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Lección: Question Words & Modals – Job Application (EPJA)

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

✅ Identify and use question words (who, what, where, when, why, how, which, whose, how long, how far, how many, how much, how often).
✅ Identify and use modal verbs (can, could, must, should, would, may, might).
✅ Formulate questions correctly in English.
✅ Complete sentences and order words to form questions.
✅ Apply this knowledge in a job application context.

❓ Part 1: Question Words

📌 ¿Qué son? Las question words (también llamadas “WH-words”) son palabras que usamos para hacer preguntas en inglés. Cada una tiene un propósito específico.

Question Word	Uso (Purpose)	Ejemplo (Example)
Who	Personas (People)	Who is your manager?
What	Cosas, acciones, ideas (Things, actions, ideas)	What is your job?
Where	Lugares (Places)	Where do you work?
When	Tiempo (Time)	When does the shift start?
Why	Razones (Reasons)	Why do you want this job?
How	Manera, método (Manner, method)	How do you apply?
Which	Opción entre varias (Choice)	Which shift do you prefer?
Whose	Posesión (Possession)	Whose uniform is this?
How long	Duración (Duration)	How long have you worked here?
How far	Distancia (Distance)	How far is the mall from here?
How many	Cantidad (contable) (Countable quantity)	How many guards work here?
How much	Cantidad (incontable) (Uncountable quantity)	How much does the job pay?
How often	Frecuencia (Frequency)	How often do you patrol the area?

💡 Remember: En inglés, las preguntas siempre comienzan con una question word o con un verbo auxiliar (do, does, did, etc.).

📌 Ejemplos en contexto laboral

Who is the security supervisor? → ¿Quién es el supervisor de seguridad?

What are the working hours? → ¿Cuáles son las horas de trabajo?

Where is the security office? → ¿Dónde está la oficina de seguridad?

When do I start? → ¿Cuándo empiezo?

Why is experience important? → ¿Por qué es importante la experiencia?

How can I apply? → ¿Cómo puedo postular?

How long have you worked as a security guard? → ¿Cuánto tiempo has trabajado como guardia?

How far is the mall from your house? → ¿Qué tan lejos está el mall de tu casa?

How many guards are on duty? → ¿Cuántos guardias están de turno?

How much is the salary? → ¿Cuánto es el salario?

How often do you patrol? → ¿Con qué frecuencia patrullas?

🔧 Part 2: Modal Verbs

📌 ¿Qué son? Los modal verbs son verbos auxiliares que expresan habilidad, obligación, posibilidad, permiso, consejo, etc. No se conjugan en tercera persona y van seguidos de infinitivo sin “to”.

Modal Verb	Significado (Meaning)	Uso (Use)	Ejemplo (Example)
Can	Poder / Saber	Habilidad, capacidad, permiso informal	I can work night shifts.
Could	Podría / Podía	Habilidad en pasado, posibilidad, permiso formal	Could you work weekends?
Must	Debe	Obligación fuerte, necesidad	You must wear a uniform.
Should	Debería	Consejo, recomendación	You should arrive on time.
Would	Terminación “-ía”	Peticiones corteses, condicional	Would you like to apply?
May	Puede (permiso)	Permiso formal, posibilidad	May I ask a question?
Might	Podría (posibilidad remota)	Posibilidad menos segura	I might apply for the job.

💡 Important: Los modales no llevan “to” después (excepto “ought to”).

✅ I can work. ❌ I can to work.

✅ You must arrive. ❌ You must to arrive.

📌 Ejemplos en contexto laboral

Can I start tomorrow? → ¿Puedo empezar mañana?

You must wear a security vest. → Debes usar un chaleco de seguridad.

You should check the cameras regularly. → Deberías revisar las cámaras regularmente.

Would you work on holidays? → ¿Trabajarías en días festivos?

You might need a license for this job. → Podrías necesitar una licencia para este trabajo.

📚 Part 3: Key Vocabulary – Security Guard Job

Job Application Vocabulary

Apply for a jobPostular a un trabajo

Security guardGuardia de seguridad

ShiftTurno

Night shiftTurno nocturno

UniformUniforme

LicenseLicencia

ExperienceExperiencia

SupervisorSupervisor

ResponsibilityResponsabilidad

Security cameraCámara de seguridad

PatrolPatrullar / Ronda

ScheduleHorario

SalarySalario

PremisesInstalaciones

Useful Phrases for Interviews

I can work…Puedo trabajar…

I have experience in…Tengo experiencia en…

I am responsible for…Soy responsable de…

I am available to…Estoy disponible para…

I would like to apply for…Me gustaría postular a…

I am interested in…Estoy interesado en…

📖 Part 4: Reading – Security Guard Job Advertisement

🔒 Job Advertisement: Security Guard

We are looking for a responsible Security Guard to join our team!

Location: Plaza del Sol Mall, Santiago
Schedule: Night shift (10:00 PM – 6:00 AM)
Salary: $550,000 CLP per month

Requirements:

You must have a valid security license.
You should have at least 1 year of experience.
You can work night shifts and weekends.
You must be responsible and punctual.

Responsibilities:

Monitor security cameras.
Patrol the mall premises.
Write incident reports.
Assist visitors and employees.

How to apply:
Please send your CV to hr@plazadelsol.cl or call 2233445566.
You must bring your security license to the interview.

* This is a great opportunity for responsible people who want to work in a safe environment. Apply today!

✏️ Part 5: Exercises

Exercise 1: Complete the Sentences

Complete the sentences with the correct question word (who, what, where, when, why, how, which, whose, how long, how far, how many, how much, how often).

1. _______ is the security supervisor? (person)

2. _______ do I need to start the job? (documentation)

3. _______ is the security office located? (place)

4. _______ does the night shift begin? (time)

5. _______ do you want to work here? (reason)

6. _______ can I contact the HR department? (method)

7. _______ shift do you prefer, morning or night? (choice)

8. _______ uniform is this? (possession)

9. _______ have you worked as a security guard? (duration)

10. _______ is the mall from your house? (distance)

11. _______ guards are on duty tonight? (countable quantity)

12. _______ does the job pay per month? (uncountable quantity)

13. _______ do you patrol the premises? (frequency)

Exercise 2: Order the Words

Put the words in the correct order to form questions.

1. you / work / can / weekends / ? → ______________________

2. must / uniform / wear / a / you / ? → ______________________

3. do / start / when / you / ? → ______________________

4. experience / you / have / do / any / ? → ______________________

5. can / apply / I / how / ? → ______________________

6. should / bring / I / what / to the interview / ? → ______________________

7. work / would / you / night shifts / ? → ______________________

8. is / the supervisor / who / ? → ______________________

9. long / have / you / worked / how / here / ? → ______________________

10. far / the / is / mall / how / ? → ______________________

11. many / guards / how / work / here / ? → ______________________

12. much / salary / how / is / the / ? → ______________________

13. often / you / patrol / how / do / ? → ______________________

Exercise 3: Build Questions from Answers

Read the answers and write a question that matches the answer.

Answer: The security supervisor is Mr. González.
Question: ______________________?

Answer: The night shift starts at 10:00 PM.
Question: ______________________?

Answer: You need a valid security license.
Question: ______________________?

Answer: You can apply by email or phone.
Question: ______________________?

Answer: I want to work here because it’s close to my house.
Question: ______________________?

Answer: I prefer the morning shift.
Question: ______________________?

Answer: The uniform is blue and gray.
Question: ______________________?

Answer: The security office is on the first floor.
Question: ______________________?

Answer: I have worked here for two years.
Question: ______________________?

Answer: The mall is 5 kilometers from here.
Question: ______________________?

Answer: There are six guards on duty.
Question: ______________________?

Answer: The salary is $550,000 CLP.
Question: ______________________?

Answer: I patrol the mall every two hours.
Question: ______________________?

Exercise 4: Complete with Modal Verbs

Complete the sentences with the correct modal verb (can, could, must, should, would, may, might).

1. You _______ wear a uniform at all times. (obligación fuerte)

2. I _______ work night shifts without problems. (habilidad)

3. You _______ arrive 15 minutes early. (consejo)

4. _______ I ask about the salary? (permiso formal)

5. I _______ like to apply for this position. (petición cortés)

6. We _______ need a second guard for the weekend. (posibilidad remota)

7. _______ you work on holidays? (pregunta formal)

8. You _______ have a license to work as a guard. (obligación)

Exercise 5: Mixed Practice

Complete the conversation between the interviewer and the applicant using question words and modals.

Interviewer:

1. _______ is your name?

2. _______ do you want to work as a security guard?

3. _______ you work night shifts? (pregunta con can)

4. _______ experience do you have? (pregunta con what)

5. _______ have you worked in security? (pregunta con how long)

Applicant:

6. My name is Carlos Pérez.

7. I want to work here because I need a stable job.

8. Yes, I _______ work night shifts. (modal de habilidad)

9. I _______ have two years of experience. (modal de posesión)

10. I _______ worked in security for three years. (respuesta a how long)

Interviewer:

11. You _______ bring your license to the interview. (obligación)

12. _______ you like to start next Monday? (pregunta formal)

🔑 Part 6: Answer Key

✅ Exercise 1 – Answers

1. Who

2. What

3. Where

4. When

5. Why

6. How

7. Which

8. Whose

9. How long

10. How far

11. How many

12. How much

13. How often

✅ Exercise 2 – Answers

1. Can you work weekends?

2. Must you wear a uniform?

3. When do you start?

4. Do you have any experience?

5. How can I apply?

6. What should I bring to the interview?

7. Would you work night shifts?

8. Who is the supervisor?

9. How long have you worked here?

10. How far is the mall?

11. How many guards work here?

12. How much is the salary?

13. How often do you patrol?

✅ Exercise 3 – Answers

1. Who is the security supervisor?

2. When does the night shift start?

3. What do you need? / What is required?

4. How can I apply?

5. Why do you want to work here?

6. Which shift do you prefer?

7. What color is the uniform? / What does the uniform look like?

8. Where is the security office?

9. How long have you worked here?

10. How far is the mall from here?

11. How many guards are on duty?

12. How much is the salary? / How much does the job pay?

13. How often do you patrol the mall?

✅ Exercise 4 – Answers

1. must

2. can

3. should

4. May

5. would

6. might

7. Could

8. must

✅ Exercise 5 – Answers

1. What

2. Why

3. Can

4. What

5. How long

8. can

9. have

10. have

11. must

12. Would

🎓 Part 7: Self-Assessment

How well do you understand question words and modal verbs?

Skill	👍 Yes	🤔 Not really	😕 I need help
I can identify basic question words
I can use: how long, how far, how many, how much, how often
I can identify modal verbs
I can form questions correctly
I can use modals in context
I can understand a job advertisement

🔍 What to do next?

If you checked “Yes” for all skills, you are ready to apply for jobs in English!
If you checked “Not really” for any skill, review the grammar tables and do the exercises again.
If you checked “I need help” for any skill, ask your teacher for more practice.

📝 Part 8: Final Task

✏️ Your mission: Imagine you are applying for the Security Guard position. Write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) answering these questions:

Why do you want this job?
What experience do you have?
Can you work night shifts?
What skills do you have?
When can you start?
How long have you been looking for a job?
How far are you willing to travel?

Use at least 5 question words and 5 modal verbs in your answer.

Example:

I would like to apply for the Security Guard position. I want this job because I need a stable job and I can work night shifts. I have experience as a security guard for two years. I can monitor cameras and patrol areas. I am responsible and punctual. You should consider my application because I am available to start next week. If you need more information, you can call me at any time. I have been looking for a job for three months. I am willing to travel up to 10 kilometers to work.

Write your paragraph here…

📘 English Lesson – Question Words & Modal Verbs

Designed for EPJA High School Students – 3rd & 4th Year · Subject: English (ESL)

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📘 English Lesson

Question Words & Modal Verbs – Job Application