Teacher Discussion Forums

Have you noticed that ESL students always misuse modal verbs?
For example, I find that most students always use "should" instead of "might" when they make suggestions or show a kind of possibility.
If you have found the same problem, how do you do in your teaching?

Could you give some examples?

You might give some examples here so we can see what you mean.
You should give some examples here so we can see what you mean.

(If those are like the ones you are thinking of, I'd say the first is a suggestion with a possibility, and isn't very strong, while the second is a strong suggestion. Either way, I'm not sure I understand yet.)

There are many ways to make suggestions (which can include exponents/phrases with 'should' or 'might'), but it is harder to think of that many contexts involving possibility that make use of 'should' rather than 'might'.

Perhaps all you can ultimately do is add at least another sentence with a differing modal, to form at least a "minimal pair". Sometimes there will be no difference in meaning beyond what the core meaning of the modals are, but equally, sometimes certain phrases will be functionally anomalous given the original context/phrasing:

I should go. (I have just witnessed an argument between a married couple who invited me for dinner).
??I might go.

I should go to the hospital...
I might go to the hospital...
(To see my sick friend? To get my arm looked at after I've fallen over and hurt it?)

You should go to the hospital... (You have recently fallen and hurt your arm. It is still painful now, hours later, so I am advising you to seek medical ettention).
??You might go to the hospital... (This would be OK though as a question-like phrase seeking confirmation that you are indeed going to go).

You should have told me!
You might have told me!

It will (definitely) rain.
It's bound to rain.
It will probably rain.
?It should rain. (A bit wierd to my ear).
It could rain.
It might rain.
etc.
(A rough "scale of likelihood")

It should be OK. (Reassuring)
It might be OK. (Not that reassuring)