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Modal Verbs. Introduction to Simple and Perfect Modal Verbs. Intermediate level. Ability : CAN / BE ABLE / CAN’T /COULD. In the present : “I can drive” / “I can’t speak German ”. In any tense: “I have been able to open the tin ” In the past :
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Modal Verbs Introduction to Simple and Perfect Modal Verbs. Intermediate level.
Ability:CAN / BE ABLE / CAN’T /COULD • In thepresent: • “I can drive” / “I can’tspeakGerman”. • In any tense: • “I havebeenableto open thetin” • In thepast: • “I couldride a bikeforhourswhen I wasyounger”
Request – ask & give permission: CAN /WOULD/ COULD / MAY • Informal request • Can you pass me the sugar, please? • Formal request • Would you send me the documents by email? • Polite request • Excuse me, Could you tell me the way to the post office, please? • Polite request • May I have the menu, please? • Give permission: • You can go out if you want. • You may leave the class when the bell rings.
Possibility: CAN/COULD/MAY/MIGHT • Probable: • I think we can easily find an agreement • Less probable: • I am not sure but we could meet one of these days • They say it may snow in Seville next weekend • Even less probable: • Who knows? She might like your idea
Offer – Suggestion:SHALL / WOULD / COULD /CAN • Offer: • I shall do the activity on the board • Would you like a cup of coffee? • Suggestion: • Shall we go to the cinema? • You can drink some water if you’re thirsty • Polite suggestion: • You could try and stop smoking
Obligation-Prohibition:MUST / HAVE TO / MUSTN’T • Obligation: • You must come to class on weekdays. • I have to study hard to pass this term. • Prohibition: • Students mustn’t bring mobile phones to school
Necessity-lack of obligation/necessity:NEED TO/ NEEDN’T/DON’T HAVE TO • Necessity: • I need to understand what’s happening to us. • Lack of necessity: • You needn’t give anything in return. • You don’t need to be so nasty • Lack of obligation: • You don’t have to pay for that, it’s free
Inference:MUST / CAN’T • Positive certainty that something is true: • She must be living in this neighbourhood because I see her everyday at the baker’s. • Negative conclusion or disbelief: • Look! That’s Mary’s car! –No, It can’t be her car, she has recently left the city.
Advice:SHOULD/ OUGHT TO / HAD BETTER • Advice, opinion: • They should pay more attention to the explanations • You ought to reconsider your decision • Colloquial speaking: • You’d better go to the dentist if that toothache continues. • Warnings: • You’d better not touch my Wii.
Modal Perfect • Inference for the Past: • He must have left because the lights are off • Guess about a past action: • He may/might have taken the tube if he missed the bus • Regret about something undone in the past: • He could have said he was sorry • I would have done it if I had had the chance • Criticism after an event: • You should/ought to have woken me up earlier • An unnecessary past action: • You needn’t have bothered to bring anything for dinner