Transcript modal verbs - Pomorski fakultet u Splitu

Tomislav Skračić, MA
Undergraduate English
Course for
MARINE ENGINEERS
2nd Semester
Essential reading:
SPINČIĆ, A., An English Textbook For Marine
Engineers I., Pomorski fakultet, Rijeka 2008.
LUZER, J., SPINČIĆ, A., Gramatička vježbenica
engleskog jezika za pomorce, Pomorski
fakultet, Rijeka 2003.
MODAL VERBS – Review
Look at the following
English Modal Verbs Table
Modal
Usage
Example
ability
I can do several things at the same time.
when something is
possible
Miracles can happen.
permission
You can go now.
informal requests
Can you come for a minute?
past form of "can"
She said she could pay for us as well.
polite requests
Could you move your bag, please?
possibility
It could be that he missed the train.
possibility
It may rain tomorrow.
ask or give
permission (formal)
May I speak?
past form of "may"
He said he might change his mind.
possibility
This might fail.
Modal verbs table
can
could
may
might
you have to do it
You must obey the law
Modalit'sverbs
table
very logical
must
must
not /
mustn't
They left so early, they
must be home by now.
or very likely to
happen
you are not
allowed to do it
You mustn't smoke in here.
future for "I" and
"we"
I shall see him tomorrow.
shall
questions
and Table
English
Modal
Verbs
suggestions for
"I" and "we"
should
Let's continue, shall we?
the right thing to
do
She should call the police.
advice
- What should I do?
- You should stop thinking about it.
what is likely or
expected to
happen
We should be back by midnight.
will
future action or states
(not plans)
Prices will go up next
summer.
promises and intentions
It's alright, I'll pick it up.
past form of "will"
He told me he would come.
imagined situations
What would you do
if you were him?
would
for polite requests, offers
and invitations
English Modal Verbs
Table
ought to
-Would you please sit down?
- Would you like some tea?
- We are meeting with Sarah
next Saturday, would you like
to come along?
to say what you
want to do or have
I would like a piece of cake.
the right thing to do
You ought to apologize.
End of
English Modal Verbs Table
MODAL VERBS – Review
Look at the following
Situations Table
Situation
Modal Verb
Example
requests
(formal)
may
May I sit down?
requests
(informal)
can
Can I sit down?
requests
(polite)
could
Could I sit down?
requests
(polite)
would
Would you mind if I sit
down?
permission
(formal)
may
You may sit down.
permission
(informal)
can
You can sit down.
obligation
(full)
must
You must tell the
police the truth.
obligation
(partial)
should
You should tell
your friends the truth.
obligation (partial)
(less common)
ought to
You ought to tell
your friends the truth.
Situation
Modal Verb
Example
logical conclusions
(stronger than "should")
must
He left an hour ago, so he
must be there already.
logical conclusions
(weaker than "must")
should
He left half an hour ago,
I believe he should
be there already.
possibility
(general)
can
It can rain sometimes.
possibility
(weaker than
"may" and "might")
could
It could rain, but it is
not very common in this
part of the country.
possibility
(weaker than "may")
might
It's not very cloudy yet,
but it might rain.
possibility
(stronger than "might")
may
It starts getting cloudy –
it may rain soon.
future
actions/states/intentions
will
Look at the sky!
It will rain soon.
End of Modal Verbs Situation Table
MODAL VERBS in the past
Examples:
The music can’t have been any good. Nobody danced.
Where’s Pete? He should’ve been here ages ago.
He may have got lost.
He might have decided not to come.
He could have had an accident.
It must have been a good party. Everyone stayed till
dawn.
MODAL VERBS in the past
Could have / Might have
They mean to say that if we had wanted something in the
past, we had had the opportunity to do it.
- I could have moved out when I was 18, but I didn't want to
leave my family. (I chose to stay)
- I might have moved out, but I didn't want to leave my family.
(I chose to stay)
- I could have gone out with my friends but I wanted to watch
the soccer game. (I could but I didn't go with them)
- I might have gone out with my friends but I wanted to watch
the soccer game. (I could but I didn't go with them)
In both sentences, either action was possible for me but I
stayed home to watch the game.
MODAL VERBS in the past
Should have / Ought to have
It was in the past, and we didn't do something we were
supposed to do. It was a mistake.
- You should have checked your answers thoroughly before
you handed in your exam.
(but you didn't which was a mistake)
- You ought to have checked. (Same but stronger than should
have)
- You shouldn’t have been watching TV all night yesterday,
that’s why you feel so tired now.
- You should have / ought to have asked my permission
before you used my computer. I’m really angry with you.
BUT:
- You needn’t have asked my permission before you used my
computer. I wouldn’t be angry with you.
MODAL VERBS in the past
Must have / Would have
Referring to past events. We use “Must have” when we talk
about our strong opinions based on evidences / facts.
- Do you know Ryan's math grade?
- I don't know but he must have got an A. (His math is really
good)
“Would have” also refers to past events. It is more about
something we chose to do or not to do in the past because
a certain necessity was not met.
I would have moved out but I hadn't had enough money.
(I wanted to move out but I didn't have money)
I would have never divorced him if he hadn't hit me.
(He hit me, so I divorced him)
MODAL VERBS in the past
Couldn't have
It means to say that in the past even if we had wanted
something, we didn’t have the chance to do it.
- I couldn't have visited you when I was in Paris as I didn't
know your address.
(I didn't visit you - it was not possible anyway)
Exercise 1
Put in ‘can’ / ‘can’t’ / ‘could’ / ‘couldn’t’. If none is possible,
use ‘be able to’ in the correct tense:
1. James _________________ speak Japanese when he lived in
Japan, but he’s forgotten most of it now.
2. I _________________ understand the chapter we had to read
for homework. It was so difficult.
3. I _________________ lift this box – it’s too heavy! Would you
help me?
4. Lucy _________________ make it to our meeting after all.
She’s stuck in traffic at the moment.
5. John _________________ play tennis really well. He’s
champion of his club.
6. Unfortunately, I really _________________ sing at all! No-one
in my family is musical either.
7. When I grow up I _________________ solve all problems.
Exercise 1 – KEY
1. James could speak Japanese when he lived in Japan, but he’s
forgotten most of it now.
2. I couldn’t understand the chapter we had to read for
homework. It was so difficult.
3. I can’t lift this box – it’s too heavy! Would you help me?
4. Lucy can’t make it to our meeting after all. She’s stuck in traffic
at the moment.
5. John can play tennis really well. He’s champion of his club.
15. Unfortunately, I really can’t sing at all! No-one in my family is
musical either.
16. When I grow up I will be able to solve all problem.
Exercise 2
Complete the sentences using CAN, COULD, MUST, MIGHT
or SHOULD. Some gaps may have more than one correct
answer.
1. Lucy's engagement ring is enormous! It ________ have cost a
fortune.
2. If you want to get a better idea about Bristol, you ________
walk uptown and explore the district called Clifton.
3. Please make sure to water my plants while I am gone on
holiday. If they don't get enough water, they ________ die.
4. You ________ take your umbrella along with you today. The
weather forecast said there will be some heavy showers today.
5. I'm not really sure where Helen is. She ________ be in the
living room, or perhaps she's in the garden.
6. You ________ be kidding! It can't be true.
Exercise 3
Put in ‘mustn’t’ or ‘don’t / doesn’t have to’:
1. We have a lot of work tomorrow. You _______________ be
late.
2. You _______________ tell anyone what I just told you. It’s a
secret.
3. The museum is free. You _______________ pay to get in.
4. Children _______________ tell lies. It’s very naughty.
5. John’s a millionaire. He _______________ go to work.
6. I _______________ do my washing, because my mother does
it for me.
7. We _______________ rush. We’ve got plenty of time.
8. You _______________ smoke inside the engine room.
Exercise 3 – KEY
We have a lot of work tomorrow. You mustn’t be late.
You mustn’t tell anyone what I just told you. It’s a secret.
The museum is free. You don’t have to pay to get in.
Children mustn’t tell lies. It’s very naughty.
John’s a millionaire. He doesn’t have to go to work.
I don’t have to do my washing, because my mother does it
for me.
7. We don’t have to rush. We’ve got plenty of time.
8. You mustn’t smoke inside the engine room.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Exercise 4
Put in ‘must + infinitive’ or ‘must + have + past participle’:
1. Petra always does really well on exams. She _____________
(study) a lot.
2. That woman drives a very expensive car. She _____________
(have) a lot of money.
3. You _____________ (practise) a lot before you gave your
speech. It was really great.
4. When Lizzie got home yesterday, there were flowers on the table.
Her husband _____________ (buy) them.
5. Where is my purse? I saw it earlier, so it _____________ (be) in
this room.
6. Sarah couldn’t find her glasses. She thought she _____________
(leave) them at her office.
7. It _____________ (be) cold outside. That man in the street is
wearing a coat.
Exercise 4 – KEY
1. Petra always does really well on exams. She must study a lot.
2. That woman drives a very expensive car. She must have a lot
of money.
3. You must have practised a lot before you gave your speech.
It was really great.
4. When Lizzie got home yesterday, there were flowers on the
table. Her husband must have bought them.
5. Where is my purse? I saw it earlier, so it must be in this room.
6. Sarah couldn’t find her glasses. She thought she must have
left them at her office.
7. It must be cold outside. That man in the street is wearing a
coat.
MODAL VERBS
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