English Grammar Idiomatic Modals
Learn English Idiomatic Modals Grammar

Grammar Level 3- Lesson Eleven

In this grammar lesson, you learn about Idiomatic Modals in English and how to use it in your English conversation and writing. Just follow examples and write them down a few times to learn them very well. After finishing this lesson, you should work on its quiz.

Grammar Recap

In our previous lesson, we covered the Modal Verbs If you just landed on this page, we suggest that you complete our previous lesson including its quizzes before continuing on this lesson.

Requirement Lessons

There is no required lessons for working and learning this lesson.

 

Modal Verb Phrases

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

Idiomatic Modal
Example in a sentence
(be) going to

future

(similar to “will”)

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 swim 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

 

Quiz for Idiomatic Modals

Now that you learned your new lesson, it is time to go to the Idiomatic Modals page and finish your quiz. While working on your quiz, you can always go back to its lesson to refresh your memory.

Private Lessons in English

If you need help with quizzes of this lesson, you can hire one of our expert private English teachers by going to our Private English Tutors page and submit a request. When submitting your request, make sure to mention the grammar level and lesson number.

Next Grammar Lesson

In our next lesson, we will cover the Perfect Modals Before moving to the next lesson, we suggest that you complete this lesson including its quizzes.

Related Grammar Lessons

None

Grammar Level 3 Outline

If you wish to explore all lessons that are covered in HiCafe Grammar Level 3, you can visit the Grammar Level 3 Outline page.

 

Practice English Grammar Skills

For a comprehensive practice of English grammar with quizzes, you can visit the Improve English Grammar Skills page to view HiCafe 250 grammar lessons in 7 levels plus prepositions and pronouns.