 16 Correct

    Great job! ✅ You have a good understanding of how to make questions in the simple past. Review the ones you missed.

    🟡 12 – 13 Correct

    Good effort! 💪You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Take a moment to review the examples and do the quiz again.

    🔴 0 – 11 Correct

    No worries! 🌱 Questions in the simple past can be tricky at first. Go back and review the examples in the lesson.

    📚 Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Remember! Learning a language is not about perfection—it’s about progress.

    Asking questions in the simple past helps you connect with people and share experiences.
    Practice every day — ask your friends what they did yesterday or where they went last weekend. The more you ask, the more natural your English will sound!

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!

  • English Grammar for Beginners: How to Use Be Verbs in the Present Tense

    English Grammar for Beginners: How to Use Be Verbs in the Present Tense

    Be verbs are small but powerful words in English! We use am, is, and are to describe people, places, and things in the present tense. For example, we say I am a student, She is happy, or They are in class.
    In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use be verbs correctly, avoid common mistakes, and sound more natural when speaking English. Don’t forget to request your free Be Verbs Practice PDF at the end of this post to keep improving your grammar and pronunciation!

    Be Verbs – Subject-Verb Agreement   

    The Be verb must agree with the subject to make the sentence correct (Subject-Verb Agreement)

    There are three forms for Be verbs in the present tense:

    1. Am     

    We use ‘am’ with the subject pronoun I. 

    This form is for statements about oneself.

    I am on the first floor.              

    I am next to the desk.     

    I am excited.

    2. Is    

    We use ‘is’ with the subject pronouns he, she, it, and singular nouns.

    This form is used to talk about one person or thing.

    The teacher is between John and Bobby.  She is intelligent.

    The trash can is under the desk. It is empty.

    John is sleepy. He is tired. 

    3.  Are            

    We use ‘are’ with the subject pronouns you, we, they, and plural nouns.

    This form is used to talk about more than one person or thing.  

    The notebooks are in the drawer.  They are new.

    The pens are on the table. They are black.

    Alejandra and I are under the projector. We are nervous.

    💡 Tip! If you need a refresher on subject pronouns, check out our complete guide on subject pronouns.

    Be Verbs – Structure   

    We use the following structure for affirmative statements

    SubjectBe Verb (am, is, are)Other Information
    Iamhappy.

    We use the following structure for negative statements

    SubjectBe Verb (am, is, are)notOther Information
    Heisnota student.

    We use the following structure for Yes/No questions.

    Be Verb (am, is, are)Subject + fromLocation
    Aretheystudents?

    We use the following structure for short answers

    Yes/No,SubjectBe Verb (am, is, are) + (not)
    Yes,sheis.
    No,theyare not.

    We use the following structure for Wh- questions

    Wh- WordBe Verb (am, is, are)Subject
    Whereisthe coffee shop?

    When do we use Be verbs?  

    1. With an adjective to describe someone or something

    Adjectives can come after the Be Verb.  They describe the subject.       

    Alejandra is pretty.

    The adjective ‘pretty’ describes the subject ‘Alejandra.’

    The homework is easy.

    The adjective ‘easy’ describes the subject ‘The homework.’

    Grammar exams are difficult.

    The adjective ‘difficult’ describes the subject ‘grammar exams.’

    They are friendly.

    The adjective ‘friendly’ describes the subject pronoun ‘They.’

    2. With a noun to classify the subject                    

    Mary is a teacher.

    You are a student. (singular)  You are students. (plural)

    They are friends.

    We are students.

    3. With physical or emotional states

    My books are heavy. (physical state)

    She is tired. (physical state)

    They are happy. (emotional state)

    We are excited. (emotional state)

    4. To Talk about the Weather. Use “It” as the subject when talking about the weather.

    It is hot in Merida.

    It is sunny today.

    It is cold in New York City in December.

    5. To Talk about the Time. Use “It” as the subject when talking about time.

    It is 9:00AM.It is in the morning.
    It is midnight.It is in the afternoon.
    It is noon.It is at night.

    6. To Talk about the Day, Month, or Season. Use “It” as the subject when talking about the day or the date.

    It is Saturday.It is the weekend.
    It is August.It is summer.
    It is October.It is fall.
    It is December.It is winter.
    It is March.It is spring.

    7. Use a Be verb with a location

    My sisters are in Dallas.

    The restaurant is on San Pedro Ave.

    My parents are at 1704 Maberry St.

    Shakira and I are from Colombia.

    Contractions with Be Verbs

    Contractions are used for casual speech and informal writing.

    Contractions combine two words.  The apostrophe (’) replaces the letter removed from the Be verb.           

    In affirmative statements with Be verbs, we can combine a subject pronoun and a form of the Be verb.

    Full FormContraction
    I amI’m
    You areYou’re
    He isHe’s
    She isShe’s
    It isIt’s
    We areWe’re
    They areThey’re

    We can also combine a singular subject and the Be verb ‘is’ to form a contraction. We replace the letter ‘i’ with an apostrophe (’)

    Full FormContraction
    The book is on the table.The book’s on the table.
    John is late. John’s late.
    The teacher is nice.The teacher’s nice.
    The computer is in my backpack.The computer’s in my backpack.
    ⚠️ Remember! You cannot contract a plural noun and the Be verb ‘are’.

    ✅ The markers are on the table.

    In negative statements with Be verbs, there are two ways to make contractions.

    1. Contract the subject pronoun and the Be verb or a singular subject and ‘is’

    Full FormContraction
    I am not at home.I’m not at home.
    He is not a student.He’s not a student.
    She is not a teacher. She’s not a teacher.
          It is not on the desk.       It’s not on the desk.
    We are not in the cafeteria.We’re not in the cafeteria.
    They are not on the second floor.They’re not on the second floor. 
          Alejandra is not in class.      Alejandra’s not in class.
    ⚠️ Remember! The apostrophe (‘) replaces the letter removed from the Be verb or the singular subject.

    2. Contract the Be verb and the negative.

    Full FormContraction
    He is not a student.He isn’t a student.
    She is not a teacher. She isn’t a teacher.
    It is not on the desk. It isn’t on the desk.
    We are not in the cafeteria.We aren’t in the cafeteria.
    They are not on the second floor.They aren’t on the second floor. 
    Alejandra is not in class today.Alejandra isn’t in class today.

    There is only one form for “I am not.” 

    You contract the subject pronoun ‘I’ and the Be verb ‘am’.     

    I am  ✅  I’m

    You cannot contract am and not  ❌  amn’t         

    I am not  ✅  I’m not    

    ✅  I’m not in the language lab.

    🔊 Practice! Improve your English pronunciation of contractions with this free online practice tool!
    English pronunciation of contractions.
    ⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ She happy.
    ✅ She is happy.

    ❌ They is at school.
    ✅ They are at school.

    ❌ I amn’t tired.
    ✅ I’m not tired.

    ❌ Where you are from?
    ✅ Where are you from?

    ❌ He’s teacher.
    ✅ He’s a teacher.

    📘 Get More Practice!

    Want extra exercises to master am, is, and are?
    Request your free Be Verbs Practice PDF

    Fill out the short form below!

    Name
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    📚 Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Remember! Learning a language is not about perfection—it’s about progress. Keep practicing, stay curious, and trust the process. You are moving beyond English to more opportunities, connections, and self-expression!

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!