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    English Grammar

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    Self-study Modals

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    English Grammar

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    17 views6 pages

    Self-Study Modals

    Uploaded by

    sweety
    English Grammar

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 6
    10 9 Grammar * The nine main modals (wil, would, can, could, may, might, shall, should, must) have only one form (ie they do not change tense or person) and are followed by a simple or continuous bare infinitive (eg could + do, be doing, have done, have been doing). They can also be folowed by a bare infinitive in the passive (eg could + be done, have been done’. ‘= Semimodals have similar meanings to modals. They include: need (to), ought to, had better and have (got) to. + Some semnimodals, such as had better, do nat change tense or person. Others, such as have (got) to, do. + Some sernimodals can be used in combination with modals, producing phrases such as might have to. Real ability | Current or general abilty | can, can't You can't realy speak seven languages fiventiy, can you? | Past ability could, couldn't —_| There's no way you could read when you were two! Decisions made now about | can, can't, could, | | ean get you a paper when | go to the shop, i you lke. future ability couldnt | Future ability |_wilVwon't be able to | One day, maybe, all adults will be able to read and write Hypothetical Curent ‘or general could, couldnt | | couldn't go on a quiz show. Fd be too scared! ability | hypothetical ability | Future hypothetical ability could, couldn't |! could go with them to the cinema tomorrow but I won't because fve already seen te fm | Past hypothetical ability could have, They could have asked the Prime Minister much more | Couldn't have searching questions. wonder why they didn't. * The full negative form of modals is written as two words, eg could not. The exception is cannot, which is one word. + Can and could cannot be used as infinitives. We can use to be able to instead. ¥ I love to be able to come with you to the cinema tomorrow but | just can't We don't usually use could for past ability on one occasion. We use was/were able to, managed or succeeded, etc. Luckily, she was able to finish the article in time. However, with verbs such as see, hear, feel, etc we can use could for past abil on one occasion. Y could see that she was tired. a for permission | may, could, couldn’, can, can't Can finish watching this before | go to bed? Giving/refusing permission | may, may not, could, couldn't, can, can’t _| No, you can't F + Mayis more poite and formal than could, and could is more polte and formal than can * We dort usually use modal to tak about past permission, We can use was/were alowed to, i ¥ We were allowed to buy one comic each. "= * However, we do use could to tak about past permission in reported speech. (see Unit 25 for more information) ¥ Mum said we could buy one comic each. Asking for and giving advice] should, shouldnt, ought to, oughint to, had better | You should try to get that poem published. We can only use hadn't beter in questions. ¥ Hadn't you better check that these facts are actualy true? We can also use might/may as wellto give advice and make suggestions. This suggests that, although the suggestion is not perfect, there is no better option. FRB We may as well watch tis as there's nothing else on. Modals and semimodals Unit 9 Critcising past behaviour ‘should have, shouldn't have, You shouldn't have spoken to Mrs Todd ‘ought to have, oughtnt to have | lke that: Expressing annoyance at past could have, might have | You could/might have told me you were bain tool | Criticising general behaviour will He will slam the door every time he goes out. | Criticising a specific example of would | You would take the car just when | wanted to someone's general behaviour | go out. We can also use might as wellto suggest criticism. Bight as welt be dead for al you care. rd Current or general obligation ‘must, mustn't, have (got) to, | You have to be a good communicator tobea | need (to) | press spokesperson. ‘Alack of current or general don't have to, haven't got to, | You don't always need to have a degree to obligation needn't, don't need (to) | become a journalist. Future obligation | will have to, must, mustn't, | Youll have to do quite a lot of research before have (got to, (will need (to) you write this report. ‘Alack of future obligation

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