Unit 7 Robot Inventions

Unit 7 – Robot Inventions
Modals: can / could / must / should

Grammar Model

A
Listen and complete the dialogue.

Shane: Hey, Yuka. What do you have there?
Yuka: It’s my science project. We (1) can make a useful invention.
Shane: It looks like a robot!
Yuka: It is a robot. I (2) can build robots, you know.
Shane: Wow, so what (3) can it do?
Yuka: It can type stories for homework and do math problems.
Shane: That’s amazing. You (4) should tell a magazine or TV show about this.
Yuka: Thanks, but first I (5) must make sure it works properly.
Shane: (6) Could you build one of these robots for me, too?

B
Answer the questions.

Shane asks Yuka if she could build one of the robots for him, too.

What is the robot able to do?

It can type stories for homework and do math problems.

What does Shane say is a good idea for Yuka to do?

Shane says Yuka should tell a magazine or TV show about her robot.

What does Shane ask Yuka?

Grammar Skill: Modals – can / could / must / should

Modals are used with verbs. They tell us about the ability to do things (can), whether it is a good idea to do things (should), things we need to do (must), or things that are allowed or possible (could).

Notes:

• Use the base form of the verb after a modal.
• Add not after the modal to make a negative, or use the contracted form (can’t, shouldn’t, couldn’t).
• Normally, must is not used in questions.

Practice:

Circle the correct answer.

1. Useful inventions ________ make life much easier for people.
   a. are
   b. can
   c. shouldn’t
   d. can’t
2. My robot needs power, so I ________ put batteries in it to make it work.
   a. am
   b. must
   c. mustn’t
   d. shouldn’t
3. Our dad said we ________ use the garage to build our new invention.
   a. could
   b. do
   c. are
   d. did
4. Inventors ________ make useful things, or people will not buy them.
   a. can’t
   b. shouldn’t
   c. couldn’t
   d. should
5. ________ you give me some ideas on how to make a new invention?
   a. Must
   b. Should
   c. Could
   d. Do
6. This robot uses power from the sun, so it ________ need batteries.
   a. don’t
   b. doesn’t
   c. must
   d. should

D. Answer the questions using the correct modals.

1. What can the robot do?
2. Where could they go to buy their robot parts?
3. Where should Tim keep his robot?

E. Work with a classmate. Use the diagram and the modals given to say six things about the robot.

Modals:

• can
• should
• must
• can’t
• shouldn’t
• mustn’t

F
Complete the passage using your own ideas.

The Young Inventors’ Club
Are you a young inventor? If you are, you should become a member of our special Young Inventors’ Club. To become a member, you should be at least (1) __________ years old. You should have (2) __________. You must also have your own (3) __________.
All club members can use our special lab to (4) __________, and you can meet other young inventors to talk about (5) __________.

G
Work with a classmate. Use your answers from Activity F to complete the table.

H
Tell the class your answers from Activity G.