What do animals say in English?

Are your students especially passive today? Do  you need to engage them? Change your plans for today´s lesson  and try this. It´s amazing how crazy and enthusiastic your students can get when listening to this funny and silly video by Ylvis that wonders what sound the fox makes.

Talk to them about the importance of having  pets,  ask them if they have one at home. If so, they can tell you about their experience. You can also Play Scattergories using films with animals in title (Spiderman, The Black Swan, Kung Fu Panda, Batman, The Fly, Octopus, Cocodrile Dundee,  The Pink Panther,  The Crow, Planet of the Apes,  King Lion...)

 Actually, no one knows what the fox says, but we know that...

Bears – growl/roar Bees – hum Birds –  tweet/sing Cats – mew Chickens – cluck Cows – moo Dogs – bark Donkeys – bray Doves – coo-coo Ducks – quack Elephants – trumpet Flies – buzz Frogs – croak Goats – bleat Hens – cackle Horses – neigh Lambs -- bleat Lions -- roar  Sheep – bleat Snakes – hiss Tigers –  roar Whales – sing Wolves – howl

Paraphrasing using Modal Verbs (4th Secondary)

Paraphrase these sentences using a modal verb

• 1.          It was impossible for the police to clean the graffiti.
•         I am not sure if Peter is at home.
•         James definitely isn’t eighteen yet!
•          It’s possible the weather will be sunny 
•          Perhaps he won the match.
•          I'm sure she's at home. 
•          I know that isn't Janet. She's in America.
•          I'm sure she thinks I'm stupid.
•          I bet I look silly in this coat
•         They're always buying new cars. I'm certain they have a lot of money.
•         I´m sure he's not a teacher. He's too well dressed.
•         You're an architect? I'm sure that's an interesting job.
•         I´msure you're not serious. I know you're joking.
•         Im sure he's got another woman. He keeps coming home late.
•        This water is possibly dangerous.
•         It isn’t necessary for you to take a jacket.
•         I advise you to see a dentist.
•         You aren’t allowed to talk during the exam.
•         It’s forbidden to park here.
•         Tom knows how to speak Spanish.
•         He had permission to go to the party.
•         It isn’t possible that that is our plane.
•         I advise you to study harder.
•        He is obliged to go to the police station twice a week.
•         It´s impossible to work in this company if you are not an engineer.
•        I didn’t have the ability to cook when I was younger.

 

Modal Verbs

CAN:

Ability = They can play basket very well.

Possibility = They can pass their final exams easily

Inability / Impossibility = I’m sorry. We can’t fix it.

Asking for permission (informal) = Can I go out tonight, dad?

Requests (informal) = Can you help me, Mary?
Deduction (negative) = He can´t be English. He´s speaking French.

COULD:
Ability in the past = He gave up his old job so he could work for us.
Speculation = He could be Spanish or South American.
Asking for permission (formal) = Could I ask a question?
Requests (formal) = Mr Smith, could you say it again more slowly?
Suggestions = We could eat at a restaurant together.
Future possibility = I think we could have another war.

MUST:
Moral obligation : I must study hard to pass my final exams.
Deduction (affirmative) : He must be from Spain. He´s speaking Spanish.
Prohibition (negative) = We mustn’t take photographs in the museum.

BE ALLOWED TO
Permission  =  Students are not allowed to use their mobile phones at school

HAVE TO :

External obligation = I have to work from 9 to 5 every day.
Absence of obligation (negative) = We don´t have to get up early on Sundays.

MAY:
Speculation = He may be Spanish or South American.
Asking for permission (formal) = May I have another cup of coffee, sir?
Future possibility = China may become a major economic power.

OUGHT TO / SHOULD:

Advice = We ought to/should find a solution to this problem.


NEEDN¨T :
Absence of obligation  = We needn´t get up early on Sundays.

MIGHT:
Future possibility = They might give us a 10% discount.
Speculation = He might Spanish or South American.

SHALL:
Offers = Shall I help you with your homework?
Suggestions = Shall we meet at 2.30?
Asking what to do = Shall I stay or not?

WILL:
Predictions = Profits Will increase next year.
Instant decisions = The phone’s ringing! I´ll anwer it.
Promises = I’ll get back to you first thing on Monday.

WOULD:
Stating or asking preferences (formal) = Would you prefer tea or coffee?
Asking for permission (formal) = Would you mind if open the window?
Making a request (formal) = Would you pass the salt please?
Invitation (formal) = Would you like to have lunch with met?
Making arrangements (formal) = Would 3 o´clock suit you?