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Kultur Dokumente
Versin: 02
Fecha: 30/09/2013
Cdigo: F004-P006GFPI
Modal Verbs:
Can, Could
Can, could and be able to are used to express a variety of ideas in
English:
Present and Future:
1. Tom can write poetry very well.
2. I can help you with that next week.
3. Lisa cant speak French.
Be Able To
1. Mike is able to solve complicated math equations
2. The support team will be able to help you in about ten minutes.
3. I wont be able to visit you next summer.
Past:
could / couldnt + base form of the verb
1. When I was a child I couldplay the guitar
Possibility / Impossibility
can / cant + base form of the verb
1. You can catch that train at 10:43.
2. He cant see you right now. Hes in surgery.
could + base form of the verb
1. I could fly via Amsterdam if I leave the day before.
Ask Permission / Give Permission
Can + Subject + base form of the verb (informal)
1. Can you lend me ten dollars?
Can + base form of the verb (informal)
1. You can borrow my car.
Could + subject + base form of the verb (polite)
1. Could I have your number?
2. Could I talk to your supervisor please?
Make a suggestion To make a suggestion use:
Could + base form of the verb (informal)
1. You could take the tour of the castle tomorrow.
Exercises: Can, Could, Be able to
Fill in the correct form of can, could or be able to as in the examples.
1. Ben could not help his little brother with his homework yesterday.
Polite Suggestion
might + base form of the verb
1. You might like to try the salmon fillet. Its our special today.
Exercises: May / Might
Fill in the correct form of may or might as in the example.
1. May I sit here?
1. They __MIGHT NOT____ finish the project on time. The main
engineer is ill.
2. You _MIGHT____ want to stop by the museum gift shop on your
way out.
3. __MAY___ I have your autograph?
4. He _MAY AS WELL______ visit the Louvre. Hes in Paris anyway.
5. You __MAY NOT____ park your car here. Its reserved for guests
of the hotel only.
Answers:
1. might not
2. might
3. May
4. may as well
5. may not
Shall, Should, Ought to
To Offer of Assistance or Polite Suggestion (When you are quite
sure of a positive answer)
Shall + subject + base form of the verb
1. Shall we go for a walk?
Note: Shall is only used with I or we. It is used instead of will only in
formal English.
To Offer of Assistance or Polite Suggestion (When you are not
sure of a positive answer)
Should + subject + base form of the verb
1. Should I call a doctor?
A Prediction or Expectation that Something Will Happen
should/shouldnt + base form of the verb
1. The proposal should be finished on time.
2. I shouldnt be late. The train usually arrives on time.
To Give Advice
should / ought to + base form of the verb
1. You should check that document before you send it out.
Lack of Necessity
dont /doesnt /didnt + have to + base form of the verb
1. You dont have to park the car. The hotel valet will do it for you.
2. Tim doesnt have to go to school today. Its a holiday.
neednt + base form of the verb
1. You neednt worry about me. Ill be fine.
Modals: Will / Would
will / wont + base form of the verb
1. John will pick you up at 7:00am.
2. Beth wont be happy with the results of the exam.
Polite Request or Statement
Will / Would + base form of the verb
1. Will you please take the trash out?
2. Would you mind if I sat here?
3. Id (I would) like to sign up for your workshop.
Habitual Past Action
Would/Wouldnt + base form of the verb
1. When I was a child, I would spend hours playing with my train
set.
2. Peter wouldnt eat broccoli when he was a kid. He loves it now.
The two links below contain videos about the explanation of this topic,
please watch them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaBH_huiJSM
https://prezi.com/lhgtsypo1jeo/modals-verbs/ Explaining modal verbs.
ACTIVITY
1. Look at the images (1-6) and rewrite each situation using modals.
Look at the example:
2. Look at the following charts and identify the way modal verbs are
used. Write examples in each case.
1) CAN
ability
permissio
n
request
offer
suggestio
n
YOUR EXAMPLES
I can speak English. I CAN WALK
Can I go to the cinema? CAN I GO
TO THE PARTY?
Can you wait a moment, please?
CAN YOU STOP THE CAR PLEASE?
I can lend you my car till
tomorrow. I CAN BORROW YOU
ONLY ONE THOUSAND PESOS.
Can we visit Grandma at the
weekend? CAN WE TRAVEL
TOGETHER?
possibility
2) COULD
Use
Ability in the past
permission to do
sth. in the past
polite question *
polite request *
polite offer *
polite suggestion *
possibility *
COULD EXAMPLES
I could speak English.
I COULD RUN SO
FAST
I could go to the
cinema. I COULD GO
TO THE PARTY
Could I go to the
cinema, please?
COULD I GO TO THE
PARTY?
Could you wait a
moment, please?
COULD YOU STOP
THE CAR PLEASE?
I could lend you my
car till tomorrow. I
COULD BORROW YOU
ONLY ONE THOUSAND
PESOS.
Could we visit
Grandma at the
weekend? COULD WE
TRAVEL TOGETHER?
It could get very hot
in Montana. IT COULD
BE INTERESTING
YOUR EXAMPLES
Examples
It may rain today. IT
MAY BE AN
INTERESTING TOPIC
May I go to the
cinema? MAY I GO TO
THE BATHROOM
PLEASE?
May I help you? MAY
YOU HELP ME?
YOUR EXAMPLES
3) MAY
Use
possibility
permission
polite suggestion
4) MIGHT
Use
possibility (less possible than
may) *
hesitant offer *
Examples
It might rain
today. IT MIGHT
SNOW IN NEW
YORK THIS
MORNING
Might I help
YOUR
EXAMPLES
you? MIGHT
YOU HELP ME?
5) MUST
Use
force, necessity
possibility
advice, recommendation
Examples
I must go to the supermarket today.
You must be tired.
You must see the new film with Brad
Pitt.
6) MUST NOT/
Use
prohibition
Examples
You mustn't work on dad's computer.
7) OUGHT TO
Use
advice
obligation
Examples
You ought to drive carefully in bad
weather.
You ought to switch off the light
when you leave the room.
9) SHALL : I/WE
Use
suggestion
Write your examples here
SHALL I BRING YOUR PET?
SHALL WE DINNER?
Examples
Shall I carry your bag?
Shall we go?
10) SHOULD
Use
advice
obligation
Examples
You should drive carefully in bad
weather.
You should switch off the light when
you leave the room.
Examples
Will you please shut the door?
question
He has written a
letter.
THEY HAVE
STOPED
WE HAVE DANCE
HE HASNT WRITTEN A
LETTER
They have not stopped.
HAS HE WRITTEN A
LETTER?
HAVE THEY STOPED
WE HAVENT DANCE
Have we danced?
ACTIVITY
2. Change
the
following
sentences
into the
negative.
Pay
attention to
ALREADY
and YET.
Use the
short forms
of verbs
JUST
e) The teacher has already given the results of the last exam. __THE
TEACHER HASNT GIVEN THE RESULT OF THE EXAM YET_
3 Change the following sentences into yes/no questions. Pay
attention to ALREADY and YET.
a) My sister has already arrived home. _HAS MY SISTER ARRIVED HOME
YET? _.
b) Our neighbours have already cut the old tree __HAVE OUR
NEIGHBOURS CUT THE OLD TREE YET? _.
c) Alex has already finished his dinner. __HAS ALEX FINISHED HIS DINNER
YET?
d) My parents have already decided to buy a new car. _HAVE MY
PARENTS DECIDED TO BUY A NEW CAR YET?_.
4 Change the following sentences into the positive. Pay
attention to ALREADY and YET! Use the short forms of verbs
(haven't/hasn't)
f) I haven`t bought all my Christmas presents yet. _I HAVE ALREADY
BOUGHT ALL MY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS__.
g) We haven`t washed the dishes yet. _WE HAVE ALREADY WASHED THE
DISHES_.
h) My cousin hasn`t travelled to New York yet. __MY COUSIN HAS
ALREADY TRAVELED TO NEW YORK_.
i) Jane and Sara haven`t seen that film yet. __JANE AND SARA HAVE
ALREADY SEEN THAT FILM __.
j) She hasn`t sent all the postcards yet. __SHE HAS ALREADY SENT ALL
THE POSTCARDS _.
5 Complete the sentences.
a) The baker _HAS ALREADY BAKED__ (already/bake) a lot of cakes,
butter rolls and bread. In fact, he __HAS JUST MADE_ (just/make) a
delicious apple pie.
b) My car broke down yesterday and I took it to the garage. I_HAVE JUST
BEEN_ (just/be) there, but they _HAVENT REPAIRED_ (not/repair) it _YET_.
c) The taylor___HASNT FINISHED __ (not/finish) the suit__YET___.
d) The pirates _HAVE ALREADY FOUND____ (already/find) the treasure
map, but they __HAVENT FOUND __ (not/find) the treasure___YET___.
6 Fill in all the gaps with the correct sentence. Remember to
include the adverbs in it.
1. he / meet / his friend. (just)_HE HAS JUST MET HIS FRIEND___
2. you / not drink / your glass of Coke. (yet)___YOU HAVENT DRUNK YOUR
GLASS OF COKE YET____
3. I / make / my bed. (already)___I HAVE ALREADY MADE MY BED__
4. We / not arrive. (yet) We / leave / the motorway. (just)__WE HAVENT
ARRIVED YET__
__WE HAVE JUST LEFT THE MOTORWAY ___
5. The director / talk / to him. (already)__THE DIRECTOS HAS ALREADY
TALKED TO HIM_
6. I / write / the e-mail you asked me. (just)_I HAVE JUST WRITTEN THE EMAIL YOU ASKED ME ___
7. She / not buy / the flat. (yet) But she wants to buy it soon
_SHE HASNT BOUGHT THE FLAT YET BUT SHE WANTS TO BUY IT
SOON____
8. He / be / really lucky. (just) He / win / the lottery. (just) __HE HAS JUS
BEEN REALLY LUCKY. HE HAS JUST WON THE LOTTERY