Eng 4

MODALS & TRANSITION PARAGRAPH

1. MODALS
.
• special verbs which behave very irregularly
• to indicate modality – ability, possibility, likelihood, probability, permission, and
obligation.

TRUE MODALS SEMI MODALS

can could ought to have to
may might need dare
will would used to had better
shall should have got to
must

STRUCTURE
IN ACTIVE VOICE IN PASSIVE VOICE

S + MODAL + BARE VERB S + MODAL + BE + VERB 3

examples
1. She can speak in three languages
S modal + bare verb

2. The examination will be cancelled.

S modal + be + verb 3
USAGE AND EXAMPLES

MODALS USAGES EXAMPLES

CAN/COULD Ability, permission, possibility She can speak in three languages
They may win the league next
year.
MAY/MIGHT We may join after we fill the
form.
She might be tired.
WILL/WOULD Future, willingness Will you give this book to her?
She said she would buy dinner
on her way home
SHALL Future for the first person. Shall we meet at the bus stop?
I shall never forget your help.
SHOULD Suggestions You are driving too fast; you
should slow down a little bit.
MUST Obligation, certainty Students must wear their
uniform
She looks pale, she must be ill.

. +
To express something happened in the past

1. STRUCTURES

Subject + modal + have + verb3

2. FUNCTIONS
Modal + perfect can be used to express following actions :
A. SURELY HAPPENED IN THE PAST

Subject + must + have + verb3

Example:
a. I didn’t see her yesterday, she must have skipped the class.
Must + have + verb 3
Meaning : She surely skipped the class.
Verb 2
b. He comes late again today. He must have stayed up late last night
Must + have + verb 3
Meaning : He certainly stayed up late last night.
Verb 2
B. DIDN’T HAPPEN IN THE PAST (contrast to fact in the past)
Subject + should/could/would + have + verb3
Examples:
 She lost her bag, she should have been more careful
Should + have + verb 3
Fact : She was not careful/she was careless

 I would have come to Marry’s house last night.

Would + have + Verb3
Fact : I didn’t come to her house.

 Bella could have asked me to go with her.

Could have + verb 3
Fact : Bella didn’t ask me to go with her.

C. MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE PAST

Subject + might+ have + verb3

Examples:

 I saw him yesterday, he might have seen me, too.

Might + have + verb 3
Means : He probably saw me too
2. TRANSITION PARAGRAPH
A. PARAGRAPH PRECEDING
 this type of question, guess the topic of the paragraph that comes before
paragraph 1

 examples of questions
 Paragraph preceding the text most likely discusses …….
 Paragraph that comes before the text most possibly discusses …….

HOW TO ANSWER THIS TYPE OF QUESTION?

 First, read the very first sentence of the first paragraph.

 Paraphrase the most important idea of that sentence.
 Choose an option that restates the essential idea of the very first
sentence.

B. PARAGRAPH FOLLOWING

 this type of question, guess the topic of the paragraph that comes after last
paragraph

 examples of questions
 Paragraph following the text most likely discusses …….
 Paragraph that comes after the text most possibly discusses …….

HOW TO ANSWER THIS TYPE OF QUESTION?

 First, read the last sentence of the last paragraph.

 Paraphrase the most important idea of that sentence.
 Choose an option that restates the essential idea of the very first
sentence.
C. THE AUTHOR’S STARTING BY…

 To answer this type of question, guess the best first sentence for the paragraph
one.

 examples of questions
 The author starts the text by ____
 In presenting the ideas, the author starts by ____

HOW TO ANSWER THIS TYPE OF QUESTION?

 Read the very first sentence of the text

 Paraphrase what it says
 Choose the option that best restates the idea