IV. Modal Verbs
There are the following modal verbs in English:
can/could will
must would
may/might shall
should have to
ought to be to
need
Modal verbs are used to express ability, advice, criticism, logical assumption, necessity, offer, obligation, permission, possibility, probability, prohibition, request, promise, refusal, order, suggestion, insistence, willingness, habit, threat, something destined to happen.
Consider the table of modal functions and translate the exemplary sentences into Russian:
Function |
Present/Future |
Past |
ability |
I can swim. ….................................................... |
I could swim when I was 5. ….................................................... |
possibility |
They can win. ….................................................... Jessica may be sleeping now. ….................................................... He might be hungry. ….................................................... She could still be away. ….................................................... |
I could have been injured. ….................................................... They may have met yesterday. ….................................................... Patrick might have phoned. ….................................................... |
probability |
She will be at home soon. ….................................................... Catherine should win easily. ….................................................... They ought to come back by now. ….................................................... |
They should/ought to have returned 3 hours ago. ….................................................... |
logical assumption |
This old lady can't be 90. ….................................................... She must be working now. ….................................................... He couldn't be at home. ….................................................... |
She must have been working all day. ….................................................... He can't have done that. ….................................................... He couldn't have left in the morning. ….................................................... |
permission |
You can take my cellphone. ….................................................... Could I use your computer? ….................................................... You may come in. ….................................................... Might I speak to Mr. Truman? ….................................................... |
The teacher said we could go. ….................................................... |
prohibition |
You can't smoke in this room. ….................................................... You mustn't smoke here. ….................................................... You may not come in. …................................................... You are not to do this. ….................................................... |
They couldn't smoke there. …....................................................
|
necessity |
I must go to the doctor. ….................................................... My washing machine needs repairing/to be repaired. ….................................................... I have to buy some petrol. ….................................................... They don't need to/don't have to/ needn't come today. ….................................................... |
I had to go to the doctor. ….................................................... My washing machine needed repairing/to be repaired. ….................................................... I had to buy some petrol. ….................................................... They didn't have to/didn't need to come that day. ….................................................... They needn’t have come that day. …………………………………… |
obligation |
I must lose some weight. ….................................................... She has to pay her bills. ….................................................... We are to meet at 6. ….................................................... |
I had to lose some weight a year ago. ….................................................... She had to pay her bills. ….................................................... We were to meet at 6. ….................................................... |
advice |
You should learn to drive. ….................................................... You ought to be more polite. ….................................................... |
_________________
|
criticism |
You could open the door for me. …....................................................
|
You could have opened the door for me. ….................................................... You should have asked for permission first. ….................................................... He oughtn't to have been so rude to his parents. ….................................................... |
offer |
Can I help you? ….................................................... I can give you a lift. ….................................................... Shall I open the window? ….................................................... |
_________________
|
suggestion |
Shall we go home together? ….................................................... We can leave if you want. ….................................................... We could take a break. ….................................................... |
_________________
|
request |
May I have a cup of tea, please? ….................................................... Will you phone Julie? ….................................................... |
_________________ |
order |
You are to stay here until I return. ….................................................... You will do what I say. ….................................................... |
He said I was to stay there until he returned. ….................................................... |
insistence |
He will do whatever he wants. ….................................................... |
He would do whatever he wanted. ….................................................... |
promise |
I will help you when I have time. …………………………………… |
He said he would help me when he had time. …………………………………… |
willingness |
If you will help me, we'll finish in time. ….................................................... |
He would do anything to get what he wanted. ….................................................... |
refusal |
My pen won't write. ….................................................... She won't listen to me. ….................................................... |
The door wouldn't open yesterday. ….................................................... I gave her a piece of advice but she wouldn't listen. ….................................................... |
habit |
She will sit at the window doing nothing. ….................................................... |
Mum would always scold me when I came home late. ….................................................... |
threat |
She shall be punished! ….................................................... |
_________________ |
something destined to happen |
If we are to be neighbours, let's not quarrel. ….................................................... |
I didn't know that she was to be my wife. ….................................................... |
Modal expressions:
be able to (used to express ability in the past (mainly for single actions) and future:
I was able to book a room in advance.
I’ll be able to speak German in a year.
perhaps/maybe (used to express possibility):
Perhaps she is sleeping.
be likely to (used to express possibility in questions):
Is he likely to win the competition?
be allowed to (used to express permission, to say what the rule is):
She was allowed to enter the building.
Let’s…/How about…/Why don’t we… (used to express suggestions):
Let’s go to the cinema.
How about going to the cinema?
be supposed to (used to express obligation or arrangement)
I’m supposed to attend the meetings regularly. (obligation)
We are supposed to meet at 7. (arrangement)
Task 62. Think of an object and make a list of things you can do with it. Your groupmates should guess this object:
The object: a flower
Thing you can do: You can grow it.
You can pick it.
You can plant it.
You can give it to someone on his/her birthday.
Task 63. Fill in the gaps with can, could or be able to. In some sentences two variants are possible:
1. I ________ swim faster than you.
2. You _________ read before starting school?
3. The firefighter _______ save a little boy from a fire.
4. You _______ dance?
5. I don’t have any money now, but I ________ pay you tomorrow.
6. When you finish, you _________ to have a rest.
7. In the darkness he ________ to find the way, so he returned home before the sunrise.
8. I ______ not ice-skate. I have never tried.
9. Don’t shout! I _______ hear you well.
10. He _______ not visit you last week.
Task 64. Underline the correct variant explaining your choice:
1. They may/must/might have met each other before but I can’t say for sure.
2. She works from 9 to 5. It’s only 4 p.m., so she might/could/must be at work.
3. The sky isn’t very cloudy but it may/will/should rain in the afternoon.
4. I witnessed a terrible accident. If it were not for my luck, I must/should/could have been injured.
5. Their plane has just landed. They will/could/ might be here in an hour.
6. She didn’t come. She might/can/must have been busy the whole day.
7. I saw them coming in. They must/can’t/could be out.
8. Jimmy is too young. He may/might/can’t have hurt your son.
9. They took an overnight flight. They should/could/can have come back by 7 a.m.
10. Jack was out all night. It’s 9 a.m. and he can’t/ must/ could still be sleeping.
Task 65. Describe the following pictures using modal verbs to express logical assumption and possibility as in the example:
1.
2.
a) She must have heard a joke. a) ______________________________.
b) She can’t be sad. b) ______________________________.
c) She may be laughing at her friend. c) ______________________________.
3.
4.
a) ______________________________. a) _____________________________.
b) ______________________________. b) _____________________________.
c) ______________________________. c) _____________________________.
5.
6.
a) ______________________________. a) _____________________________.
b) ______________________________. b) _____________________________.
c) ______________________________. c) _____________________________.
7.
8.
a) ______________________________. a) _____________________________.
b) ______________________________. b) _____________________________.
c) ______________________________. c) _____________________________.
9.
10.
a) ______________________________. a) _____________________________.
b) ______________________________. b) _____________________________.
c) ______________________________. c) _____________________________.
Task 66. Paraphrase the sentences using modal verbs to express permission and prohibition:
1. You are not allowed to go out now. The lesson isn’t over.
__________________________________________________________________.
2. When we were in the library I didn’t hear you because we were not allowed to talk loudly.
__________________________________________________________________.
3. Will you let me keep pets in the apartment?
__________________________________________________________________.
4. I need to type my report. Don’t you mind my using your computer?
__________________________________________________________________.
5. It is prohibited to smoke in public places.
__________________________________________________________________.
6. I allow you to stay here until I return from my holiday.
__________________________________________________________________.
7. He was allowed to walk alone when he was a child.
__________________________________________________________________.
8. Wouldn’t you mind my seeing the manager?
__________________________________________________________________.
9. Unauthorized people are not allowed to enter this area.
__________________________________________________________________.
10. All adult citizens are allowed to vote.
__________________________________________________________________.
Task 67. A: Here are some useful tips for tourists traveling to Great Britain. Underline the correct variant. If both are possible, underline them both:
1. British weather is very changeable and it may rain any moment. You should/have to carry an umbrella wherever you go.
2. You are to/must drive on the left.
3. You must/should say ‘Excuse me!’ if you want to attract somebody’s attention.
4. You don’t have to/shouldn’t pay to enter museums and art galleries. Most of them are free.
5. You needn’t/mustn’t smoke in public places. It is prohibited by law.
6. You must/need ride the London Eye. You’ll be able to see almost the whole city.
7. You shouldn’t/don’t have to ask British people personal questions which may seem very rude to them.
B: Write your own tips for tourists traveling to the country you come from:
1. ________________________________________________________________.
2. ________________________________________________________________.
3. ________________________________________________________________.
4. ________________________________________________________________.
5. ________________________________________________________________.
6. ________________________________________________________________.
7. ________________________________________________________________.
Task 68. A: Read the dialogue between Mr. Brown, a psychologist, and one of his clients. Analyze the use of the modal verbs in bold:
Mr. Brown: Can I help you?
Jack: I hope so. I will tell you the whole story from the very beginning. My father has always wanted to be a dentist. But his parents couldn’t afford it and now he works as a taxi-driver. Now he wants me to enter a medical college.
Mr. Brown: Will you tell me what you would like to do in the future?
Jack: I like medicine but I want to be a singer. I have a nice voice, you know.
Mr. Brown: Well, we can analyze everything together. If you like medicine, then you should enter the college, study for a while and later you will understand whether you need it or not. If you want to be a singer, you should continue singing. You should try to combine medicine and singing and one day one will be your job and the other just a hobby. But first of all you ought to speak to your parents.
Jack: Oh, I will! Thank you, doctor!
Mr. Brown: You can always come and ask for help. I will do my best.
B: Work in pairs. Make your own dialogues based on the situations given below:
1. You have quarreled with your boyfriend/girlfriend. He/she wanted you to spend more time together but you are very busy at work. You want to make it up with him/her.
2. You are always in a bad mood. Your best friend turned his/her back on you. And now you have nobody to speak to.
3. You terribly lack time. You sleep badly thinking that you won’t have time to finish everything you have to do. Your colleagues doing the same job feel well and don’t have such a problem.
4. You don’t dare to take responsibility for new projects at work. You think that you won’t manage to do them properly. You haven’t been promoted for 7 years.
5. You have difficulties making new friends. You can’t speak to people first, so you have only one friend who you met at school and who lives far away in your native town. You feel lonely and depressed.
Task 69. A: Read the dialogue. Fill in the gaps with will, would and shall to express order, insistence, willingness, refusal, threat and habit. In some cases you’ll need the negative form:
Mrs. Blackwood: You _____ do what I tell you!
Lily: No, I ______!
Mrs. Blackwood: Then I _____ punish you!
Lily: I don’t care. I ______ do whatever I want. I _____ go to the disco tonight. I _______ follow your orders. If you don’t let me go, one day I _______leave home!
Mrs. Blackwood: Oh, dear! I was like you when I was a teenager. I ______ never listen to my parents. We ______ always quarrel, but now when your grandparents are gone I deeply regret about it.
Lily: Mum, I’m so sorry. I______ stay at home. I love you.
B: Answer the following questions:
1. Do you have any conflicts with your parents?
2. Are parents always right?
3. What should parents and their children do to avoid misunderstanding?
Task 70. Paraphrase the sentences using modal verbs:
1. I promise to introduce you to Miss Jenkins.
__________________________________________________________________.
2. It’s not a good idea for you to play truant before the exam.
__________________________________________________________________.
3. It is possible that they will come soon.
__________________________________________________________________.
4. I’m sure he is still sleeping.
__________________________________________________________________.
5. Let’s go to the cinema tonight.
__________________________________________________________________.
6. The doctor advises me to stay in bed for a couple of days.
__________________________________________________________________.
7. At the age of five he had no ability to read.
__________________________________________________________________.
8. I refuse to give you an answer.
__________________________________________________________________.
9. Am I allowed to sit here?
__________________________________________________________________.
10. It’s 7. I’m sure Kate will be here soon.
__________________________________________________________________.
11. I’m 50 percent sure that Derek has done it.
__________________________________________________________________.
12. I order you to follow my instructions whatever should happen.
__________________________________________________________________.
13. It’s likely to rain tonight.
__________________________________________________________________.
14. You didn’t remember your promise. It annoys me.
__________________________________________________________________.
15. It’s necessary for me to make it up with them.
__________________________________________________________________.
16. We’ll live in one block of flats. It’s unavoidable.
__________________________________________________________________.
17. We are supposed to return at midday.
__________________________________________________________________.
18. They didn’t let me come in.
__________________________________________________________________.
19. Why don’t we go to the Carpathians in January?
__________________________________________________________________.
20. Don’t you mind if I introduce you to my parents?
__________________________________________________________________.
Task 71. Work in pairs. Complete the following tasks using modal verbs:
1. Invite your partner to go ice-skating tomorrow.
2. Politely ask your partner to go to the canteen and bring you some coffee.
3. Tell your partner two things which are necessary for him/her to do.
4. Give your partner some advice on how to memorize English words.
5. Tell your partner that it was unwise of him/her to go to bed so late last night.
6. Tell your partner why the person who is absent today didn’t come to class. You are 95 percent sure you know the reason.
7. Tell your partner what you used to do when you were a child.
8. Ask your partner not to cheat if he/she hasn’t done his/her homework.
9. You are 90 percent sure that your partner will do well on the exams.
10. Tell your partner three things you had the ability to do at the age of 5.
11. Tell you partner that you have no desire to go to the first class tomorrow.
12. Ask you partner permission to use his/her laptop.
13. Offer your partner to help him/her with the cleaning today.
14. Criticize you partner for not congratulating you common friend on his/her birthday.
15. Ask your partner about what was necessary for him/her to do yesterday.
16. Persuade your partner to lend you some money. Promise to return it as soon as possible.
17. Ask you partner to return you smth. he/she has taken.
Task 72. Translate into English:
1. Может быть, он и вернулся в город, но я его еще не видел.
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2. Должно быть, эта статья была написана в 1980-х.
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3. Почему ты остановился в гостинице? Ты бы мог остаться у меня.
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4. Когда он был молод, он мог пробежать милю за пять минут.
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5. Тогда они еще не догадывались, что им суждено было стать мужем и женой.
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6. Можно я возьму твою ручку? Моя не пишет.
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7. Стариком он всегда, бывало, сидел на этой скамейке на набережной и смотрел на прохожих.
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8. Пойдем вместе на выпускной? После церемонии я мог бы тебя подвезти домой.
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9. Тебе не следует быть таким нетерпеливым. Ты мог бы быть более вежливым со старшими.
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10. Нам нужно отремонтировать посудомоечную машину. – Мне вызвать мастера?
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11. Не может быть, чтобы она вчера уехала. Я видела ее полчаса назад.
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12. Возможно, Бен звонил, когда мы выходили на улицу.
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13. Ты позвонишь родителям? Нам следовало предупредить их, что мы задержимся, еще в обед.
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14. Наверное, у меня грипп. Я должен обратиться к врачу.
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15. Ты должен ждать меня здесь! – Нет, я пойду с тобой!
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V. Non-finite Forms of the Verb
Non-finite Forms of the Verb
