MODAL VERBS - COUCH POTATO

Link: Free english podcasts - Couch Potato

You must cease the day and catch the moment. Every single book on how to become more
efficient and happy in life will tell you so. You have to read some motivational literature,
seriously. Our life is so hectic, there's no need to participate in all that rat race. Come on,
even Robert Burns asked you to finally stop and stare. You ought to listen to him; he was a
famous and respected poet! You don't have to do house chores if you don't feel like it. You
can do the dishes tomorrow, and you will be able to vacuum the floor on Monday, if not, then
on Tuesday. If not, you can survive stumbling over some empty cans and shoes, bags and
books, pizza leftovers and lost socks. Creative surrounding looks exactly like this. Take your
time, pump up your energy and collect some ideas. You might want to pour yourself a cup of
coffee, put your feet up, let your hair down and just enjoy the peace and quiet. Or,
alternatively, you could watch a movie; there is also a good talk-show on TV tonight that you
just don't want to miss. And I'll tell you what: you are not a horse to endure all that heavy
workload. You are a person! And you need to be happy. Even if it means you have to
postpone writing that important email until later times for the sake of a cozy nap right now. I
know what I say. I am the Couch Potato, the Big Procrastinator!
 1. Vocabulary

Cease (V): to stop doing something or stop happening.

Hectic (adj): very busy or full of activity.
Rat race (id): the unpleasant situation experienced by people working in big cities, when
they continuously compete for success and have a lot of stress in their lives.
Chore (n): a small job that you have to do regularly, especially work that you do to keep a
house clean.
Stumble (v): to hit your foot against something or put your foot down awkwardly while you
are walking or running, so that you almost fall.
Pump up (pv): to increase someone’s excitement, interest etc.
Pour (v): to make a liquid or other substance flow out of or into a container by holding it at
an angle.
Talk-show (n): a television show in which famous people answer questions about
themselves (Syn: chat show).
Endure (v): to be in a difficult or painful situation for a long time without complaining.
For the sake of (id): if you do something for the sake of it, you do it because you want to and
not for any particular reason.

2. Grammar

A. Listen to the audio and try to write down as many modal verbs as possible.

B. Analyze the following sentences. First, spot the modal verb and then explain its
modality. Finally, make a similar sentence using another modal verb but keeping the
meaning.

a. You must cease the day and catch the moment.

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b. You have to read some motivational literature, seriously.
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c. You ought to listen to him; he was a famous and respected poet!
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d. You don't have to do house chores if you don't feel like it.
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e. You can do the dishes tomorrow, and you will be able to vacuum the floor on
Monday, if not, then on Tuesday.
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f. You might want to pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, let your hair down
and just enjoy the peace and quiet.
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g. Or, alternatively, you could watch a movie;
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C. Make sentences using the vocabulary and the phrasal verbs.