USES 1polite request 2formal permission 3less than 50% certainty.. 2 polite request rare 1advisability 290% certainty.[r]
(1)Chart of modals and similar expressions MODAL May USES 1)polite request 2)formal permission 3)less than 50% certainty Might 1) less than 50% certainty Should 2) polite request (rare) 1)advisability 2)90% certainty Ought to 1)advisability 2)90% certainty PRESENT/ FUTURE May I borrow your pen? You may leave the room Where’s John? He may be at the library - Where’s Mary? -She might be at home Might I borrow your car You should study tonight She should well on the test (future only, not present) You ought to study tonight PAST He may have been at the library She might have been at home You should have studied last night She should have done well on the test You ought have to studied last night She ought to have done well on the test (past form uncommon) Had better 1)advisability with threat of bad result She ought to well on the test (future only, not present) You had better be on time, or we will leave without you Be supposed to Be to 1)expectation Class is supposed to begin at 10 a.m Class was supposed to begin at 10 a.m 1) strong expectation You are to be here at 9.00 Must 1)strong necessity I must go to class today 2)prohibition (negative) 3) 95% certainty You must not open that door Mary isn’t in the class She must be sick (present only) You were to be here at 9.00 I had to go to class yesterday 1) necessity I have to go to class today I had to go to class yesterday 2)lack of necessity (negative) I don’t have to go to class today I didn’t have to go to class yesterday 1) 100% certainty 2) willingness 2) definite plan He will be here at 6.00 (future only) the phone’s ringing I’ll get it Will you please pass the salt? He is going to be here at 6.00 (future only) He is going to paint his bedroom (future only) 1) ability/ possibility I can run fast 2)informal permission 3) informal polite request 4) impossibility (negative) You can use my car tomorrow Can I borrow your pen? Have to Will Be going to Can 3)polite request 1) 100% certainty That can’t be true Could 1) past ability 2) polite request Could you help me? 4) less than 50% certainty - Where’s John? - He could be at home 5)impossibility(negative) That couldn’t be true! Be able to 1)ability Would 1) polite request 2)preference I am able to help you I will be able to help you Would you please pass the salt? I would rather go to the park than stay home Used to 1) repeated action in the past Shall 1) polite question to make a suggestion 2) future with I or we as Mary must have been sick yesterday I could run fast when I was a child, but now I can’t That can’t have been true I could run fast when I was a child You could have talked to your teacher He could have been at home That couldn’t have been true! I was able to help you I would rather have gone to the park than stay home I used to visit my grandparents every weekend Shall I open the door? I shall arrive at nine (will is more (2) subject common) Exercises 1.He …….leave early, didn’t he? (must/ had to/ has to/ ought to) his eyes were so bad that he ……… read the number on the board (shouldn’t/hadn’t to/ couldn’t/ can’t) there’s the waiter I …… ask him for the bill (will/ shall/ am able to/ could) ………….open the door for you? (Would you like that I / Do you want that I /will I / shall) ……… you be able to come to the meeting? – I’m afraid not (Can/ will/ May/ should) My car broke down so I ……… come by bus (had to/ must/should/ could) …………….ask you some questions? – OK,go ahead.(shall I / will I / should I /may I ) I ………….play tennis than golf (like better to/ prefer/ ‘d rather/ ‘d better) there are a lot of mistakes in this exercises I …… go over it again with you (will have to/ am able to/ would/ could) 10 he was a good swimmer, so he ……… Swim to the river bank when the boat sank (could/ can/ would/ was able to) 11 he ……… live in the country than in the city.(would rather/ had better/ should/ might) 12 you ……… go now It’s getting late.(had rather/ had better/ ought/ would rather) 13 You ……… fly to London this evening provided you don’t mind changing planes in Paris.(must/ have to/ can/ ought to) 14 I ……… to take advantage of this opportunity to thank for your co-operation (would like/can/ am able to/ might) 15 you ………… add it up I’m not good at figures.(a.have to/b ought to/c ‘d better/ both b and c) 16 the phone has been ring ing for a minute Noone …………at home(must have been/ can have been/ should have been/ none of these) 17 she’s fainted Throw some water on her face and she ……… Come round.(has to/ may/ must/ can have) 18 ……… you please refrain from smoking while the lecture is in progress? (May/ Might/ Would/ Should) 19 I ……………… persuade him as I said.(wasn’t able to/ can’t/ mustn’t/ ought not) 20 I’m sorry to bother you while you’re working, but I …………ask you a question.(can/ had to/ must/ may) 21 He couldn’t have mean it seriously He ……….laughed at you (would/ couldn’t/ had/ must have) 22 we …….ensure the telegram arrives in time (had to/ must/ ‘d rather/ might) 23 he …… keep his family because his wages were too low (couldn’t/mustn’t/ can’t/ didn’t have to) 24 the sea was too rough that we …………swim (couldn’t/can’t/won’t/wouldn’t) 25 …………make an appointment to see the doctor? (May I / Could I / Will I/ Shall I ) 26 Perhaps there ……… A good pro gram on the radio (might be/ will be/ can be/ should be) 27 I ……go swimming when I was young (a could/b.would./ c used to/d both b and c) 28 ……… take this letter to the post office, please?(May you/ Must you/ Would you/ none of these) 29 in our family my father ………sit at the top of the table (used to/ had to/ ought to/ must) 30 Do it as well as you …………… (must/ will/ can/ have to) 31 I …………swim in this water: it is much too cold.(mightn’t/ mustn’t/ can’t/ don’t have to) 32 you …………… imagine my surprise when I heard the news (can/ ought to/ will/ all of these) 33 you some work instead of sitting there reading the paper (would rather/ ought to/ won’t/ don’t have to) 34 be careful how you hold that jug; it ……….break easily.(may/ ought to/will/ might) 35 I’m not sure where to go for my holiday, but I …… go to China (should/ may/ have to/ needn’t) 36 we had free tickets, so we ……….pay to get into the concert (didn’t have to/ couldn’t/mustn’t/ shouldn’t) 37 Now I’m feeling dizzy I …………watched video film till midnight.(shouldn’t have/ can’t have/ couldn’t/ mustn’t) 38 Tom ……… drive He is too tired (would rather/ must/ needn’t to/ ought not to) 39 shall I clean the window today? – No, you …… (mustn’t/ needn’t/ don’t have/ shouldn’t) 40 you’ve been traveling all day You ………….a walk now (could take/ can’t take/ can take/ may take) (3)