2017-09-05 Grammar: modals

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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Modal Verbs and Similar Expressions
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modals: must, can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might, ought to, had better
similar expressions: have to, be able to, be allowed to, be supposed to, be going to
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“true modals” have a few special features:
- They don’t change for he/she/it subjects. (NOT “he cans”)
- The modal must be the first word in a verb phrase. (NOT “doesn’t can”)
- They are always followed by the base form of the verb. (“can do”, NOT “can does”)
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Handout p. 67 exercise 1 - Correct the mistakes in these sentences.
1 Victor doesn’t have to do his homework.
2 Is Victor able to speak Spanish at home? / Can Victor speak Spanish at home?
3 Yes, he can. / Yes, he can speak Spanish.
4 Where is he allowed to speak Spanish?
5 Why can’t he speak Spanish at school?
6 Should Victor speak Spanish?
7 Does Victor have to speak English at school? / Should Victor speak English at school?
8 Did Victor use to speak Spanish?
9 Is Victor allowed to speak Spanish in school? No, he isn’t.
10 Why should he speak English in school? Why shouldn’t he speak Spanish?
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Social functions of modals:
permission - May I speak Spanish? Is Victor allowed to speak Spanish at school?
request - Can you give me a pen? Could you help me?
invitation - Could you come to my party? Would you like to have coffee some time?
offer - I’ll pay for dinner. I can help you with that. Can I help you with that? Shall I help with that?
promise - I’ll pay you back if you lend me this money.
suggestion - You could go to a movie. We can take a taxi.
advice/recommendation - You should take a taxi.
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Homework: p. 71 exercise 2 - which social function is expressed in each sentence? Write the word next to the sentence.