Modal Verbs and their Equivalents

• Modal verbs can express ability, possibility, permission, obligation, probability and requests.

• Modals are always the first word in a verb group.

e.g. We must call them tomorrow.

• Modals are not followed by an infinitive with to.

Can, could, be able to

Present	can = is/are able to
Past	could = was/were able to
Present Perfect	have/has been able to
Future	will be able to

1. Make up as many sentences as you can.

Learning a foreign languauge Entertaining overseas customers Being in charge of a new project Setting up a business Negotiating a contract

can

occasionally sometimes often

be

hard work good fun challenging a waste of time

2. Match and make up sentences according to the model.

Example: 1 – b)

If you are computer literate, you can use different types of software.

If you 1 computer literate 2 are trilingual 3 are good at mental arithmetic 4 are autonomous 5 have a creative personality 6 have a logical mind 7 are decisive and people accept your authority

you can work well on your own use different types of software solve problems rationally be a good leader calculate quickly in your head speak three languages bring new ideas to projects

3. Translate.

1. Our new manager can speak four languages. 2) “Can I use your mobile?” “Sure, you can – go ahead.” /”No, you can’t”/. 3) “Can I come back later?” “No, I don’t think that’ll be possible”. 4) Now we can hope that trade restrictions will be lifted. 5) A quota regime could be introduced already this year. 6) 20 years ago you couldn’t buy a computer as cheaply as you can now. 7) After six hours of negotiations, we were finally able to make some progress. 8) So far not a single country in the world has been able to solve such a problem. 9) No social insurance network will be able to cope with this problem.

Must, have to, be to

Present	must = have/has to
Past	had to was/were to
Future	will have to

1. Complete the sentences with have to, has to, don’t have to, must not.

1. You …. carry a gun. 2) You …. drink alcohol at work. 3) You …. take home company equipment. 4) This is a no-smoking area. You …. smoke here. 5) You …. wear a dress or a suit, if you are a woman (at work). 6) You …. wear a tie, if you are a man (at work). 7) You …. wear a badge. 8) Employees …. belong to a trade union but many choose to do so. 9) You …. pay for buses and trams. 10) As export sales manager he often …. travel abroad.

2. Translate.

1) All tenders must be submitted by 31 March. 2) You mustn’t sign the contract on those terms. 3) In order to make its products known, a firm must advertise. 4) We have to wear a uniform at work, it’s not our choice. 5) All travelers to China have to be in possession of a visa. 6) If you open a bank account in the Bahamas, you won’t have to pay income tax. 7) Over these years labour productivity is to grow by 18 %. 8) Per capita real incomes are to increase. 9) Is the shadow economy a negative economic factor that has to be eliminated? – Yes, it must be eliminated, the majority of experts think.

May, might, be allowed to

Present	may = is/are allowed to
Past	might = was/were allowed to
Future	will be allowed to

1. Answer this question using the prompts.

What may/may not happen when you graduate from the Institute?

Example: go to university

I may go to university.

I may not go to university.

Prompts: go abroad, get a job in England, get married, go to Hollywood, join the army.

2. Translate.

1) “May I use your password?” “No, I’m afraid you can’t.” 2) You might check the exchange rate first. 3) Retailers may not sell below cost price in some countries. 4) The firm may be forced to make a number of employees redundant in the coming months but the situation may improve in the longer term. 5) I was allowed to leave work early yesterday.

Unit 5 Entrepreneurship

Starting up

• What are the good things about entrepreneur’s job?

• What are the bad things?

• Would you like to become an entrepreneur?