CHAPTER 16: MODAL VERBS OF PRESENT, PAST ABILITY and FUTURE ABILITY • MODALS OF ABILITY: CAN and COULD, BE ABLE TO + V (bare infinitive) Present Ability with CAN, BE ABLE TO: CAN and BE ABLE TO is used to talk about an ability in the present. CAN is more commonly used than BE ABLE TO. For example: 1. The baby can walk, but she can’t talk yet. 2. Strong winds can cause a lot of damage. 3. He is able to speak French and Arabic. Future Ability with BE ABLE TO and CAN: + Use WILL BE ABLE TO to talk about a skill or other ability that you don’t have yet, but you will have in the future. DO NOT use CAN to describe an ability that you will have only in the future. For example: 1. After I complete this class, I’ll be able to type 60 words a minute. 2. I will be able to see better after I get new glasses. + Use WILL BE ABLE TO and CAN to express ability that relates to decisions and arrangements for the future. For example: 1. She’ll be able to / can meet you at the airport at 3:00. 2. I’m busy now, but I’ll be able to/ can help you in 10 minutes. Past Ability with COULD and BE ABLE TO: + Use COULD, COULDN’T or WAS/WERE (NOT) ABLE TO to talk about an ability in the past. For example: 1. I could ride a bike at age 5. 2. They couldn’t read in kindergarten. 3. He got lost because he couldn’t speak French. 4. Yesterday I was able to finish my homework quickly. CHAPTER 17: MODAL VERBS OF REQUEST AND PERMISSION A - MODALS AND PHRASES OF REQUEST • MAKING REQUESTS: + Use CAN, COULD, WILL, and WOULD to make requests. CAN and WILL are less formal than COULD and WOULD. We usually use CAN and WILL in informal conversations with friends and family. We use COULD and WOULD to make polite requests in formal situations when we speak to strangers or to people in authority. Less formal More formal To a friend: Can you tell me the time? To a stranger: Could you tell me the time? Mother to Child: Will you be quiet? To a Boss: Would you look at my report? + Add PLEASE to a request to make it more polite. Can you tell me the time, please? Would you please look over my report? Will you please open the door for me? • AGREEING TO and REFUSING REQUESTS: + Use WILL and CAN to agree to requests. Do not use WOULD or COULD. We generally use CAN’T / WON’T to refuse a request. WON’T is used for strong refusals, and sounds impolite. Agreeing to a Request Refusing a request A: Will you help me for a minute? A: Can you help me decorate for the party? B: Yes, I will. B: Sorry. I can’t right now. A: Could you spell your name for me? A: Holly, will you clean up this room? B: Yes, I can. It’s C-L-A-R-K-E. B: No, I won’t. + We often use expressions such as OK, SURE, or CERTAINLY or OF COURSE when agreeing to a request. A: Will you help me for a minute? B: OK. A: Could you spell your name for me? B: SURE. It’s C-L-A-R-K-E. + We often say I’M SORRY / SORRY and give a reason in order to make our refusal more polite. A: Can you help me decorate for the party? B: I’m sorry, but I can’t right now. I have a doctor’s appointment. B - MODALS OF PREMISSION: • ASKING FOR PREMISSION: + Use CAN, COULD, and MAY to ask for premission. CAN and COULD are less formal than MAY. We usually use MAY in formal situations when we speak to strangers or to people in authority. You can use PLEASE to make your request more polite. Less formal Child to Parent: Can I go outside and play now? Friend to Friend: Could I borrow your pen for a minute? More formal Business Call: A: May I speak to Ms. Jones, please? B: Certainly. May I ask who’s calling? • GIVING AND REFUSING PERMISSION: + Use MAY/MAY NOT or CAN/CAN’T to give or refuse permission. Don’t use COULD. Giving Permission A: Could I hand in my homework tomorrow? B: Yes, you may. Just put it on my desk. Refusing Permission A: Could I hand in my homework tomorrow? B: No, you can’t. It’s due today. + Instead of answering with CAN or MAY, we often use expressions such as SURE, GO AHEAD, or CERTAINLY when giving permission. A: Can I use the computer now? B: Sure. I’m finished with it. (Go right ahead) + We often say I’M SORRY/ SORRY and give a reason in order to make our refusals softer and more polite. A: Could I hand in my homework tomorrow? B: I’m sorry, but you can’t. It’s due today. CHAPTER 18: MODALS OF ADVICE, NECESSITY, and PROHIBITION GIVING ADVICE AND EXPRESSING OPINIONS: + Use SHOULD to give advice. For example: 1. You should study for the test tonight. 2. He shouldn’t go to the party this weekend. + Use SHOULD to express opinions. For example: 1. Everyone should exercise regularly. 2. People shouldn’t smoke cigarettes. EXPRESSING NECESSITY: + Use HAVE TO / MUST to talk about something that is necessary. Use MUST in formal or more serious situations. For example: 1. We have to leave now. Class starts in five minutes! 2. You must ask permission to leave work early. + Use MUST to express rules, laws, and requirements, especially in writing. For example: 1. Students must pay their tuition before the first day of class. + We often use HAVE TO instead of MUST to talk about rules and laws in conversation. For example: 1. We have to pay our tuition today. The business office is open until 8:00 p.m. 2. You have to wear your seatbelt at all times. EXPRESSING LACK OF NECESSITY AND PROHIBITION: DON’T / DOESN’T HAVE TO means that something is NOT NECESSARY for you to do. MUSTN’T means that something is prohibited. There is no choice. For example: Not Necessary Prohibited I’m on vacation. I don’t have to get up early Visitors must not block the entrance. . I’ll be able to/ can help you in 10 minutes. Past Ability with COULD and BE ABLE TO: + Use COULD, COULDN’T or WAS/WERE (NOT) ABLE TO to talk about an ability in the past. For example: 1. I could. clean up this room? B: Yes, I can. It’s C-L-A-R-K-E. B: No, I won’t. + We often use expressions such as OK, SURE, or CERTAINLY or OF COURSE when agreeing to a request. A: Will you help me for a. minute? B: OK. A: Could you spell your name for me? B: SURE. It’s C-L-A-R-K-E. + We often say I’M SORRY / SORRY and give a reason in order to make our refusal more polite. A: Can you help me decorate