Modal verbs

Modal verbs

Code: ENG-120
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: ENG-110

General competence:
To know the basic terminology in the use of the English language,
through the development of conversations and dialogued classes for
a better understanding.
Specific competences of the subject:
1. Consolidates grammatical knowledge of the English
language.
2. Develops reading skills for texts of general interest in the
English language.
3. Develops writing skills in English texts with a coherent
structure.
4. Acquires the English vocabulary necessary to communicate
on topics from different areas.
 Modal verbs

4 Telephone appointments
Modal verbs
May and Might
Time zones
Making appointments.

17 Bibliography
 Modal verbs

Telephone appointments are outpatient consultations made by

telephone, where a schedule is assigned on a given day. Arranging business
appointments by phone can be a good strategy to ensure that the potential
customer will attend us with attention.

The phone is one of the most powerful tools for closing businesses.
Arranging business appointments over the phone is not always easy and
you have to consider it an art because it is complicated to be able to close
an interview with a potential client, interested in what is being offered in a
phone call.
A phone call can be unpleasant if the person receiving it did not expect it
or is performing some task and does not have time to answer it. That is why
it is important to choose the time of the call and, if possible, to agree with
the person who has to take care of us on the other side of the phone before
making it.
The arrangement of commercial appointments is a great help for the
commercials of any company, since through it we save you the work of
making the first contact with any person or company.
In this way the main task that the commercial must perform is focused
on attending the appointment with the customer and offer the product,
highlighting the qualities of the same and its advantages, without having
to waste time on the phone arranging appointments. After all, we divide
the work, so that everyone focuses on their main work, but all working as
a team. (Cornack & Nambam, 2016)

TELEPHONE APPOINTMENTS
Preparing for a phone appointment at the last minute can lead to
frustrating and ineffective conversations. We find ourselves pressed for
time, looking for things right before an appointment.
If this occurs at the office, we might experience embarrassment in
front of our co-workers.
Next time you schedule a phone meeting, make an effort to be
prepared. Follow these four strategies to make sure you are ready when
the time comes to pick up the phone.

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 Modal verbs

1. Prepare all information

Make sure that all the info you’ll need for your meeting is on your
calendar.
2. Pay attention to details
For those appointments that involve a conference or bridge line,
make sure you have the call-in number along with the meeting ID
number stored neatly and conveniently on your calendar.
3. Introduce standardization to your naming conventions
Five minutes before a scheduled phone call, you begin to wonder
who is calling whom. You wonder, “Did I say I would call him or do
I remember something about him being on the road and he would
call me?”
So you begin digging for the email exchange that covered the
details of today’s phone meeting. Besides creating anxiety, this
represents a huge waste of time.
4. Use an agenda
If you plan to discuss more than just a few items during your phone
call, rely on an agenda to guide conversation and to keep you on
track. An agenda can help when several have been invited to the
meeting and you need to keep things moving along.

The agenda doesn’t have to be a formal document — it can be

something as simple as an email sent the day prior to the meeting
confirming the topics that will be discussed. When you send this
email, be sure to confirm the time of the meeting as well. (Gaddis
& Castañeda, 2014)

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 Modal verbs

Modal verbs
We don´t need an auxiliary verb (do or does) to use a modal verb.

Can and could: structure.

CAN
The three main uses of Can are: 1) ability 2) possibility and 3)
permission. However, there are some other uses of Can as we will see
below.
1. To express ability
Can means to be (physically) able to do something OR to know how
to do something.
• Birds can fly.
• Our staff can't organize parties in the office.
• I can speak two languages.
• You can drive as fast as you want on the German motorways.

2. To express a possibility (in general)

This refers to a theoretical possibility.

Note: we don't use can to talk about future possibilities. For this
you would use may or might.

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 Modal verbs

• It can get cold there at night so take a jacket.

• I know you can travel by bus.
• Well, I think the company´s car can be repaired, but it's not going
to be cheap.

3. To offer to do something for others

“Can” is used when you offer to help someone or to do something

for them.

• You don't need to walk home. I can take you there if you like.
• Can I answer the phone for you?

4. To ask for or give permission / To request something

Can is used to ask for / request permission or to give permission.

Note: Can't is used to refuse permission.

• You can use my umbrella; I don't need it right now.

• Can I sit in that chair please?
• Mary, you can´t take the children to the office.
• Can I ask you a question?
• You can't go to the park. It will still be wet from the rain last night.
• We can't leave the room until the assignment is completed.

5. Can't: Something that is forbidden or not allowed

• We cannot park the car next to this fire hydrant.

• You can't drive as fast as you want in the city. There are speed
limits.
• You can't smoke in the building.
• You cannot drive a car of the company without a license.

6. Can't: when you are sure that something isn't true or something
is surprising.

• It can't be dark outside! It's only 4.30pm!

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 Modal verbs

• They can't have landed on the moon, I'm sure it's a hoax. (Cornack
& Nambam, 2016)
COULD
Could is similar to Can and often replaces Can in the past tense (though
not always)
1. To express ability in the past
• I could ride a horse when I was younger but now I can't.
• She could be very busy but she always smiled.
• He could read when he was three years old.

2. Polite word used to ask for permission or to request something

(in the present)

• Could I please use your bathroom?

• Could we move on to the next topic now please?
• Could you pass me that document please?
• I'm busy right now. Could you call back later?

3. General permission in the past

• In high school, we couldn't leave the classroom without a pass.

• He couldn't go to the concert because he had to work late.

4. A suggestion when asked what to do (choices and opportunities)

• He could try and fix it himself.

• We could go to the movies after work if you are interested.

5. Couldn't: Sure that something is untrue

Just like can't, you can use couldn't when you are sure that something
isn't true or real.
• That couldn't be my cat meowing outside, it was hit by a car last
week.
• He couldn't have painted that painting in his office. He has no
artistic ability at all.

6. Could + have + past participle: To express a possibility in the past

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 Modal verbs

To express that something was possible but did not happen.

• We were lucky because it could have rained but it didn't.
• Why did you do that? You could have broken your leg.

7. Could + have + past participle: Unrealized past ability

This is used to say that someone was able to do something, but they
did not try to do it. Sometimes this is a form of criticism.
• She could have married anyone she wanted, she´s so successful.
• Why did you sit there doing nothing? You could have helped me
with the meeting organization.

8. Could: A conditional form of Can

Would + Can = Could. Note: Would be able to can replace could in the
following examples.
• If we had some job applicants, I could do the interviews tomorrow
morning.
• I could write the letter if you told me what to include. (Cornack &
Nambam, 2016)

Difference between can and could:

We use could to show that something is possible, but not certain:
They could come by car. (= Maybe they will come by car.)
They could be at home. (= Maybe they are at home.)
We use can to make general statements about what is possible:
It can be very cold here in winter. (= It is sometimes very cold here in
winter.)
You can easily get lost in this town. (= People often get lost in this town.)
We use can't or cannot to say that something is impossible:
That can't be true.
You cannot be serious.
We use could have to make guesses about the past:
It's ten o'clock. They could have arrived by now.

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 Modal verbs

Where are they? They could have got lost.

We use could to make general statements about the past:
It could be very cold there in winter. (= It was sometimes very cold there
in winter.)
You could easily get lost in that town. (= People often got lost in that
town.)
We use can't have or couldn't have to say that a past
event was impossible:
They know the way here. They can't have got lost!
If Jones was at work until six, he couldn't have done the murder.
We use could have to say that someone had the ability or opportunity to
do something, but did not do it:
She could have learned Swahili, but she didn't want to.
I could have danced all night. [but I didn't]
We use can and can't to talk about someone's skill or general abilities:
She can speak several languages.
He can swim like a fish.
They can't dance very well.
We use can and can't to talk about the ability to do something at a
specific time in the present or future:
I can see you.
Help! I can't breathe.
We use could and couldn't to talk about the past:
She could speak several languages.
They couldn't dance very well.

We use can to ask for permission to do something:

Can I ask a question, please?
Can we go home now?
could is more formal and polite than can:
Could I ask a question please?
Could we go home now?

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 Modal verbs

We use can to give permission:

You can go home now.
You can borrow my pen if you like.
We use can to say that someone has permission to do something:
We can go out whenever we want.
Students can travel for free.
We use can't to refuse permission or say that someone does not have
permission:
You can't go home yet.
Students can't travel for free.
We use could you … as a polite way of telling or asking someone to do
something:
Could you take a message, please?
Could I have my bill, please?
can is less polite:
Can you take a message, please?
We use can I … to make offers:
Can I help you?
Can I do that for you?
We sometimes say I can ... or I could ... to make an offer:
I can do that for you if you like.
I could give you a lift to the station.

We use could to make suggestions:

We could meet at the weekend.
You could eat out tonight.

Questions and negatives

We make questions by putting the subject after can/could:

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 Modal verbs

Can I…? Can you…?

Could I…? Could you…?

The negative form is can't in spoken English and cannot in written

English.
We sometimes say cannot, but it is very emphatic.
The negative form of could is couldn't in spoken English and could not in
written English.

Can vs. Could Summary Chart

Can
General ability (present)
I can speak English.
Ask for permission (informal)
Could
General ability in the past
I could play the piano when I was
younger.
Ask for permission (more polite)

Can I borrow your pen please?
To request something
Can you help me please?
Possibility
It can get very cold there at night.
Offer to help someone
Can I carry your bags for you?
Cannot (can’t) = not allowed
You cannot smoke in this room.
You can’t go to the party.
Could I use your bathroom please?
To request something (more polite)
Could you pass me the salt please?
Possibility in the past (could+ have+
past participle)
What? You could have broken your leg.
Suggestion (when asked what to do)
We could go to the movies if you like.
Conditional of can (would be able to)
If we had some oranges, I could make
you some fresh juice. (= would be able
to)

May and Might

1. To express (future) possibility
There is a chance that something is true or that there is a possibility
of something happening.

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 Modal verbs

Note: Might is used more frequently than May in spoken English.

• It might rain later (= it is possible that it will rain).
• I might go to the movies tonight. (Though I'm not sure).
• I wouldn't talk to Tim right now. He may still be angry after his team
lost.
• He's very good, in fact, I think he may win the competition.
• She might be late because of the public transport strike.

2. To give permission

• You may leave the table once you have finished your meal.

• You may take only one brochure.

• If you have finished the exam, you may leave the room.
May not can be used to NOT give permission or to prohibit
someone from doing something.
• You may not park your car in front of the gate.
• You may not take more than one brochure.
3. To ask for permission
Note: Can is used more frequently than May in spoken English
though May sounds more polite.
• May I sit next to you?
• May I borrow your pen?
• May I use your bathroom please?
Note: Might could also be used to request permission but it sounds
very old and is not common.

4. May: to talk about typical occurrences

May is used in academic (or scientific) language to refer to things

that typically happen in certain situations.

• Drivers may feel tired if they do not take a break every 2 hours.
• Adults may find it difficult to sleep if they use technology before
going to bed.

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 Modal verbs

• These tablets may produce serious side effects if not taken in the
correct dosage.

5. Speculate about past actions (May + have + past participle)

• She is late. I think she may have missed her plane.

• It may have already been broken before you bought it.

• What was that noise? It may have been a dog outside our window.

6. To express wishes

• May you both live a long and happy life together.

• May the New Year bring you love and happiness.

• May all your wishes come true.
• May the Force be with you. (Gaddis & Castañeda, 2014)
Time zones
Conversation # 1:
• Jason: I don’t think we’ve been introduced. I’m Jason. Jason
Steward.
• Susan: Nice to meet you. I’m Susan.
• Jason: Pleased to meet you, Susan. How are you enjoying the
conference so far?
• Susan: It’s been great. I’ve met so many interesting people. And it’s
a nice break from the office, to be honest.
• Jason: I know what you mean. Have you been to one of these
conferences before?
• Susan: Yes, I was at the one in Miami a couple of years ago. What
about you?
• Jason: That’s funny, I was there, too.
• Susan: I don´t remember seeing you at all! Are you the only one
from your company in the conference?
• Jason: No, my cousin Robert i son a business trip too.
• Susan: Where did he travel to?
• Jason: He´s now in Tokio.

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 Modal verbs

• Susan: Oh great! It is so far. What time is the conference there?

• Jason: It already finished. It´s 1:57am in Tokio right now, there are
12 hours apart.
• Susan: Yes! You´re right. Let´s go, the second part of the conferene
here starts in three minutes.
• Jason: Go ahead. Sit beside me!

Conversation # 2:
• Judith: I can’t believe the weather we’ve been having — rain, rain,
rain. It’s so depressing.
• Marty: Yeah, I know. I heard that it’s supposed to get better by the
end of the week.
• Judith: Really? Isn’t that what they said last week?
• Marty: Yeah, well, you can’t really trust the weather forecast. It’s
the time of year, though, isn’t it? It’s always miserable in January.
• Judith: I know, oh! Look at this. Anne is calling me. I´m sure she
arrived earlier to Brasilia. Hi Anne, what´s up?
• Anee: I Jud, I´m extremely tired. What a trip.
• Marty: Hi Anee, I´m Marty, what´s the weather like there?
• Anee: It´s raining a lot. It´s 2:15 am and it is so hot.
• Judith: That´s early. It´s 12:15pm here, we´re getting lunch at the
moment and rains a lot.
• Anee: Oh no guys! Someone spilt coffee in my jacket, I have to go.
(Cornack & Nambam, 2016)

Making appointments
Read the conversation with a partner, then complete your own
information.
• A: Hi, Good morning.
• B: IDSS company good morning, how can I help you?
• A: I would like to make an appointment for a project meeting.
• B: Of course, May I have your name, please?
• A: Daniels, Henry Daniels.

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 Modal verbs

• B: it´s a pleasure Mr. Daniels. I have Monday or Tuesday available.

What day could be best for you?
• A: I would like to meet on Monday.
• B: Very well then. Are mornings or afternoons best?
• A: I want to come in the morning.
• B: I will have my assistant check my calendar and get back to you
with the exact time. Can you bring me an outline of the project
when you come?
• A: Yes, I can bring the outline when I come to the meeting.
• B: Do you think that we should include the entire committee in the
meeting or just our sub-committee?
• A: I think that we should have just the sub-committee.
• B: OK then, I will make the arrangements for them to attend. Do
you know how to get there?
• A: No, I need directions, please.
• B: Fine, we will make sure that we send you all of the information
that you need. See you there!

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