Using Modals

Week 4

Possibilities

Working with the person sitting next to you, answer the following questions. Remember to use full sentences!» What might you buy if you had more money?» What are some things your parents told you

when you were young that might not be true?» Could China become the dominant superpower

in the world?

Modals

» In your answers, you most likely used modals. » What are modals?

Modals

» Modals are a type of helping or auxiliary verb. » They can be moved to form a question.

» She should do her homework tonight.Should she do her homework tonight?

» Where’s the main verb?» It’s “do”

Can and could

» Can is used to say that something is possible or that someone has the ability to do something.

» Can you swim?» How many languages can you speak?

» Could is often the past tense of can.» My grandfather couldn’t swim.» I could see the sea from the top of the mountain. » Can = be able to

Could & Could have

Imagine a dialog:» What should we do this evening?» We could go to the movies.

» It is not definite, just a possibility.

» If we want to talk about possibilities in the past, use “could have”.

Could & Could have

» Present: We could go to the movies.» Past: We could have gone to the movies, but we

decided to take a walk instead.

» Sam fell off his bike yesterday. He got hurt, but it could have been a lot worse.

» These express some kind of past possibility.

Must & Can’t

» Why do must and can’t go together?» We use these two words when we are certain

about something.

» You’ve been playing basketball all day. You must be tired.

» You just ate lunch. You can’t be hungry again.

Must & Can’t

More examples with have + pp:» Didn’t you hear the phone ring? » No, I must have been asleep.

» Sally walked past me without saying hello. » She can’t have seen you. Or» She couldn’t have seen you

May & Might

» May and might are in some cases interchangeable.

» They are used to express some possibility.

» It may rain, so take your umbrella. » I might get over 90% on my grammar test if I

study hard enough.

May & Might

» You can use the phrase “might as well” certain situations.

» Since you will know the secret sooner or later, I might as well tell you now.

» Since you have to wait, you might as well sit down and relax.

Must and have to

» “Must” and “have to” are used when something is necessary.

» I must go./I have to go.» “Have to” is generally more common.» Sometimes, must is more personal and have to is

impersonal:» I must get up early because I am so busy

tomorrow.» I have to get up early because my flight leaves at

7:00.

Mustn’t and don’t have to

» These are negative forms.» Examples:» You mustn’t tell anyone my secret. » You don’t have to arrive early.

» In the first case you should definitely not tell anyone.

» In the second, you could arrive early but it is not important to do so.

Needn’t

» Needn’t = need not» It is similar in meaning to “don’t have to” or

don’t need to”» Examples:» We needn’t hurry because the show will not

start on time. » We needn’t have hurried because the show did

not start on time anyway.» Note: Americans don’t often use needn’t!

Should

» Should is used when talking about a good thing to do or the right thing to do.

» What are some things you should do?

» Ought to can be used instead of should.

Should (unit 34)

» Here are some more ways to use should. » Note: some of these examples are from UK

English. » “They insisted that we should have dinner with

them.”» “Jane suggested that I should buy a car.”» “It’s typical that he should forget to bring the

snacks.”

Had better

» “Had better” is used to say that something is advisable. If we don’t do it, there will be a problem.

» I’d better do the dishes or they will start to get moldy.

» We’d better leave now or we’ll never catch the bus.

» Had better is used more to say that there will be some sort of problem is something does not happen. In this way, it is different than should.

It’s time…

» Examples using “it’s time”:

» It’s time to go home. » It’s time we went home. (this is not talking

about the past, it is talking about a possibility)

» It’s high time people stopped littering and started throwing their garbage away correctly.

» The phases “it’s high time” or “it’s about time” are used to show emphasis.

Making requests

» Imagine you want someone to lend you some money. You have to ask politely. How do you ask them?

» Most likely, you use a modal. For example, you might say, “Could you lend me 50 RMB?” “Do you think you could lend me 50 RMB?”

Can/Could/Would you…?

» Modals are used to:» Make requests» Ask for things: Could I have that pen please?» Ask for/give permission: Could I borrow your

phone for a moment?» Offer to do things: Can I get you something to

drink?» Offer something: Would you like a cup of

coffee?

Correct or incorrect?

» May you give me another pen? (a situation when someone is asking for a pen)

» Incorrect

Correct or incorrect?

» You must call me when you get home.

» Correct!

Correct or incorrect?

» It’s typical that she should show up late.

» Correct!

Correct or incorrect?

» You don’t have to stay after class. (it is required that you don’t stay after class)

» Incorrect

Correct or incorrect?

» Will you lend me 100$?

» Incorrect (if you are asking someone to do so something)

Homework

» Study Units 26-36 (on modals)» Do Quia Quiz: link will be posted on the website» www.quia.com/quiz/4065123.html

» Do pages 57 & 69