2020-03-02 Grammar: social uses of modals

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - Notes from all classes
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p. 67 exercise 1 - Fix the mistakes (there is at least one for each number)
1 Victor doesn’t have to do his homework.
2 Is Victor able to speak Spanish at home? / Can Victor speak…?
3 Yes, he can.
4 Where is he allowed to speak Spanish?
5 Why can’t he speak Spanish at school?
6 Should Victor speak Spanish at school?
7 Should Victor speak Spanish at school? (“ought to” and “had better” aren’t used in questions)
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 not Spanish?
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Modal Verbs: can/could, shall/should, may/might, will/would, must, ought to, had better
	- Modals don’t change for he/she/it, and aren’t used in all tenses
	- Modals cannot go after another verb (this means there can be only one modal in a verb phrase)
	- Modals are followed by the base form of the main verb
Similar Expressions: have to, have got to, used to, be able to, be going to, be allowed to, be supposed to
	- These have similar meanings to modal verbs
	- They change for he/she/it and can be in multiple tenses
	- They can go after another verb (so you can have more than one in a verb phrase)
	- These are also followed by the base form (But notice all of them include “to”)
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WRONG: I might could help you. (“could” can’t go after another verb)
RIGHT: I might be able to help you. (“be able to” can go after another verb, so there’s no problem now)
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You’re going to have to be able to remember this.
negative: “you’re not going…”
question: “are you going…”
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p. 68-70 gives examples and explanations of some of the social uses of modals
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p. 71 exercise 2 - examples of each use
requests: Could you lend me your pencil?
	I make the request, you do the action (that I want you to do).
permission: May I go to the restroom? You can leave now if you want to.
	I give permission, you do the action (that you probably want to do).
invitations: Would you like to come to the party?
	I make the invitation, you do the action (that you might want to do).
offers: Can I help you? Would you like some help? I can help you.
	I make the offer, I might do the action (if you want).
promises/intentions: I won’t let you down. I will do it tomorrow.
	I make the promise, I do the action (you don’t say anything).
suggestions: You could take a bus. You might want to call the doctor.
	I make the suggestion, you may or may not do the action (it’s just one option).
advice: You should take the train. You ought to call the doctor. You’d better do your homework.
	I make the suggestion, you probably do the action (it’s the best option).
obligation/necessity: You have to buy your ticket first. You must pay now.
	I state the obligation, you have to do the action (it’s the only option).
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Homework (to start in class): identify the uses/functions for the sentences on p. 71.
example: 1 - permission