English Teachers Everywhere » Modal Verb Songs http://www.etseverywhere.com Free, original ESL / EFL audio from Kevin McCaughey Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:27:33 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc 2007-2008 kevin@kevinmccaughey.com (English Teachers Everywhere) kevin@kevinmccaughey.com (English Teachers Everywhere) posts 1440 http://www.etseverywhere.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg English Teachers Everywhere » Modal Verb Songs http://www.etseverywhere.com 144 144 Free, original ESL / EFL audio from Kevin McCaughey English Teachers Everywhere English Teachers Everywhere kevin@kevinmccaughey.com no no The “Would Rather” Song http://www.etseverywhere.com/grammar-songs/the-would-rather-song http://www.etseverywhere.com/grammar-songs/the-would-rather-song#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2008 08:46:56 +0000 Kevin http://www.etseverywhere.com/grammar-songs/the-would-rather-song What we’ve got here is a lesson on using the “would rather” construction.  The emphasis is on allowing students to learn the form through structured exploration. Well, you’ll see. Read or print the lesson plan if you like, available here as an MS Word doc.  That will explain all. You’ll find two other handouts for activities as well.

Would Rather Lesson Plan / Guide to Activities

Would Rather Pair Interview Questions  There are 3 Question Cards per page here.  So if you have 18 students you only need to print 6 pages.

Pictures for the Would You Rather Song

]]> http://www.etseverywhere.com/grammar-songs/the-would-rather-song/feed 0 1:38 What we've got here is a lesson on using the "would rather" construction.  The emphasis is on allowing students to learn the form through structured ... What we've got here is a lesson on using the "would rather" construction.  The emphasis is on allowing students to learn the form through structured exploration. Well, you'll see. Read or print the lesson plan if you like, available here as an MS Word doc.  That will explain all. You'll find two other handouts for activities as well. Would Rather Lesson Plan / Guide to Activities Would Rather Pair Interview Questions  There are 3 Question Cards per page here.  So if you have 18 students you only need to print 6 pages. Pictures for the Would You Rather Song Grammar Songs, Modal Verb Songs kevin@kevinmccaughey.com no no The Excuse Song (modal verbs) http://www.etseverywhere.com/grammar-songs/the-lame-excuse-bruff-off-modal-song http://www.etseverywhere.com/grammar-songs/the-lame-excuse-bruff-off-modal-song#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2007 06:08:04 +0000 Kevin http://www.etseverywhere.com/grammar-songs/the-lame-excuse-bruff-off-modal-song/ When people have to refuse to do something that you want them to do, they will use a modal or auxiliary verb.

That’s 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.


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 (below) before listening to the song. 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’m 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 visit my aunt. But I don’t have an aunt.  She’s dead.”

]]> http://www.etseverywhere.com/grammar-songs/the-lame-excuse-bruff-off-modal-song/feed 0 0:42 When people have to refuse to do something that you want them to do, they will use a modal or auxiliary verb. That's because ... When people have to refuse to do something that you want them to do, they will use a modal or auxiliary verb. That's 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. 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 (below) before listening to the song. 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'm 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 visit my aunt. But I don't have an aunt.  She's dead." Grammar Songs, Modal Verb Songs kevin@kevinmccaughey.com no no The Possibility Song http://www.etseverywhere.com/grammar-songs/the-possibility-song http://www.etseverywhere.com/grammar-songs/the-possibility-song#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2007 05:49:48 +0000 Kevin http://www.etseverywhere.com/grammar-songs/the-possibility-song/ 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 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?

]]> http://www.etseverywhere.com/grammar-songs/the-possibility-song/feed 0 0:37 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 ... 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 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? Grammar Songs, Little Literature, Modal Verb Songs kevin@kevinmccaughey.com no no