04/02/2011

MODAL VERBS.... Revision


Modal Verbs

can
could
may
might
will
would
must
shall
should
ought to
 
Modals are different from normal verbs:
1: They don't use an 's' for the third person singular.
2: They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she go?')
3: They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to')

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Permission

We can use verbs such as 'can', 'could' and 'may' to ask for and give permission. We also use modal verbs to say something is not allowed.

For example:
  • Could I leave early today, please?
  • You may not use the car tonight.
  • Can we swim in the lake?

Deduction

First, they can be used when we want to say how sure we are that something happened / is happening / will happen. We often call these 'modals of deduction' or 'speculation' or 'certainty' or 'probability'.

For example:
  • It's snowing, so it must be very cold outside.
  • I don't know where John is. He might have missed the train.
  • This bill can't be right. £200 for two cups of coffee!

Ability & Possibility


We use 'can' and 'could' to talk about a skill or ability in the present or the past

For example:
  • She can speak six languages.
  • My grandfather could play golf very well
  • I can't drive.
  • * For other verb tenses we use BE ABLE TO
  • I have never been able to play a musical instrument.
  • She won’t be able to finish her work on time. 
  • I'd like to be able to fly...

Obligation and Advice

We can use verbs such as 'must' or 'should' to say when something is necessary or unnecessary, or to give advice.

For example:
  • Children must do their homework.
  • We have to wear a uniform at work.
  • You should stop smoking.

No obligation or necessity:

·         We don’t have to go to class tomorrow. It’s Saturday.
·         She doesn’t have to cook at home. Her husband does it!
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Present
Positive
Negative
have to /
don’t have to
strong obligation (possibly from outside)
  • Children have to go to school.
(sometimes ‘have got to’)
no obligation
  • I don’t have to work on Sundays.

  • You don’t have to eat anything you don’t like.
must / mustn’t
strong obligation (possibly based on the speaker’s opinion)
  • I must study today.
negative obligation
  • You mustn’t smoke here.
should / shouldn’t
mild obligation or advice
  • You should save some money.
mild negative obligation or advice
  • You shouldn’t smoke so much.
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________________________________________________________Dulce

6 comments:

  1. I advise everyone to do these exercises. They are like exercises of page 135. I think they are a great help.

    ReplyDelete
  2. John Fitzgerald Kennedy7 February 2011 at 22:12

    Hi comrades! I strongly recomend you all these exercises, they are really helpfull! we SHOULD know how modals work! XD

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good exercises to practice. Very useful. I advise to do them. ;-D

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  4. Hello to everyone!

    Although we DON'T HAVE TO do these exercises to get a good mark from our teacher, we MUST do them if we want to improve our knowledge of English.
    Sometimes we think we WON'T BE ABLE TO do this, that or the other... Just try! You CAN do it if you try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. ;-)

    See you soon!
    Joan

    ReplyDelete
  5. WISE, very wise, JOAN!
    thank you all!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Work done! Really, de best way to learn is practising as much as possible. Bye

    ReplyDelete