Модальные глаголы английского языка. Учебное пособие

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of this kind are emotionally coloured and so their application is rather restricted.

Depending on the time reference, can in this meaning is used in combination with di˜erent forms of the in‘nitive.

’us, if reference is made to the present, the simple in‘nitive is found with stative verbs.

e.g. Can it be so late?

With dynamic verbs, the continuous in‘nitive is used. e.g. Can she be making the investigation all alone?

Can in combination with the perfect in‘nitive refers the action to the past.

e.g. Can she have told a lie?

’e combination of can with the perfect in‘nitive may also indicate an action begun in the past and continued into the moment of speaking. ’is is usually found in stative verbs.

e.g. Can she really have been at home all this time?

However, if can is followed by a dynamic verb the perfect continuous in‘nitive is used.

e.g. Can she have been waiting for us so long?

Could with reference to the present is also used in this way, implying more uncertainty.

e.g. Could it be true?

Could she be telling lies? Could he have said it?

Could she have been waiting for us so long?

NOTE: ’e verb can expressing surprise is not used in the negative form.

’erefore the Russian negative questions of the type —

…is translated into English in di˜erent ways:

a)by complex sentences:

e.g. Can it be that you haven’t seen him? ( • • • ?) b) by di˜erent lexical means:

e.g. Can you have failed to see him? ( • • • ?) Can you dislike the book? ( • • Œ • ?) Can nobody have seen him? ( • • ?)

Can he have never written that letter? ( •

• ?)

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► FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

Exercise 1. Comment on the form and meaning of the verb can. Translate the sentences into Russian:

1. “I can’t explain it,” said Gladys. “I can’t explain anything I did today.” (Hemingway) 2. Oh, Martha, can it be you? (Murdoch) 3. I simply could not refuse. ’ey would have been hurt. (Hichens) 4. David can’t be swimming now because the weather is too chilly. (Forster) 5. Could he have meant it? (Crichton) 6. Annie, as soon as we are gone, you can clear the table. (Forbes) 7. He was not old, he couldn’t have been more than forty. (Hornby) 8. “’at is not true!” exclaimed Linton rising in agitation. “It cannot be; it is incredible, it cannot be.” (Hemingway) 9. ’e car was going too fast. ’ey couldn’t have seen us. (Hornby) 10. Could this old woman be Louise? She can’t have changed like that. (Crichton) 11. You can keep the change. (Forbes) 12. Can she have said that? (Murdoch)13. “Can’t you sleep, Signor Tenente?” he asked. “No.” “I can’t sleep, either.” (Hemingway) 14. “She cannot have heard of her father’s death”, said Braybrooke. “But she had! For I expressed my sympathy and she thanked me.” (Hichens) 15. “Can I possibly have made a mistake?” she thought. (Forster) 16. ’ey can’t understand the English language, anyway. (Hemingway)

Exercise 2. Use modal verbs can and could to express disbelief, doubt: Example: It’s impossible that the Ÿight has been cancelled. e ight

can’t (couldn’t) have been cancelled.

1. Is it possible that Robert has violated tra•c rules? 2. I don’t believe that Violet hasn’t passed the exam. She, who is so bright! 3. Is it possible that the treaty will be rati‘ed in the near future? 4. Is it possible that they are still at work? I thought they were making the ‘nal arrangements for the trip. 5. I don’t believe that Roy was ‘ned for speeding. 6. Is it possible that Miss Taylor hasn’t accepted the o˜er? 7. I don’t think the train is leaving in a moment. It’s due to leave at 6.15 and now it is 6 sharp. 8. It’s very doubtful that he is fond of travelling by train. 9. Is it possible that she was waiting for us downstairs while we were upstairs all the time? 10. I don’t really think she meant it. You’ve certainly misunderstood her. 11. It’s unbelievable that he’s refused to perform the operation. 12. Is it possible that she has let such a chance slip by?

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Exercise 3. Complete the sentences with can, can’t or couldn’t and the verbs in brackets:

Example: You don’t have to shout. I can hear (hear) you very well.

I couldn’t watch (watch) that programme last night because I had to go out.

1. He _____ (play) last week because he was injured. 2. He eats in restaurants all the time because he _____ (cook). 3. I _____ (give) you a liš in my car because it isn’t working at the moment. 4. I didn’t have a good seat in the theatre, so I _____ (see) the stage very well. 5. John doesn’t need a calculator. He _____ (do) very di•cult sums in his head. 6. She’s very good at music. She _____ (play) three instruments. 7. I _____ (‘nd) my address book. Have you seen it? 8. He spoke very quickly and I _____ (understand) anything he said. 9. We _____ (go) on the trip because we _____ (a˜ord) it. It was very expensive. 10. I _____

(do) any more work because I was very tired, so I stopped. 11. I’m afraid that I _____ (talk) to you now. I’m in a hurry. I have to be at work in ‘ve minutes.

Exercise 4. Use the words in brackets to complete each sentence, with can, can’t, could or couldn’t:

Example: Sarah phoned Jane yesterday. (’ey/not/talk/for a long time, because Jane had to go out.) ey couldn’t talk for a long time, because Jane had to go out.

1.Grandma needs her glasses. (She/not/see/anything without her glasses.) She _______________________________________________.

2.Mary won her race. (She was so tired ašer the race that she/not/stand up.) She _______________________________________.

3.(Last year, Robert/beat/his younger brother at chess.) But he can’t beat him now. Last year, _____________________________________/

4.John and Anna have a wonderful view from their hotel room. (’ey/ see/the whole of the city.) ’ey __________________________.

Exercise 5. Change these sentences to express incredulity, doubt, astonishment. Use the modal verbs can / could:

Example: ’e Browns made a stop-over in Paris. Can / could the Browns have made a stop-over in Paris? e Browns can’t / couldn’t have made a stop-over in Paris.

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1. ’ey have been held up by the tra•c. 2. None in their family is fond of poetry. 3. Kate is always interfering and criticizing every single thing we do. 4. On Friday morning Bill came to my o•ce again. 5. ’ey don’t realize the full signi‘cance of the event. 6. Ann is so naïve. 7. People say he has made a good doctor. 8. Mr. Carter has an alibi. 9. ’e conference is scheduled for late September. 10. Robert is on a ‘shing outing. 11. James was on sick leave last week. 12. Inspector Harlow has recently been put in charge of the case. 13. ’e headmaster allowed Richard to stay away from classes.

Exercise 6. Complete these sentences using managed to or the correct form of be able to:

Example: I was able to / managed to get the last ticket for the concert. 1. Ašer waiting for a long time, we _____ go into the museum. 2. ’ey

_____ buy a new carpet yesterday. 3. I _____ eat three plates of pasta in the restaurant last night! 4. Our friends _____ visit us tomorrow ašernoon. 5. She _____ have a long holiday next year. 6. We _____ ski in Scotland last weekend.

Exercise 7. Look at this table and complete the sentences using can, could, or will be able to:

Example: Last year Joy could swim 100 metres. Now, she can swim 1000 metres.

At the moment Anne can speak French quite well, and if she studies hard, perhaps she’ll be able to work as an interpreter.

1.Last year Mark __________________. Now, ________________.

2.Last year Anne __________________. Now, ________________.

3.At the moment Carol _______________, and if she works hard, perhaps __________________.

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4.Last year Tom ___________________. Now, ________________, and if he studies hard, perhaps _________________.

5.Last year Susan __________________. Now, ________________, and she hopes that one day _______________.

Exercise 8. Choose the correct form of the verbs:

Why did you walk all the way from the station? You could phone / could have phoned for a liš. 2. I loved staying with my grandparents when I was a child. ’ey let me read all the books in the house and told me I could / was able to go to bed as late as I wanted. 3. ’is carpet was priced at £500, but I could / was able to get a discount because of this little mark in the corner. 4. I couldn’t have found / haven’t been able to ‘nd my diary for days. It’s terribly inconvenient. 5. As soon as she opened the door I could / was able to see from her face that something terrible had happened. 6. I’ve no idea where my brother is living now. He can / could be at the North Pole for all I know. 7. It’s di•cult to understand how explorers survive the conditions they encounter in the Antarctic. I’m sure I can’t / couldn’t. 8. Why did I listen to you? I can be / could have been at home by now instead of sitting here in the cold. 9. ’e day started o˜ misty, but by the time we had reached the mountain the sun had appeared and we could / were able to climb it quite quickly.

Exercise 9. Ask people to do things. Use the words in brackets and the phrases in the box:

Example: PROBLEM: You’re sick. You’re in bed. You’re bored. (can you … please) Can you buy me a magazine, please?

1.PROBLEM: Your suitcases are very heavy.

(could you) ______________________________________________

2.PROBLEM: You’re lost in London.

(could you … please) _______________________________________

3.PROBLEM: You’ve forgotten to put your watch on.

(can you) ________________________________________________

4.PROBLEM: You’re hungry. You’re very tired.

(can you … please) ________________________________________

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Exercise 10. Translate the following sentences into English using can

/could in all possible meanings:

1.• • • , • • • . • • •

. 2. • • • , • • ˆ . ‚ •

• . 3. • • ? 4. • • • , •- • €Œ . 5. • • • , •

• Œ • ? 6. • • • , • • Œ €• •. 7. • • • Œ • • ;

• . 8. • • • • † • . 9. • • • , • • €• • . Ž … • . 10. • • , • … Œ • • … ? 11. € • Œ ? 12. • • • , • • • . ‚ †

‰ ! 13. ‹ €• • • † ‰ . ‚ • • • . 14. ¡ †, • , • -

• . • •, • . 15. •

… … • ? ¢ , •• •

.

MAY

’e modal verb may has the following forms: may — the present tense (e.g. It may be true) and might — the past tense. ’e form might is used in two ways:

a)in past-time contexts, mainly in reported speech in accordance with the rules of the sequence of tenses (e.g. He told me that it might be true),

b)in present-time contexts as a milder and more polite form of may, or as a form implying more uncertainty than may (e.g. Might I come and see you? It might be true), or to express unreality (e.g. He might have fallen ill if

he hadn’t taken the pills).

I. May followed by the non-perfect common in‘nitive expresses:

1.Permission.

In this usage it expresses the meaning to have permission to, to be al-

lowed to, to be permitted to.

e.g. ’e director is alone now. So you may see him now (you are allowed to).

In polite requests for permission might is used. e.g. Might I join you?

Might I use your telephone, please?

Can is now more common than may or might to express informally the idea of permission, but may is ošen used when talking of ourselves.

e.g. May / might I help you?

When the action was permitted and performed the expression was allowed to is preferable.

e.g. When translating the story we were allowed to use a dictionary, so I took a Longman new dictionary.

2.Possibility due to circumstances.

’is meaning occurs only in a•rmative sentences.

e.g. You may order a taxi by telephone. (Itœis possible …)

May expressing possibility is avoided in questions and in negative sen-

tences, instead can is used.

’e form might is used in past-time contexts in accordance with the rules of the sequence of tenses.

e.g. He said he might order a taxi by telephone.

3.Prohibition.

It is found only with the negative form of the modal verb.

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e.g. You may not smoke in here. (You are not allowed to …) —• …

You may not enter the room until I say so. — • …

’ere are other ways of expressing the idea of prohibition which are more common. ’ey are mustn’t, can’t and don’t. Mustn’t and can’t are ošen found in negative answers to express prohibition instead of may not.

II. May (might) followed by any form of the in‘nitive denotes:

1.Supposition, uncertainty.

May in this sense is synonymous with perhaps or maybe, and occurs in

a•rmative and negative statements.

e.g. He may be at home. (Perhaps he is at home.)

She may not know that you are here. (Perhaps she doesn’t know that you are here.)

In this meaning may can be followed by di˜erent forms of the in‘nitive depending on the time reference expressed. May in combination with the simple in‘nitive usually indicates reference to the future action.

e.g. He may come soon.

’ey may arrive tonight or tomorrow.

’e action may also refer to the present but only with stative verbs. e.g. He may be ill.

He may not know about it.

May in combination with the continuous in‘nitive of dynamic verbs refers the action to the present.

e.g. It’s too late to phone him now. He may be sleeping.

I never see him about now. For all I know, he may be writing a book. May in combination with the perfect in‘nitive refers the action to

the past.

e.g. He may have fallen ill.

“What’s happened to the dog?” I said. “It isn’t here. His master may have taken it with him.”

’e combination of may with the perfect in‘nitive may also indicate an action begun in the past and continued into the moment of speaking. ’is is usually found with stative verbs.

e.g. He may have been at home for about two hours.

However, if may is followed by a dynamic verb, the perfect continuous in‘nitive is used.

e.g. He may have been waiting for us for an hour.