Can, may, must и их эквиваленты

1. Модальный глагол can (could) выражает физическую или умственную способность; просьбу или разрешение в неофициальной обстановке; в вопросах и отрицаниях неверие, сомнение; возможность при данных обстоятельствах. What can I do for you? Чем могу вам помочь? Can I lend your car? Можно мне взять твою машину? It can’t be true. Не может быть, чтобы это было правдой. She couldn’t do it. Не может быть, чтобы она сделала это.

У этого модального глагола 2 формы – настоящего и прошедшего времени.

В отсутствующих формах его заменяют на “to be able to”. Will you be able to come on holidays?

2. Модальный глагол may (might) выражает предположение, официальное разрешение или просьбу, вероятность. May I come in? If you are dissatisfied with the response you may write to the London Tourist Board.

В отрицании выражает запрет. You may not walk during the class.

Он имеет 2 формы – настоящего и прошедшего времени.

Его модальные эквиваленты – “to be permitted to”, “to be allowed to” (получить разрешение). You will not be permitted to use any Big Bus Service unless you have a valid ticket.

3. Модальный глагол must выражает приказ, настойчивый совет, строгий запрет, предположение, граничащее с уверенностью. Any application for a refund must be made in writing (tickets must be enclosed). You mustn’t smoke here. He must be in now. I saw him on the way home.

Его модальные эквиваленты – to be to (согласно договоренности), to have to (необходимость, вызванная обстоятельствами), to be supposed to, to be expected to (менее категоричны). You are supposed not to be late. I have to go, it’s high time. What were you to do for today?

Ex.87. Translate the sentences.

1. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 2. When the ticket expires you must leave the bus or purchase another ticket. 3. Only one child under 5 years accompanied by an adult may travel free. 4. At certain times during the summer there may not be a Changing of the Guard. On these occasions we will visit Horseguards Parade. 5. The tour ends here, but you can choose to stay a little longer to make the most of your visit. 6. The English climate is good but you cannot say the same about the English weather. 7. A fine morning can turn into a nasty afternoon. 8. In other cases things may be similar from the geological point of view. 9. Mountaineers have to wear special clothing to protect themselves against the cold and wind. 10. You are expected to reply as soon as possible. 11. The fact that the Americans can’t do without a car is self-evident. 12. For these two reasons, sensation varies from time to time and between persons. Something can taste sweet to one person and bitter to another. 13. The object cannot make a physical “impression” upon the mind the way a signet ring leaves its mark in wax because the soul is spiritual, not material. 14. But we are able to separate the numbers from them. 15. A soldier’s stress may be seen as legitimate and even valuable. 16. Boredom might also be mentioned, in light of the fact that considerable amounts of military time, even during war, are spent idly. 17. Soldiers have to get used to arduous, stressful situations. 18. In broad terms, some small degree of stress may well be a good thing. 19. How might stress of a psychological nature negatively affect the physical health of a person? 20. This decline could have been due entirely to the physical stress of the race. 21. Shops catering for tourists are to be set up around the site. 22. The construction work will have to be done by highly qualified specialists as opposed to the frequently used migrant workers, who often lack the required qualifications. 23. The construction is to take place within the framework of the “New Ring of Moscow” program, which was adopted by the city’s government in February 1999. 24. The government has had to face up to the fact that a deficit is unavoidable.