Scrigroup - Documente si articole

Username / Parola inexistente      

Home Documente Upload Resurse Alte limbi doc  
BulgaraCeha slovacaCroataEnglezaEstonaFinlandezaFranceza
GermanaItalianaLetonaLituanianaMaghiaraOlandezaPoloneza
SarbaSlovenaSpaniolaSuedezaTurcaUcraineana

AdministrationAnimalsArtBiologyBooksBotanicsBusinessCars
ChemistryComputersComunicationsConstructionEcologyEconomyEducationElectronics
EngineeringEntertainmentFinancialFishingGamesGeographyGrammarHealth
HistoryHuman-resourcesLegislationLiteratureManagementsManualsMarketingMathematic
MedicinesMovieMusicNutritionPersonalitiesPhysicPoliticalPsychology
RecipesSociologySoftwareSportsTechnicalTourismVarious

MODAL VERBS Characteristics

grammar



+ Font mai mare | - Font mai mic



MODAL VERBS

Characteristics:

-they are defective verbs (some of their forms are missing)



-in all persons they have the same forms e.g. I can swim He can swim.

-the negative is formed by putting not after the modal and the interrogative by inverting subject and modal verb e.g. He must not do that./ May he come?

-they are followed by the infinitive in any of its forms e.g. You shouldnt laugh at his mistakes We must have taken a wrong turning.

CAN/ COULD

Ability (physical, mental, moral)

a)      in the present:

e.g. I can swim.

I can speak German.

b)      in the past:

-permanent ability in the past

e.g. I could read when I was ten.

-unfulfilled ability in the past (can/could + perfect infinitive)

e.g. Why didnt you ask me? I could have helped you. / You could have stopped the train.

Possibility (objective)

e.g. Dont light a match here. It can cause an explosion.

Impossibility

a)      of a present event (cant/couldnt + be (+ -ing))

e.g. You cant be hungry. Youve just had dinner.

She cant be typing a letter at the moment. She cant type.

b)      of a past event (cant/couldnt + perfect infinitive)

e.g. He couldnt have heard the news on the radio because he was sleeping then.

Permission (informal) e.g. You can borrow my pen.

The students couldnt use the front door.

Can/ could I take your bike?

MAY/ MIGHT

Possibility

a)      in the present/ future

e.g. He may be on the next bus.

He might not know that we are waiting for him. (more remote possibility)

b)      in the past (may/might + perfect infinitive)

e.g. The dog isnt here. Dan may have taken it with him.

His letter might have given them the idea.

Permission (formal) e.g. May I borrow your pen?

Might I open the box?

Reproach e.g. You may help me with the washing-up.

You might have warned us that the bull was dangerous.

Mild, casual command e.g. You might post these letters for me.

MUST

Obligation

a)      imposed by the speaker e.g. You must be back by ten oclock.

b)      deriving from rules, regulations e.g. Passengers must cross the lines by the footbridge.

Logical necessity e.g. One must eat to live.

You must have left your bag at the theatre. (must + perfect inf.)

Probability e.g. You must be hungry after that long walk.

She must be sleeping, thats why she doesnt answer the phone.

Prohibition e.g. You mustnt phone after 10.30 p.m.

You mustnt park here.

4. HAVE TO

Obligation

a)      internal e.g. I have to visit my grandma.

b)      habitual e.g. Every morning I have to take the children to the kindergarten.

Need

-as modal verb mainly in negative and interrogative sentences

e.g. Need you go soon?

You neednt come if you dont feel like it. (= it is not necessary)

You neednt leave yet theres a lot of time.

-as a modal verb in affirmative sentences with hardly/scarcely/barely

e.g. I need hardly tell you how happy I was with your letter.

Neednt + perfect infinitive = to refer to something which took place in the past but it wasnt necessary

e.g. You neednt have watered the plants in the garden. Its going to rain.

SHALL

The speakers volition (with second and third person subjects)

e.g. You shall stay with us as long as you like.

You shall obey my orders.

Intention

e.g. We shall celebrate this very night.

Order (in official language) e.g. Each competitor shall wear a number.

Offer/ Suggestion e.g. Shall I help you?

Shall we see a film tonight?

What shall I do now?

SHOULD/ OUGHT TO

Advice/ recommendation

e.g. You should/ ought to stop smoking, it is bad for your health.

You should be more careful!

Disapproval/reproach

e.g. You shouldnt/ oughtnt to use such dirty language.

You should/ ought to have attended the meeting.

Surprise/ exclamation

e.g. Who should I meet but Lucy!

Who should come in but his former girl friend!

8. WILL

Predictability

a)      concerning a future state of affairs e.g. It will rain during the night.

b)      concerning a present state of affairs e.g. The bell is ringing. That will be the postman.

c)      regarding a habitual state of affairs (typical or characteristic behaviour) e.g. A dog will obey his master.

Volition

a)      willingness (weak volition) e.g. I will marry her tomorrow if she will have me.

b)      insistence (strong volition) e.g. I will go dancing, and no one shall stop me.

He wont listen to me.

c)      intention (intermediate volition) e.g. The phone is ringing. Ill get it.

Offer/request/order

e.g. Will you come to dinner tomorrow?

Will you show me the way, please?

You will stay here until I come back.

WOULD

Predictability

e.g. The weather experts said it would rain during the night.

This would be the house where the writer spent his childhood.

In spring birds would return to their nests.

Volition

e.g. If you would wait here, Id see if Mr. Brown is here.

Less hopeful wish

e.g. If only he would stop smoking now!

Polite request

e.g. Would you fetch me a chair please?

10. USED TO

Repeated action or permanent state in the past

e.g. I used to play cards. (= I dont play cards any more.)

I used to be afraid of dogs. (= I am no longer afraid of them.)

DARE

as modal verb) in interrogative and negative sentences as well as in statements expressing uncertainty

e.g. She dare not go to the hole.

How dare you open my letters?

Dare you tell her the truth? I darent.

Exercises

1. Make comments on these situations using can or cant + infinitive.

e.g. Paul studied English for six years. He can speak it well.

Jenny never practises the violin. She cant play well.

a)      Victor takes part in international skiing competitions.

b)      Diana is a member of the school choir.

c)      Vera has no ear for music. She isnt in the school choir.

d)      Adrian is on the ski slope. He is falling down all the time.

e)      George plays football. He is a member of the national football team.

f)       Victoria studied German for one year at school.

g)      Alice has difficulties with English spelling.

2. Make a statement about your ability to perform some activity on the following occasions in the past. Use could.

e.g. When I was one year old

When I was one year old, I could (already) stand/walk/speak.

a)      When I was two years old

b)      When I started primary school

c)      When I finished my first course in English

d)      When I first went to the seaside

e)      Ten years ago

f)       Before I finished ten-year school

Rephrase these sentences by using was/were able to for an individual action that was successfully performed in the past.

e.g. When he got a ladder, he managed to reach the book he wanted.

When he got the ladder, he was able to reach the book he wanted.

a)      The mountainer was very tired but he managed to get to the top before he collapsed.

b)      I queued for hours but at last I managed to get a ticket for the opening night.

c)      After several hours work, they finally managed to discover the cause of the accident.

d)      He worked in his laboratory for a long time until he eventually succeeded in finding the cure for the disease.

e)      After a whole morning spent in the library, Mr. Brown finally succeeded in finding the book he needed.

f)       The piano was heavy, but the workmen managed to move it by pushing together.

Here are some statements about things that didnt happen. Say what could have happened. (could + perfect infinitive)

e.g. Teacher: You didnt solve the problems, Nick.

Teacher: You could have solved all the problems.

a)      You didnt write a very good composition.

b)      You didnt attend all the lessons.

c)      You didnt read the book.

d)      You didnt finish the test.

e)      You didnt win the English competition.

f)       You didnt do your homework.

Ask for permission to the something in the following situations.

e.g. It is hot in the room. Can I open the window?

a)      It is dark in the room.

b)      You want to listen to the radio.

c)      You are hungry.

d)      You are thirsty.

e)      You want to sit at the head of the table.

f)       You want to have another piece of cake.

g)      You want to go out and play.

Respond to the following by using may + present infinitive to show possibility of something happening in the future.

e.g. Where are you going to spend your holiday? I may go to the coast/mountains.

a)      What are you going to do tonight?

b)      You are going shopping now. What are you going to buy?

c)      Your English teacher has asked you to write a composition. What are you going to write about?

d)      You have decided to have a pet. What kind of pet are you going to get?

e)      Where are you going to spend your winter holiday?

f)       What would you like to do after you finish university.

Change these sentences from a construction using perhaps to one using may.

e.g. Perhaps they know the truth. They may know the truth.

Perhaps they are reading in the library. They may be reading in the library.

Perhaps he has not sold his bicycle. He may not have solved his bicycle.

a)      Perhaps Alice knows the answer.

b)      Perhaps grandfather is working in the garden.

c)      Perhaps he didnt hear the telephone ring.

d)      Perhaps the phone is out-of-order and he doesnt know.

e)      Perhaps he has sold the house.

f)       Perhaps he hasnt received our letter.

g)      Perhaps you are wondering why I am calling on you.

h)      Perhaps you thought I would phone you.

i)        Perhaps you didnt realize that I wanted to see you.

Express a less likely possibility in the past using might + perfect infinitive.

e.g. I dont know whether John drove to London or not. He might have driven to London.

a)      I dont know whether John flew to London or not.

b)      I dont know whether he wrote the letter or not.

c)      I dont know whether he arrived in time or not.

d)      I dont know whether he contacted his partners or not.

e)      I dont know whether he signed the contract or not.

Express the possibility that the action was going on at a certain time in the past using the construction may/might + perfect infinitive (continuous aspect)

e.g. Mr. Grant was very worried. Im not sure. (think about his sick mother)

He might have been thinking about his sick mother.

a)      Mr. Grant didnt answer the bell. I know he was at home. (take a bath)

b)      Mr. Grant didnt hear the phone ring. (listen to the radio)

c)      Mr. Grant wasnt around when his wife wanted him to mend the washing machine. (work in the garden)

d)      Mr. Grant wasnt in his boat when I looked for him. (swim)

e)      Mr. Grant passed by without saying hello. (think about something)

Make polite requests using could or might.

e.g. I want to consult the telephone directory. Could/might I consult it?

a)      Will you allow me to leave my bicycle here?

b)      Do you mind if I interrupt?

c)      Let me tell you what I think.

d)      Will you let me see your paper?

e)      I want to borrow your pen.

Express reproach using might + perfect infinitive.

e.g. You didnt write to tell me you were coming.

You might have written to tell me you were coming.

a)      You didnt phone to ask me to come to the station.

b)      You didnt say goodbye to your friend when you left.

c)      Why didnt you let me know you couldnt come to my birthday party?

d)      Why didnt you show more interest in the discussion?

e)      Why didnt you say anything?

f)       Why didnt you raise the problem at the meeting?

g)      Why didnt you mention it yesterday?

Answer the questions below. Use must to express an obligation imposed by the speaker.

e.g. Cant I do my work after the visitors leave?

No, you must do it at once.



a)      Cant I wash the dishes later on?

b)      Cant Tom take his medicine at bedtime?

c)      Cant we go to our room a bit later?

d)      Cant Alice iron her dress tomorrow?

e)      Cant we eat after the film?

What do you say to the other person in these situations? Use neednt for absence of obligation and mustnt for regulations, orders.

e.g. Someone is shouting at you but you are not deaf.

You neednt shout. (I can hear you well.)

You are in a petrol station. Someone is smoking.

You mustnt smoke here. (You can cause an explosion.)

a)      You are talking to a little boy. He is playing with some matches.

b)      You are at the zoo. Someone wants to feed the monkeys.

c)      Your father is willing to drive you somewhere. You want to walk.

d)      Your father is going to park his car where there is a sign saying No parking.

e)      Victor is in the babys room. He is going to light a cigarette.

f)       Your friend is willing to wait for you but it is not necessary.

g)      Your mother wants to help you with your homework. You can do it without help.

Respond to the statements below using have to in order to indicate habitual obligation.

e.g. The children must go to school today. They always have to go to school.

a)      They must start at 9 today.

b)      You must pay for yourself tonight.

c)      Weve got to help our neighbours this week.

d)      Ive got to leave early today.

e)      I must get up early tomorrow.

Ask questions if the person or persons concerned need do the things, expecting a negative reply, and give a negative reply.

e.g. Tom is going to climb the apple tree. There are a lot of apples in a basket.

Need he climb the apple tree? No, he neednt.

a)      Lucy is going to telephone Lily. Lily is expecting her.

b)      Dan is going to eat rice. He doesnt like rice.

c)      Susan is going to invite Julia to the party, although she doesnt like her.

d)      Barbara is going to wear an evening dress. All the other girls are wearing casual dresses.

e)      George is standing. There are enough chairs for everybody.

f)       The boys are going to finish the exercise. They can finish it tomorrow, if they like.

g)      Mother is going to wash the dishes. Ann can wash them later.

Use the past tense equivalent of must = had to.

e.g. carry luggage They had to carry their luggage.

a)      chop firewood

b)      fetch water

c)      clean rooms

d)      wash clothes

Ask and answer questions about the things Monica had to do at the airport yesterday.

e.g. Where did she have to go? She had to go to the check-in desk.

a)      Show the ticket and hand over the baggage.

b)      Go through the passport control and formalities.

c)      Wait for the flight call in the departure lounge.

d)      Go to the flight-gate and board the aircraft.

Fill in the blanks with neednt + perfect infinitive form of the verbs in brackets referring to something which took place in the past but was unnecessary.

e.g. You ------ (wash) my cardigan. It was clean.

You neednt have washed my cardigan. It was clean.

a)      I ------ (return) home early. My parents didnt expect me.

b)      She could hear you. You ------ (shout)

c)      She ------ (knock) at the door. I saw her through the window.

d)      The tyres were O.K. You ------ (pump) them.

e)      I ------ (look) for my pen. It was in my pocket.

f)       Mother ------ (call) the doctor. Monica was all right.

g)      The floor was clean. You ------ (polish) it.

Rephrase the following using will.

e.g. I am sure this is the house where Byron lived.

This will be the house where Byron lived.

a)      I am certain you remember I spoke to you about it last week.

b)      I am positive these are the books Byron wrote.

c)      I am sure you are familiar with his poems.

d)      I am sure this shop sells souvenirs.

Will may be used to refer to a typical or characteristic pattern of behaviour or of events. Change the following using will.

e.g. It is her habit to talk for hours about clothes and films.

She will talk about clothes and films.

a)      It is her habit to get up at dawn.

b)      Frequently she goes to market first thing in the morning.

c)      It is her habit to argue about prices with the farmers.

d)      It is her habit to take the children to the kindergarten.

Rephrase the following using will for orders, commands.

e.g. I want you to do as I say.

You will do as I say.

a)      I want you to be here at 8 oclock in the morning.

b)      I want you to bring your own food.

c)      I want you to tell your parents well be back at 6 in the evening.

d)      I want you to sign here.

e)      I want you to keep quiet.

f)       I dont want you to tell the other children about our project.

Make polite requests with will to get the following responses.

a)      Mother: ------

Son: Of course. Shall I fetch your grey coat or brown one.

b)      Teacher: ------

Student: Yes. Do you want to see my history book or English book?

c)      Girl: ------

Sister: Of course. I would love to make you a new dress.

d)      Policeman: ------

Driver: Certainly. Here is my driving licence.

e)      Husband: ------

Wife: Certainly. Would you prefer sherry or gin?

f)       Customer: ------

Waiter: Certainly, sir. With sugar or without sugar?

Make more polite requests with would.

a)      fill in this form

b)      sign your name here

c)      write your address

d)      give me a receipt

e)      take a message

f)       post this letter for me

g)      tell him I phoned

Rephrase the following using shall to express insistence, threats or regulations.

e.g. I insist that you obey my orders.

You shall obey my orders.

a)      I assure you, you will pay for this.

b)      I will make sure that you live to regret this act!

c)      He will curse the day he made this decision Ill see to that!

d)      I insist that you do as I say.

e)      All competitors are obliged to wear tracksuits.

f)       Candidates are to show their identity cards at the entrance.

g)      No story must exceed 3000 words.

Make suggestions beginning with Shall I/ Shall we? in response to these statements.

e.g. Im not feeling at all well today.

Shall I call a doctor?

a)      A new couple have moved in next door.

b)      I hear it is difficult to get tickets for the concert.

c)      I dont want to stay in town this weekend.

d)      I dont know your address.

e)      I hear there is a good film on TV.

What offers would you make in response to these situations?

e.g. Youre staying with a friend and youve just cleared the table after a meal.

Shall I help you with the washing-up?

a)      A little boy is trying to open the window in a train compartment but he cant.

b)      An old lady is going up the stairs She is carrying two heavy bags.

c)      You see somebody standing helplessly beside his car, which has broken down.

d)      Youre visiting a friend and while shes busy in the kitchen, the bell rings.

e)      An old man is standing by the traffic lights. There is a lot of traffic in the street.

Give advice with should in case of a summer storm.

Outside: a) stay out of water

b) stay away from metal fences

c)keep on walking

d) sit in a closed car

Inside: a) touch wires

b) touch metal things

c) avoid open doorways

d)stand near the window

What advice would you give to people in these situations? Use should (shouldnt) + continuous infinitive.

e.g. Simon has stomachache. He is eating a green apple.

You shouldnt be eating green apples.

You should be eating stewed fruit.

a)      Daniel has got a test in physics tomorrow. He is reading a novel.

b)      It is raining. Julia is carrying her raincoat in a bag.

c)      Its late in the evening. Grandfather is watching TV. He is very tired.

d)      Peter has got a cold. He is swimming in the lake.

Monica indicates an action which has not been done. David asks if it should have been done.

e.g. Monica: You didnt shave this morning.

David: Should I have shaved.

a)      You werent here at 8 oclock.

b)      You didnt phone me yesterday afternoon.

c)      Paula didnt write to us last week.

d)      Susan didnt get in touch with us.

Give advice with ought to to a friend who is going on holiday to Germany.

e.g. take some elegant clothes

You ought to take some elegant clothes.

a)      go sightseeing

b)      visit museums and art galleries

c)      climb on the Alps

d)      see Neuschwanstein castle

e)      visit the markets

f)       try the local food

g)      buy some souvenirs

h)      send postcards to your friends

Respond to the following statements expressing criticism of some past situations. Use ought to + perfect infinitive.

e.g. I saw the film Competition last night.

You ought to have seen it long ago.

a)      Mr. Barton cleaned his car last night.

b)      The men repaired the refrigerator this morning.

c)      They finished their work at noon.

d)      George read that book last month.

e)      He wrote the letter on Tuesday.

f)       They sold their car last year.

Use should in these sentences to express logical necessity.

e.g. It is cold and cloudy. (rain/soon)

It should rain soon.

a)      Dont worry about Patricia. (be back/soon)

b)      Both teams are unbeaten. (game/exciting)

c)      The mechanic has just repaired the engine. (run/perfectly)

d)      Professor Barton has a lecture at 10 a.m. and it is 9.30 now. (arrive/soon)

Make questions with dare.

e.g. a tight rope

Dare you walk on a tight rope?

a)      a mountain

b)      out of the window

c)      a bull

d)      from a plane

e)      into a lions cage

f)       in the woods at night

Make sentences with darent.

e.g. out with boys

She darent go out with boys.

a)      dancing

b)      make-up

c)      home late

d)      to strangers

e)      cigarettes

f)       bad language

(Adapted from Georgina Galateanu-Farnoaga: Sinteze de gramatica engleza)

Express advice to the following situations.

a)      Somebody has fainted in the room.

b)      Your friend is reading in the dark.

c)      You have twisted your ankle.

d)      You have got a black eye.

e)      Your friends throw litter on the streets.

f)       You have got a bad cold.

g)      You cycle without lights.

Complete the conversation with the correct form of used to and the verbs in brackets.

A: I (collect) ------ stamps when I was young. (you/collect) ------ anything?

B: Nothing, but I (save) ------ silver paper.

A: Really? What (you/do) ------ with it?

B: We (roll) ------ it into balls and sell them but we (not/make) ------ much money.

(Adapted from Snapshot Intermediate)





Politica de confidentialitate | Termeni si conditii de utilizare



DISTRIBUIE DOCUMENTUL

Comentarii


Vizualizari: 1487
Importanta: rank

Comenteaza documentul:

Te rugam sa te autentifici sau sa iti faci cont pentru a putea comenta

Creaza cont nou

Termeni si conditii de utilizare | Contact
© SCRIGROUP 2024 . All rights reserved