- •General characteristics of modal verbs can (could)
- •May (might)
- •May/Might in the sense of supposition or uncertainty is not used in questions, instead other means are used: Is it likely ...?Do you think ...?:
- •Remember set-expressions:
- •Must expressing probability is not used with reference to the future, instead probably, evidently or to be likely are used:
- •Must expressing probability is not used in negative and interrogative sentences, the verb to fail or negative words (nobody, never) or negative prefixes (dis-, mis-, un- etc.) are used:
- •Must may be used for emphasis, in this case it isn’t translated into Russian.
- •Have to (have got to)
- •Have to replaces must to express past necessity or obligation or to express future obligation which makes it more precise:
- •Have to can be used together with the modal verb may:
- •Remember set-expressions:
- •The difference between the two forms of need in negative sentences with the reference to the past is as follows:
- •Ought to
- •The modal verb should can be used to express emotional colouring in questions like:
- •Will (would)
- •Remember set-expressions:
- •To venture, to have the courage or impudence
- •Remember set-expressions:
General characteristics of modal verbs can (could)
CONCRETE |
IMPERATIVE |
SUPPOSITIONAL |
Can/could + Indefinite Infinitive She can speak English very well. He could not feel or hear anything.
Can/could + Indefinite Infinitive At a chemist’s shop you can get medicines of all kinds. I couldn’t take your coat without paying you for it.
Can/could + Indefinite Infinitive The Lower House alone can initiate finacial measures. In old days a man could be sentenced to death for a small crime.
Can/could + Indefinite Infinitive The railways can be improved. The flat could be easily repaired. |
Can + Indefinite Infinitive Can we go home, Miss? Could + Indefinite Infinitive (in reported speech) The teacher said we could play in the school yard for a while.
Can + Indefinite Infinitive Can you hold on a minute, please? Could + Indefinite Infinitive (a polite request) Could you come again tomorrow?
Can + Indefinite Infinitive You can’t visit him, he’s got an infectious disease.
Could + Perfect Infinitive You could have met me at the station!
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Could + Indefinite/Continuous Infinitive (the action refers to the present or future) He could come tomorrow. I could be sleeping now if you hadn’t phoned. Could + Perfect/Perfect Continuous Infinitive (the action in the past which was not carried out) He could have come already. I could have been studying for two hours already.
Can/Could + Indefinite/Continuous Infinitive (the action refers to the present or future) Can he be her husband? Could they be still sleeping? Can/Could + Perfect/Perfect Continuous Infinitive (the action refers to the past) Can he have been operated on? Could she have been writing that book for five years?
Can/Could + Indefinite/Continuous Infinitive, Perfect/Perfect Continuous Infinitive He can’t be so old. John couldn’t be telling the truth. She can’t have seen that. They couldn’t have been playing tennis for a long time.
Could + Indefinite/Perfect Infinitive I write down the telephone numbers so that I could remember them.
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NOTE:
The meaning of ability is expressed only by “to be able to” when the reference is made to the future:
Soon he will be able to speak English quite fluently.
The modal verb could is not used in the meaning of “managed to”, “succeeded in”, instead “was able to” is used:
The fire brigade was able to put out the fire before it destroyed the other buildings.
If there are two negotiations in the Russian sentence, the verb to fail or negative words (nobody, never) or negative prefixes (dis-, mis-, un- etc.) are used:
He can’t fail to help you. Could nobody have seen him to do it? Can he dislike it here?
Remember set-expressions:
She can’t help crying. They couldn’t help laughing.
I can’t but ask about it. They couldn’t but refuse him.
It’s as ugly as can be.