Review Modals Should, Could, and Must with Practice

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Modal Verb Overview

A Brief Review of Should, Could and Must

with Practice


Modal Forms

Modal + base form helper or main verb

Simple I can go.Progressive He should be going.Perfect We would have

gone if…Perfect They might haveProgressive been going to go

when…


Modals’ Functions• Expectation and Conclusion• Suggestion/Advice • Description • Habitual Activity • Requests/ Offers/ Permission/ Ability/

Possibility • Disbelief/ Inaccuracy • Frustration/ Annoyance • Unfulfilled / Unrealized Actions (with

perfect)


Present Past

MayMightCould

May haveMight haveCould have

50 % CertaintyMust Must have

90 % Certainty

Overview Modal Meaning


Present Past

Should Should HaveAdvice or Expectation

Couldn’t Couldn’t haveImpossibility

MustHave to

Had to

Necessary

Overview Modal Meaning


Should

SHOULD/SHOULD HAVE

= ADVICE (GOOD IDEA)or

= EXPECTATION


Practice: Should

Make a new sentence with the same meaning or comment on the sentence below.

I didn’t bring a sweater, and now I’m cold.


Possible Sentences

I should have brought a sweater.

I should have checked the weather before I left the house.

I should ask Mr. C for his jacket.


Practice: Should


I expect the bus will be here soon.


Possible Sentences

I should look out for it.I should stand up.I should pay attention.I should get to work on

time.


Practice: Should


If you study hard, I expect you can pass.


Possible Sentences

I should study hard, so I pass the class.

I should pass the class so I must study hard.


Practice: Should


The student didn’t study hard for the test, so he didn’t pass.


Possible Sentence

He should have studied!

He should worked harder!


Practice: Should


I took a shortcut going home, but I got lost.


Possible Sentences

I should not have taken the shortcut.

I should have gone home the normal way.


Must / Must Have

MUST/MUST HAVE= 90% GUESS

MUST HAVE= PAST TENSE FOR STRONG GUESSES

ONLYHAD TO

= PAST TENSE OF MUST(necessary, need to)


meaning present past(guess) must must

have

(necessary)musthave to had toneed to

needed to

“must have” is only for past guesses (or inferences) !!!


Practice: Must

Make statements about the following

situations using must.Example: Jim needs a loan to pay his tuition.- Jill’s father must not earn a lot of money.

- Jim must think that education is important.


Make statements about the following situations using must.

You notice that there are a lot of advertisements and TV commercials in the United States for dog and cat food.

Practice: Must


Americans must like dogs and cats.

Americans must buy special food for their dogs and cat food.

Americans must spend a lot of money on their pets.

Possible Sentences



You receive your telephone bill, and it lists two calls to Chicago. You don’t know anyone in Chicago.

Practice: Must


Someone must have stolen your phone number.

Someone must be using your phone without permission.

Possible Sentences



A coffee shop near campus is always crowded day and night.

Practice: Must


Students must like their coffee.Students must not have any

where else to go.This must be a popular place.

Possible Sentences



Most graduates of the Computer Science Department at State University get good jobs after graduation.

Practice: Must


Computer Science must be a good job.

The State University must help students get jobs.

Possible Sentences


Could (1)

POLITE REQUESTCould you open the window, please?


Could (2)

PERMISSION

Could I borrow a dollar for a Coke?


Could (3)

PAST ABILITY / INABILITY

I could swim 3 miles when I was younger.

I couldn’t drive until I was 17 years old.


Could (4)

GUESSPresent: I didn’t see Chuck this

morning. He could be sick.

Present Continuous: I’ve been trying to reach Keiko for an hour.

She could be talking to her boyfriend.


Could (5)

PAST POSSIBILITY THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN

Mariko could have gotten an “A” on the test, but she didn’t study.

Tom could have finished his essay, but he went to the movies instead.


Could (6)

IMPOSSIBILITYPresent:A: Fred weighs 250 pounds.

B: He couldn’t weigh 250. He’s only 5´2´´ and wears a

medium.


Could (6)

IMPOSSIBILITY

Past:A: I saw Henry at the disco

last night.B: You couldn’t have seen

him at the disco. I was studying with him at the library all night.


Could Uses

1. POLITE REQUEST2. PERMISSION3. GUESS / INFERRENCE4. PAST ABILITY / INABILITY5. PAST POSSIBILITY THAT DIDN’T

HAPPEN6. PRESENT IMPOSSIBILITY7. PAST IMPOSSIBILITY


Could with Possibility

COULD / COULD HAVE= POSSIBLE, BUT IT

DIDN’T HAPPEN

COULDN’T / COULDN’T HAVE= IMPOSSIBLE


Meaning Present Past

Politeness / Permission

Can could

Ability Can could

Guess Could Could have

Possibility Could Could have

Impossibility Couldn’t Couldn’t have


Modal Problems

1) Using the WRONG verb form with modal

We must to come to class on time.They can being late for class.I could was late for class.He should comes on time.


Modal Problems

2) Using ENDING on modal

He musts come to class on time.

They coulded be late for class.


Modal Problems

3) Using TWO modals together

He might can come to class on time.

They should could be on time for class.


Modal Problems

4) Using don’t with modals

He don’t can come to class on time.

They don’t should be on late for class.


Modal Problems

5) Using incorrect Past Part with modals

He can’t have went to class on time.

They should have was on time for class.


Paraphrase Practice with Modals

Paraphrase each sentence using a modal.I’m not sure if they were going steady when I met them, but it’s possible.

They ...


Possible Sentences

They could have been going steady when I met them.



Paraphrase each sentence using a modal.They told everyone that they were happy, but we can only conclude that they were lying.

They ...


Possible Sentences

They must not have been happy.

They should not have said they were happy.



Paraphrase each sentence using a modal.It is unfortunate that they weren’t seeing a marriage counselor.

They ...


Possible Sentences

They should have been seeing a marriage counselor.

They could have been seeing a marriage counselor.



Paraphrase each sentence using a modal.I can’t believe they were expecting to settle this in one month!

They ...



They should not have been expecting to settle this in one month!

They must have been crazy to think they could settle this in one month!


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Review Modals Should, Could, and Must with Practice