Modals Intensive Course in Research Writing Texas A&M UniversityJuly 11-15, 2011 Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELS [email protected] WordsWorld Consulting

ModalsModals

Intensive Course in Research WritingTexas A&M University July 11-15, 2011

Susan E. Aiello, DVM, [email protected]

WordsWorld Consultingwww.words-world.net

ESL Short SubjectESL Short Subject

ModalsModals

Auxiliaries that add a specific Auxiliaries that add a specific meaning to a verbmeaning to a verbMost common: can, could, may, Most common: can, could, may, might, must, shouldmight, must, shouldOthers: ought to/have to, had better, Others: ought to/have to, had better, have to, will, would, would rather, have to, will, would, would rather, would like would like

ModalsModals

Show the difference between facts, Show the difference between facts, inferences, and possibilitiesinferences, and possibilities

Modal errors can considerably affect Modal errors can considerably affect reader’s ability to understand meaningreader’s ability to understand meaning

Common ProblemsCommon Problems

Wrong modal chosen to express Wrong modal chosen to express intended meaningintended meaning

Modal verb phrase incorrectly formedModal verb phrase incorrectly formed

Time reference of modal verb phrase Time reference of modal verb phrase is incorrectis incorrect

Formation of Modal Verb PhrasesFormation of Modal Verb Phrases

modal + base formmodal + base formWhat does he usually do for exercise?What does he usually do for exercise?He might exercise at the gym, but I’m not He might exercise at the gym, but I’m not sure that he definitely does.sure that he definitely does.(time = present habitual)(time = present habitual)

modal + modal + bebe + present participle + present participleWhat is he doing right now?What is he doing right now?He might be exercising at the gym.He might be exercising at the gym.(time(time = right now)= right now)

Present time


modal + base formmodal + base formWhat is he going to do tomorrow night?What is he going to do tomorrow night?He might exercise at the gym.He might exercise at the gym.(time = future)(time = future)

Future time


modal + modal + havehave + past participle + past participleWhat did he do last night?What did he do last night?He might have exercised at the gym.He might have exercised at the gym.(time = past)(time = past)

modal + modal + havehave + + beenbeen + present participle + present participleWhat was he doing when you called last What was he doing when you called last

night?night?He might have been exercising at the gym.He might have been exercising at the gym.(time = past with an emphasis on duration)(time = past with an emphasis on duration)

Past time


The modals The modals ought to ought to and and have to have to in the present and in the present and in the past have a preposition in the past have a preposition toto in the modal verb in the modal verb phrase. The other modals do not.phrase. The other modals do not.

We ought to/have to study before the test. We ought to/have to study before the test. (present)(present)

We ought to have studied more than we did. We ought to have studied more than we did. (past)(past)

We had to study hard before the test. (past)We had to study hard before the test. (past)versusversus

We should study before the test.We should study before the test.We should have studied hard before the test.We should have studied hard before the test.

ought to and have to

Functions of ModalsFunctions of Modals

to show abilityto show abilityI can run 2 miles.I can run 2 miles.

to suggest a possibility or to give an option to suggest a possibility or to give an option Students can pre-enroll for certain courses.Students can pre-enroll for certain courses.

to ask for or to give permissionto ask for or to give permissionCan I call you?Can I call you?You can leave when your work is done.You can leave when your work is done.

to show impossibilityto show impossibilityIt cannot be Jim standing over there. He went It cannot be Jim standing over there. He went away for the weekend.away for the weekend.

CAN


to show past abilityto show past abilityI could run 12 miles when I was in college.I could run 12 miles when I was in college.

to ask a polite questionto ask a polite questionCould I call you?Could I call you?

to show possibilityto show possibilityWhy isn’t Mary here? She could be busy.Why isn’t Mary here? She could be busy.

to show impossibilityto show impossibilityHe could not be here at work. He is out of town.He could not be here at work. He is out of town.

COULD


to suggest a possibility or to give an optionto suggest a possibility or to give an optionYou could try going to Dr. Davis to see if he You could try going to Dr. Davis to see if he can help.can help.

show a past opportunity that was not realizedshow a past opportunity that was not realizedI could have asked for help with the project, I could have asked for help with the project, but I wanted to do it myself.but I wanted to do it myself.

COULD


to ask for or to give permission (formal)to ask for or to give permission (formal)May I call you?May I call you?You may leave when your work is done.You may leave when your work is done.

to show possibilityto show possibilityThe instructor may come to class late today.The instructor may come to class late today.

MAY


to show possibilityto show possibilityThe instructor might come to class late today.The instructor might come to class late today.

MIGHT


to show advisabilityto show advisabilityYou should try that new restaurant downtown.You should try that new restaurant downtown.

to show advisability after the factto show advisability after the factWe should have tried that new restaurant downtown. But We should have tried that new restaurant downtown. But we did not.we did not.

to show obligationto show obligationI should renew my driver’s license. It expires next I should renew my driver’s license. It expires next

month.month.

to show an obligation that was not carried outto show an obligation that was not carried outI should have renewed my driver’s license. But I forgot I should have renewed my driver’s license. But I forgot

to to do so.do so.

SHOULD


to show expectationto show expectationYou should receive my letter in two days.You should receive my letter in two days.

to show an expectation that was not realizedto show an expectation that was not realizedYou should have received my letter two days ago. You should have received my letter two days ago.

But But you did not.you did not.

SHOULD


to show advisabilityto show advisabilityWe had better leave. It is getting late.We had better leave. It is getting late.

HAD BETTER


to show probability or to make a logical assumptionto show probability or to make a logical assumptionJan must be out this evening. She does not Jan must be out this evening. She does not

answer her telephone.answer her telephone.

to show necessityto show necessityI must call my parents tonight. I have not talked I must call my parents tonight. I have not talked to them in a long time.to them in a long time.

to show prohibitionto show prohibitionYou must not smoke in the building at any time.You must not smoke in the building at any time.

MUST


to show necessityto show necessityMike has to make up the chemistry lab he Mike has to make up the chemistry lab he

missed.missed.

to show lack of necessityto show lack of necessityI am glad that I do not have to cook tonight.I am glad that I do not have to cook tonight.

HAVE TO


to indicate future timeto indicate future timeI will leave for the airport early on Saturday.I will leave for the airport early on Saturday.

to make a promise or to show willingnessto make a promise or to show willingnessThe federal government will provide assistance to the The federal government will provide assistance to the

flood victims.flood victims.

to state a general truthto state a general truthThe new car they have developed will run on either The new car they have developed will run on either

gasoline or ethanol.gasoline or ethanol.

to ask a polite questionto ask a polite questionMike, will you help me lift these boxes? (Note: time = now)Mike, will you help me lift these boxes? (Note: time = now)

WILL


to ask a polite questionto ask a polite questionWould you please call me later tonight?Would you please call me later tonight?

to indicate a repeated action in the pastto indicate a repeated action in the pastWhen I lived in Detroit, I would wash my car When I lived in Detroit, I would wash my car every weekend.every weekend.

to indicate future time in a sentence that is in the pastto indicate future time in a sentence that is in the pastMark promised that he would help me learn the Mark promised that he would help me learn the new software.new software.

WOULD


to show a preferenceto show a preferenceI would rather work late every night than I would rather work late every night than

come come in on Saturday.in on Saturday.

WOULD RATHER


to express a desireto express a desireI would like to go to music school.I would like to go to music school.

To express a desire that was not realizedTo express a desire that was not realizedI would have liked to have gone to music I would have liked to have gone to music school. But I did not.school. But I did not.

WOULD LIKE


Assertion of factAssertion of fact nonenoneAssertion showing capabilityAssertion showing capability cancanPrediction showing certaintyPrediction showing certainty willwillPrediction showing probabilityPrediction showing probability shouldshouldPrediction showing possibilityPrediction showing possibility may, might, couldmay, might, could

Example:Example: Aspirin reduces (the) pain.Aspirin reduces (the) pain.

Use modals to adjust the degree of certainty


Assertion of factAssertion of fact nonenoneRequirementRequirement mustmustStrong recommendation/adviceStrong recommendation/advice shouldshouldOpportunity or optionOpportunity or option cancanSuggestionSuggestion could, mightcould, might

Example:Example: Researchers use the library... Researchers use the library...

Use modals to adjust the degree of obligation

Documents

Modals Intensive Course in Research Writing Texas A&M UniversityJuly 11-15, 2011 Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELS [email protected] WordsWorld Consulting