CONTENTS

7-1 The form of modal auxiliaries

7-2 Expressing ability: can and could
7-3 Expressing possibility: may and might Expressing permission: …
7-4 Using could to express possibility
7-5 Polite questions: may I, could I, can I
7-6 Polite questions: would you, could you, will you, can you
7-7 Expressing advice: should and ought to
7-8 Expressing advice: had better
7-9 Expressing necessity: have to, have got to, must
7-10 Expressing lack of necessity: do not have to Expressing: …
7-11 Making logical conclusions: must
7-12 Giving instructions: imperative sentences
7-13 Making suggestions: let's and why don't
7-14 Stating preferences: prefer, like...better, would rather

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 7-1 THE FORM OF MODAL AUXILIARIES

Somebody should clean up this mess.

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 7-1 THE FORM OF MODAL AUXILIARIES

AUXILIARY + SIMPLE FORM OF VERB

can (a) Inga can play the violin.

could (b) They couldn’t arrive on time.

may (c) It may be a nice day tomorrow.

might (d) It might be a nice day tomorrow.

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 7-1 THE FORM OF MODAL AUXILIARIES

AUXILIARY + SIMPLE FORM OF VERB

should (e) Inga should go inside.

had better (f) You had better go inside.

must (g) He must be gentle with the cat.

will (h) They will attend the recital.

would (i) I would like to meet her.

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 7-1 THE FORM OF MODAL AUXILIARIES

AUXILIARY + SIMPLE FORM OF VERB

could must would

can should

may will
might had better

not followed by to
Inga can to play the violin.

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 7-1 THE FORM OF MODAL AUXILIARIES

AUXILIARY + SIMPLE FORM OF VERB

could must would

can should

may will
might had better

no final -s
Inga can plays the violin.

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 7-1 THE FORM OF MODAL AUXILIARIES

AUXILIARY + SIMPLE FORM OF VERB

could must would

can should

may will
might had better

not in past form

Inga can played the violin.

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 7-1 THE FORM OF MODAL AUXILIARIES

AUXILIARY + SIMPLE FORM OF VERB

could must would

can should

may will
might had better

not in -ing form

Inga can playing the violin.

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 7-1 THE FORM OF MODAL AUXILIARIES

AUXILIARY + TO + SIMPLE FORM OF VERB

have to (j) You have to eat something.

have got to (k) He has got to be on time.

ought to (l) It ought to be fun.

to + simple form

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7-1 LET’S PRACTICE

to
Ø
to learn how to skate.
She has ___

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7-1 LET’S PRACTICE

to
Ø
Ø learn how to skate.
She might ___

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 7-1 LET’S PRACTICE

to
Ø
She should ___
Ø learn how to skate.

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7-2 EXPRESSING ABILITY: CAN AND COULD

I can’t believe that!

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 7-2 EXPRESSING ABILITY: CAN AND COULD

(a) Dolphins can jump very high.

(b) They can swim long distances.

(c) They can be taught fancy tricks.

can ability in present

or future

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 7-2 EXPRESSING ABILITY: CAN AND COULD

can’t
(d) I cannot fix this computer.
can not

three negative forms

of can

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 7-2 EXPRESSING ABILITY: CAN AND COULD

(e) When we were in college, we could

play chess for hours.

could = past form of can

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 7-2 EXPRESSING ABILITY: CAN AND COULD

(f) I couldn’t play chess in graduate school.

I had to study all the time.
couldn’t or could not = negative form of
could

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7-2 LET’S PRACTICE

can
can’t
He is always upset when he
_____
can’t remember something.

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7-2 LET’S PRACTICE

can
can’t

A dolphin ____
can’t
run,
can jump.
but it ____

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7-2 LET’S PRACTICE

can
can’t
You ____
can bring a horse

to water, but you can’t

____

make him drink it.

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 7-3 EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY: MAY AND MIGHT
EXPRESSING PERMISSION: MAY AND CAN

Maybe Alice heard some bad news.

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 7-3 EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY: MAY AND MIGHT
EXPRESSING PERMISSION: MAY AND CAN

(a) It may snow this week.

same
meaning
(b) It might snow this week.

may, might possibility

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 7-3 EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY: MAY AND MIGHT
EXPRESSING PERMISSION: MAY AND CAN

(c)
I don’t know.
Can we mightbebe
We may
finish this by ready by then.
Monday?

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 7-3 EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY: MAY AND MIGHT
EXPRESSING PERMISSION: MAY AND CAN

(d) It may not snow this week.

(e) It might not snow this week.

Negative: may not, might

not
no contractions

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 7-3 EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY: MAY AND MIGHT
EXPRESSING PERMISSION: MAY AND CAN

(f) Maybe it will snow tomorrow.

COMPARE
(g) Maybe the test will be hard. adverb
maybe “possibly”
beginning of sentence

(h) The test may be hard. verb

may be = may + the main verb be

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 7-3 EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY: MAY AND MIGHT
EXPRESSING PERMISSION: MAY AND CAN

(i) Yes, you may borrow my pen. more formal

(j) Sure, you can borrow my pen. less formal

may permission
can often used, too

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 7-3 EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY: MAY AND MIGHT
EXPRESSING PERMISSION: MAY AND CAN

(k) You may not borrow my pen.

You can’t borrow my pen.

may deny permission

can often used, too

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7-3 LET’S PRACTICE

may be done with

I _______
this project tomorrow.

maybe
may be

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7-3 LET’S PRACTICE

Maybe I’ll be done

_______
with this project
tomorrow.

maybe
may be

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7-3 LET’S PRACTICE

maybe
can

The boss told me

that we ____
can use
the new color
printer.

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7-4 USING COULD TO EXPRESS POSSIBILITY

This could be a long walk.

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 7-4 USING COULD TO EXPRESS POSSIBILITY

(a) Why isn’t this

working? I don’t think it’s
serious. It could be
just a weak battery.

present
Could =
possibility

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 7-4 USING COULD TO EXPRESS POSSIBILITY

(b) This error could

cause problems in
the whole company.

future
Could =
possibility

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 7-4 LET’S PRACTICE

I’d like to visit a beautiful place. present

? future
We could go to Thailand.

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 7-4 LET’S PRACTICE

Oh, no! This could be a problem! ?

present
future

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 7-4 LET’S PRACTICE

This car doesn’t run.

The battery could be dead.
?

present
future

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7-5 POLITE QUESTIONS: MAY I, COULD I, CAN I

May I help you?

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 7-5 POLITE QUESTIONS: MAY I, COULD I, CAN I

POLITE QUESTION
(a) May I please take your picture?
(b) Could I please take your picture?
(c) Can I please take your picture?
POSSIBLE ANSWERS

Yes. Of course. Okay.

Sure. Certainly.
Yes. Of course.
Sorry, not today.
Yes. Certainly.
Uh-huh. 38
 7-5 POLITE QUESTIONS: MAY I, COULD I, CAN I

POLITE QUESTION

May I take your picture, please?

Could I take your picture, please?
Can I take your picture, please?

please at end

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 7-5 POLITE QUESTIONS: MAY I, COULD I, CAN I

POLITE QUESTION

May I take
please
your
takepicture?
your picture?
please
Could I take your
take
picture?
your picture?
Can I take
pleaseyour
takepicture?
your picture?

without please

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 7-5 LET’S PRACTICE

CORRECT ? YES
NO

Can I please borrow your car?

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 7-5 LET’S PRACTICE

CORRECT ? YES
NO

May I borrow your car?

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