120409 Ing2b t04 Verbs Grammar Exercises

7/29/2019 120409 Ing2b t04 Verbs Grammar Exercises

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2 BachillerSeminario/rea: Lenguas modernas. Ingls

Tema: MODAL VERBS. GRAMMAR AND EXERCISES

MODAL VERBS

They are verbs which 'help' other verbs to express a meaning: it is important to realise that "modal

verbs" have no meaning by themselves. A modal verb such as would has several varying

functions; it can be used, for example, to help verbs express ideas about the past, the present and

the future. It is therefore wrong to simply believe that "would is the past of will": it is many other

things.

All modal verbs have some special characteristics you should remember:

1. They do not take an -S in the third person singular: you cannot say: he cansorshe wills.

2. They are followed by an infinitive without 'to' in most cases.

BUT: NEED takes 'to' when expressing absence of obligation in the negative:

Ex: You do not need to stay if you don't want to.

OUGHT TO is a special case and you must learn it like that. It expresses convenience.

Ex: You ought to study more if you want to pass the exam.

3. Also in most cases they function like the verb to be for questions and negatives:

Can you speak louder, please? No, I cannot speak louder.

BUT You DON'T NEED TO speak louder to express absence of obligation OR

You DON'T HAVE TO

4. Also in most cases they do not have a past form of their own , so we need different forms like

BE ABLE TO: I will be able to speak French in two months or BE ALLOWED TO : You will be

allowed to go out as soon as you are eighteen.

However: CAN ---------------------- COULD Or

MAY----------------------------- MIGHT

However, past tenses in modal verbs normally mean more than just time.

- COULD is more polite than CAN and can also be used for the present and

- MIGHT is less probable than MAY.

5. Sometimes modal verbs can also be followed by a perfect infinitive.

Ex: it MUST HAVE BEEN the rain, which talks about the past.

"Debi de ser la lluvia". Debe de haber sido la lluvia.


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1) can

Use Examples

ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form:to be able to) I can speak English.

permission to do sth. in the present (substituteform: to be allowed to)

CanI go to the cinema?

request Can you wait a moment, please?

offer I can lend you my car till tomorrow.

suggestion Can we visit Grandma at the weekend?

possibility It can get very hot in Arizona.

2) could

Use Examples

ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to beable to)

I could speak English.

permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form:to be allowed to)

I could go to the cinema.

polite question * Could I go to the cinema, please?

polite request * Could you wait a moment, please?

polite offer * I could lend you my car till tomorrow.

polite suggestion * Could we visit Grandma at the weekend?

possibility * It could get very hot in Montana.

3) may

Use Examples

possibility It may rain today.

permission to do sth. in the present (substituteform: to be allowed to) May I go to the cinema?

polite suggestion May I help you?

4) might

Use Examples

possibility (less possible than may) * It might rain today.

hesitant offer * Might I help you?


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5) must have to

Must and have to both express obligation.However, they are used differently depending on who imposes the obligation.

MUSTThe speakerthinks it is necessary.

HAVE TOSomeone else thinks it is necessary.

I must buy flowers for my mother(It's her birthday and I decide to dothat).

"You must take more exercise"says the doctor.(Thedoctor thinks it is necessary).

I must ask my secretary to book a flightfor me.(It is important for me not to forget.)

"Dogs must be kept on a lead"(Written on a sign in the park = a rulewhich must be respected)

I have to buy flowers for my mother-in-law.(It is not my decision -my husband asked me to do it.)

I have to take more exercise.(doctor's orders!)

I have to call the travel agency.(My boss asked me to book a fl ight.)

I have to keep my dog on a lead.(That's what the sign tells me to do.)

In the negative form, the meaning changes!

MUST NOT (MUSTN'T) MUST NOT (MUSTN'T)

You mustn'ttell George= it's important not to tell George= don't tell George

You mustn't tell George= it's important not to tell George= don't tell George

Must

Use Examples

force, necessity, obligationI mustgo to the supermarket today.

She had to be home early. (in the past)

Possibility, deduction

You mustbe tired.

That must be John coming (affirmative), but...

that cant be John coming (negative)

That must have been John (in the past), but...

That cant have been John (negative, in the past)

advice, recommendation You mustsee the new film with Brad Pitt.


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6) must not/may not

Use Examples

prohibition You mustn'twork on dad's computer.You may notwork on dad's computer.

7) need not

Use Examples

not necessaryI needn'tgo to the supermarket, we're going tothe restaurant tonight.

8) ought to

Use Examples

advice You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.

obligation

You ought to switch off the light when you

leave the room.

9) should

Use Examples

Advice You should take an umbrella. It's starting to rain.

Logical deduction John has revised all day. He should be ready forhis exam.

10) shall

Use Examples

Offers and suggestionswith 'I' and 'we' :

Shall I order a taxi?Shall we begin the meeting now?

11) willUse Examples

Future tense auxiliary :

Invitations/offers :

Tomorrow I will be in New York.

Will you join us for coffee? Won't you comein?


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EXERCISES

REPLACE THE WORD IN BRACKETS IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES WITH A MODALPHRASE TO MAKE IT MORE TENTATIVE. IN SOME CASES, MORE THAN ONE ANSWER ISPOSSIBLE.

1. Learning a new language __________ (is) a real pleasure.

2. It ________ (is) wise to spend more time working out our needs before conducting the survey.

3. Judging from the attitude and examples used, this article ______________ (was) written by ademocrat.

4. The findings indicate that excessive exposure to sunlight____________ (is) the primary cause ofskin cancer.

5. The audience ___________ (was not) aware of the mistake we made during the performance.

6. Good preparation and a sincere attitude ______________ (help) you impress the panel in aninterview.

7. The method we used in analysing the data ______________ (is) wrong.

8. Why dont you ask Paul? He _______________ (knows) the answer.

9. You ______________ (get) a better job if you have a good IELTS score.

10. Our formula ____________(is) taken as a new measure to evaluate the existing models.

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES USING A MODAL VERB

1. When I was seven of age I didnt know how to ride a bike.When I was seven of age I ... ride a bike.

2. Jim is a very good player.Jim ..... play very well.

3. Im sure they havent called yet.They ... have called yet.

4. I would have been able to finish the report if I had had more time.I ... the report if I had had more time.

5. In some Spanish schools its compulsory to wear a uniform.In some Spanish schools you .... wear a uniform.

6. Its not necessary that you do your homework now.You ... do your homework now.

7. Its not necessary for you to come early.You ..... come early.


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8. Perhaps it will be sunny this afternoon.It ..... be sunny this afternoon.

9. Hell go to the beach this weekend if the weather is good.He ...... go to the beach this weekend if the weather is good.

10.Id prefer not to go with her friends.I .. not go with her friends.

RE-WRITE THE SENTENCE SO THAT IT HAS THE SAME MEANING AS THE ORIGINAL.

1. It's not essential to be rich to be a success.You...

2. I think you worry too much.You...

3. It was impossible to do the job if you didn't speak German f luently.You...

4. The PC isn't working. I think it has been damaged during the move.It...

5. I'm sure that he is exhausted after such a long flight.He...

6. I'm sure it isn't true.It...

7. The book is optional. We can read it if we want to.We...

8. To hold my breath for more than a minute is impossible for me.I...

9. Jim didn't hear the speaker. The crowd was shouting so loudly.Jim...

10.I think the answer in the book is wrong.The answer...

11.Don't forget to bring your essay tomorrow. The professor is very strict about homework on time.You...

12.To turn on the machine, press this switch.The machine...

13.I advised my boss to take Sam for the post.I told my boss that ...


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14.I let you leave the table once you have finished your meal.You...

15.I think taking along some cash would be a good idea.You...

16.I'm sure it has cost a fortune.It...

17.Why do you always say the first thing that pops into your head?Do you...

18.Bob, why don't we move into the living room?Bob, ...

19.I can't stand all this. I 'm going to get out of here.I...

20.It's very unlikely that he should have gone white water rafting.He...

I find that the harder I work the more luck I seem to have.

Thomas Jefferson

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120409 Ing2b t04 Verbs Grammar Exercises