If someone is trying to brush you off, they’re probably trying to avoid doing something. They don’t take you serious. They want to get rid of you. In making an excuse, they are going to use a modal verb.

Why? Because modals are used to express the attitude of the speaker at that particular moment. Think of it. “I might.” “I can’t.” “I would if I could.” Modals are key to mastering the nuances of English. (Actually, in the first example from the song, the singer is going to use modal verbs to make an excuse to do something–rather than avoid something.)

These songs help you analyze modality further.

brush someone off = to disregard someone as insignificant, to ignore someone’s requests
lame excuse = a bad excuse, or one that’s difficult to believe

Modal/auxiliary verbs in English often work in pairs. Think of…

I can but I won’t | I should but I can’t.

I shouldn’t but I will | I would but I can’t.

I can and I will.

In this song, we get lame excuses using multiple modal verbs.

Provide students with the fill-in-the-blank activity first (below). See if they can find pairs of modal verbs that will work. Give them these to choose from:

can, could, will, should, had better (or just “better),

would rather, supposed to

Note: negative forms are needed sometimes.

1.  “These cookies are wonderful, Bill.   I __________ have another but I __________.”

2.  “It __________ be better if we __________ take things slow.  So call me in September. Listen, I gotta go!”

3.  I know I __________ visit I really want to.  But I __________ go to the library, I’ve got a book overdue

4.  I __________ if I __________ , but I __________ I’ll be busy all day. I’m __________ visit my aunt.

 vocalists:  Steve, Kristin, and Phil Venuti
After the listening task, ask students to imagine the scene or scenario in which the speakers might say these things. Perhaps they can write a paragraph leading up to each of these excuses.

Complete Lyric
1.  “These cookies are wonderful, Bill. I shouldn’t have another but I will.”

2. “It might be better if we could take things slow So call me in September. Listen, I gotta go!”

3. “I know I should visit I really want to. But I better go to the library, I’ve got a book overdue.”

4.  “I would if I could, but I can’t.  I’m busy all day—I’m supposed to help my aunt.”

 

 The Lame-excuse Brush-off Song [0:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (553)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (553)

Here is a brief little song–only one sentence–featuring the words of the American poet John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892).

Step 1: Play the song and ask learners to write down the 17 words that make up the lyric.

For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been’…

Step 2: Nice use of a modal verb in the past, John. But really, are these the saddest words?

Let’s compare… modally. Put students in pairs or groups and ask them to try out the following words as a replacement for “might.” Offer students these other verbal possibilities:

could, couldn’t, shouldn’t, was supposed to, was not supposed to

“For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It ________ have been …”

Each has a different meaning. The differences are often just nuances. But that’s how you understand the way these modal verbs work.

Finally, re-evaluate. Which of the modal verbs in that sentence is really the saddest in your opinion?

 

 It Might Have Been - the Possibility Songs [0:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (230)