4: LANGUAGE FOCUS - Possibility and certainty | Tiếng Anh 9 (Friends Plus) | UNIT 4: FEELINGS - Lớp 9 - Giáo Dục Việt Nam

• Whales act like they're happily in love. They embrace and play together. Some, like orcas, have one partner for life.

• Studies show that chimpanzees are sympathetic to each other; one chimpanzee will hug another chimpanzee if it is hurt.

• It's not only big-brained mammals which show sympathy. Crows, like elephants, stand in a group when one dies, and bring grass to cover the body. Scientists have also noted that mice appear worried when another mouse is in pain.

• Animals in a group certainly have different personalities; some are confident; some are shy; some are relaxed; others are more aggressive and assertive.

So what about Descartes? To me, it's pretty obvious that he was wrong. The evidence suggests that animals must feel something; they can't simply be like robots. Researchers are using brain scans to discover more about animal behaviour, so we may know more about their emotions in the future. For now, we should be open-minded and considerate towards animals. They might be thinking more than we realise.

may, might, could, can, must

1 Read examples 1-5. What do the modal verbs in blue mean? Write possibly, definitely or definitely not.

1 They could be expressing sadness.

2 The evidence suggests that animals must feel something.

3 They can't simply be like robots.

4 We may know more in the future.

5 They might, perhaps, have emotions.

2 Choose the correct options to complete the rules.

3 Complete the sentences with appropriate modal verbs.

1 She's smiling, so she. be unhappy.

2 I'm not sure, but they live in Huê.

3 You're going to Canada? You excited! be

4 Orcas are rare here, but you see one if you're lucky.

5 It be frightening to see a shark when you're swimming

6 England aren't a great football team. They not win the match tomorrow.

4 USE IT! Work in pairs. Exchange opinions about ideas 1-6 using words from the box and the modal verbs.

Horse riding might be fun.

Really? I think it must be frightening.

Finished?

Write five sentences about the animal emotions using modal verbs.