2018-06-27 Grammar: predictions and inferences

Greg Malivuk
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http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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Homework: figure this out:
	A man lives on the fortieth floor of a very tall building. Every morning he takes the elevator down to the lobby on the first floor. In the evening, if he’s alone in the elevator and it was a sunny day, he takes the elevator to the twentieth floor and has to walk the rest of the way. If it was raining, or if there’s another person in the elevator, he takes it to the fortieth floor.
Why?
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Modals for Predictions and Inference
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One key difference is that we use “will” and “won’t” for future predictions, and “must” and “must not” for present and past (with “have”) inference.
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The other modals are the same:
We should be able to finish this by tomorrow. - prediction
He should be home by now. - inference
It may rain tomorrow. - prediction
She may be sick today. - inference
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p. 259 exercise 2 - Use the modals from p. 259 to tell your partner how likely it is that you’ll be doing these things on Saturday evening.
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We may die. - You’re taking a risk and you realize it’s more dangerous than you thought.
We may not die. - You thought you were going to die, and now realize maybe you’ll live.
Andy’s friend Paul might want to buy it.
Andy might not sell the car to Paul.
- When we talk about possibilities, we say the sentence that gives new or unexpected information.
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Who will win the World Cup? How sure are you?
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p. 261 - Inference and speculation about the present.
The verbs we use for this are the same verbs we use for advice and obligation.

You must pay before you get on the train. = This is the only choice you have.
You must be very tired after that run. = This is the only believable possibility.
You should study every day. = This is a good choice you have.
You should have that information in your book. = This is a good possibility. (It’s probably true.)
You might/could take a train if you want. = This is one option (of many).
She may/might/could be sick today. = This is one possibility.
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It must not be raining outside. = I don’t think it’s raining. (I would be surprised if it were.)
It can’t be raining outside. = I think it’s impossible that it’s raining. (Maybe it was sunny 2 minutes ago.)
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p. 262 exercise 5 - Complete the paragraphs with the correct modals.
1 a could/may/might/should (“should” is possible because I have a reason to expect this one)
  b could/may/might
  c could/may/might
2 a can’t/couldn’t (if you think it’s impossible) / must not (if you’re almost certain) / shouldn’t (if it’s just probably)
  b shouldn’t (“He doesn’t usually” means sometimes he does ring it, so the postman is a possibility.)
  c couldn’t/can’t
  d must
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Homework: finish exercise 5 if you haven’t in class