Basic Level English CourseOctober 23rd, 2010 (Part I)

Introduction to Modal Verbs: Ability and Future

To introduce the modal system of verbs in order to talk about abilities and future intentions

Presentar el sistema modal de verbos para hablar de habilidades e intenciones futuras

Auxiliary/Helping Verbs Express Modality: Subjective attitudes of

the speaker Can: Ability Will: Future Intentions Structure:

Subject + MODAL VERB + Base Form She can sing I will go

Affirmative Sentences: I can play the guitar She can sing the blues

Negative sentences: I can’t play the piano She can’t sing Rancheras

Yes/No Questions: Can you play the piano? – Yes, I can/No, I can’t Can she sing the blues? – Yes, she can/No, she can’t

WH-Questions: Where can I see you tomorrow? – We can meet at Jockey

Plaza What can a chimpanzee do? – A chimp can use sign

language

A cat can climb, but it can’t swim

A bird can fly, but it can’t talk A fish can swim, but it can’t walk An elephant can eat vegetables, but it

can’t eat meat

/Kǝn/ /Kænt/

I. Expresses the voluntary nature of the subject’s (future) actions:

The teacher will talk to his mother I will send you the information

II. Expresses a promise: Megan will be here tonight Nugkui won’t/will not miss class again

III. Expresses a future action decided at the moment of speaking:

I’ll call you later I will see you tonight

IV. Expressions often used with “will”(Contracted form = ‘ll) are: “I guess” = You creo, “I think” = Yo pienso, “Maybe/Perhaps” = Talvez.

I guess, I’ll go to the party with you I think, I’ll study for my exam Maybe, I’ll see you tonight

Affirmative Sentences: I will talk to him later She’ll send me the information

Negative sentences (Won’t = Will not): I won’t talk to her She won’t come to class today

Yes/No Questions: Will you be here for class? – Yes, I will/No, I won’t Will she do the homework? – Yes, she will/No, she won’t

WH-Questions: What will you do tonight? – I have no idea Who will watch the dog? – I guess, Brett will watch it

WILL BE GOING TOSUBJECT + BE + GOING TO + BASE FORM

Intentions, Promises, Improvised Decisions (Intenciones, promesas, decisiones improvisadas) I’ll call you later Maybe, I’ll go She’ll be here tonight

Planned events for the future (Eventos planeados para el futuro I’m going to Egypt for my next

vacation She’s not going to be in Lima

next weekend Are you going to travel to

Cuzco for Christmas? – Yes, I am/No, I’m not

Who is going to teach this class next year? – Brett will teach it

The Lion is going to eat the kudu

The zoo is going to buy another chimp A crocodile is not going to eat an

elephant A cat is going to climb a tree

/gǝnǝ/

AGREEMENT DISAGREEMENT

A: I can speak French B: I can too/So can I

A: I can’t speak German

B: I can’t either/Neither can I

A: I can speak English

B: I can’t

I can’t speak Awajun B: I can

Talk to a friend and explain to him what an animal you know can do Háblale a un amigo(a) y explícale lo que un animal que tú conoces puede hacer

Fred: Hey Inspector, Do you know what aT-Rex can do?Inspector Gadget: Nope, but I’m sure you know,and you’ll tell me.Fred: Okay. A T-Rex can run fast. It can kill almostany other animal around. A T-Rex can run longdistances too. It can’t survive lack of food, and itcan’t survive meteorites either. A T-Rex can eat meat, but it can’t eat vegetables.inspector Gadget: Thanks! This is very instructive. Hey,I’m going to go to the zoo next weekend. You want to come?Fred: Sure.

Vocabulary:Fast = rápidoAlmost any other animal around = casicualquier otro animal alrededorLong distances = largas distanciasSurvive = sobrevivirLack of food = falta de alimentosMeteorites = meteoritosVery instructive = muy instructivo

Discuss what an animal you know can do:/ Conversen sobre lo que un animal que conoces puede hacer:

You: Hey, Do you know what a dog can do?Your friend: Not really, tell me…You: Ok. A dog can…