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Solving mysteries (modal verbs in the past)

Feb 27, 2026Mar 17, 2026

LESSON SET OVERVIEW

With this lesson set, your students will:

learn and practise past modals,
practise idioms related to emotions,
learn vocabulary related to murder mysteries,
watch videos and solve riddles.

This set will help your students understand and practise using past modals. In the first lesson students learn the rules for using past modals and practise them while talking about pictures and situations. In the second lesson, students solve mysteries using past modals.

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Lesson 1 Introduce past modals

Standard Lesson 45 min Premium Plan

He couldn’t have seen a ghost!

Grammar

Students learn rules for using past modals (e.g. couldn’t have, must have). They also learn some idioms related to emotions. Students practise the language from the lesson while talking about how people in different situations feel and why.

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Lesson 2 Provide past modals practice

Standard Lesson 45 min Unlimited Plan

Whodunit (practise past modals with riddles)

General Grammar

Students talk about detective stories. They also practise past modals further while solving mysteries and riddles in two videos. Encourage students to use past modals in ex. 6 and 7 (slides 9-15).

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LESSON SET OVERVIEW

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