unit 8:auxiliaries modals

 
unit:8 we 'd  like to play  baseball with the dodgers 
modal auxiliaries 

1.

modal auxiliary

The definition of a modal auxiliary is a verb that is used with another verb to express a mood or tense.

uses of auxiliaries 

normally the stucture  of a modal auxiliary is 
afirmative
subject +modal auxiliary +verb in base form +complement

negative form 

subject + modal auxiliary with particle not+ verb in base form +complement 

interrogative form 

modal auxiliary + subject +verb in  base form + complement 

Normally, we use can for the present. But it is possible to use can when we make present decisions about future ability.Can

Can is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use can to:

• talk about possibility and ability
• make requests
• ask for or give permission

Structure of Can

subject + can + main verb

The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").

	subject	auxiliary verb	main verb
+	I	can	play	tennis.
-	He	cannot	play	tennis.
		can't
?	Can	you	play	tennis?

Notice that:

• Can is invariable. There is only one form of can.
• The main verb is always the bare infinitive.The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to"). We cannot say:
• 

Use of Can

can: Possibility and Ability

We use can to talk about what is possible, what we are able or free to do:

• She can drive a car.
• John can speak Spanish.
• I cannot hear you. (I can't hear you.)
• Can you hear me?

1. Can you help me with my homework? (present)
2. Sorry. I'm busy today. But I can help you tomorrow. (future)

can: Requests and Orders

We often use can in a question to ask somebody to do something. This is not a real question - we do not really want to know if the person is able to do something, we want them to do it! The use of can in this way is informal (mainly between friends and family):

• Can you make a cup of coffee, please.
• Can you put the TV on.
• Can you come here a minute.
• Can you be quiet!

can: Permission

We sometimes use can to ask or give permission for something:

1. Can I smoke in this room?
2. You can't smoke here, but you can smoke in the garden.

(Note that we also use could, may, might for permission. The use of can for permission is informal.)

Could

"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly used inconditional sentences as the conditional form of "can."

Examples:

• Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. possibility
• Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. past ability
• You could see a movie or go out to dinner. suggestion
• Could I use your computer to email my boss? request
• We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. conditional

Could

• Could is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use could to:
  • talk about past possibility or ability
  • make requests

Structure of Could

• subject + could + main verb
  The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").

  	subject	auxiliary verb	main verb
  +	My grandmother	could	swim.
  -	She	could not	walk.
  		couldn't
  ?	Could	your grandmother	swim?

  
  

Use of Could

could: Past Possibility or Ability

• We use could to talk about what was possible in the past, what we were able or free to do:
  • I could swim when I was 5 years old.
  • My grandmother could speak seven languages.
  • When we arrived home, we could not open the door. (...couldn't open the door.)
  • Could you understand what he was saying?
  We use could (positive) and couldn't (negative) for general ability in the past. But when we talk about one special occasion in the past, we use be able to (positive) and couldn't (negative). Look at these examples:

  	Past
  	General	Specific Occasion
  +	My grandmother could speak Spanish.	A man fell into the river yesterday. The police were able to save him.
  -	My grandmother couldn't speak Spanish.	A man fell into the river yesterday. The police couldn't save hi

could: Requests

• We often use could in a question to ask somebody to do something. The use of could in this way is fairly polite (formal):
  • Could you tell me where the bank is, please?
  • Could you send me a catalogue, please?
  
  

Would

• Would is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use would mainly to:
  
  

  • talk about the past
  • talk about the future in the past
  • express the conditional mood

  We also use would for other functions, such as:
  
  

  • expressing desire, polite requests and questions, opinion or hope, wish and regret...

Structure of Would

• subject + would + main verb
  The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").
  

  	subject	auxiliary verb	main verb
  +	She	would	like	tea.
  		'd
  -	She	would not	like	whisky.
  		wouldn't
  ?	Would	she	like	coffee?

  Notice that:
  
  • Would is never conjugated. It is always would or 'd (short form).
  • 
    

Use of Would

would: Talking about the past

• We often use would as a kind of past tense of will or going to:
  
  • Even as a boy, he knew that he would succeed in life.
  • I thought it would rain so I brought my umbrella.
  Using would as as a kind of past tense of will or going to is common in reported speech:
  
  • She said that she would buy some eggs. ("I will buy some eggs.")
  • The candidate said that he wouldn't increase taxes. ("I won't increase taxes.")
  • Why didn't you bring your umbrella? I told you it would rain! ("It's going to rain.")
  We often use would not to talk about past refusals:
  
  • He wanted a divorce but his wife would not agree.
  • Yesterday morning, the car wouldn't start.
  We sometimes use would (rather like used to) when talking about habitual past behaviour:
  
  • Every weekday my father would come home from work at 6pm and watch TV.
  • Every summer we'd go to the seaside.
  • Sometimes she'd phone me in the middle of the night.
  • We would always argue. We could never agree.

would: Future in past

• When talking about the past we can use would to express something that has not happened at the time we are talking about:
  
  

  • In London she met the man that she would one day marry.
  • He left 5 minutes late, unaware that the delay would save his life.

would: Conditionals

• We often use would to express the so-called second and third conditionals:
  
  • If he lost his job he would have no money.
  • IfI had won the lotteryI would have bought a car.
  Using the same conditional structure, we often use would when giving advice:
  
  • I wouldn't eat that if I were you.
  • If I were in your place I'd refuse.
  • If you asked me I would say you should go.
  Sometimes the condition is "understood" and there does not have to be an "if" clause:
  
  • Someone who liked John would probably love John's father. (If someone liked John they would probably love John's father.)
  • You'd never know it. (for example: If you met him you would never know that he was rich.)
  • 
    

would: Desire or inclination

• • I'd love to live here.
  • Would you like some coffee?
  • What I'd really like is some tea.

would: Polite requests and questions

• • Would you open the door, please? (more polite than: Open the door, please.)
  • Would you go with me? (more polite than: Will you go with me?)
  • Would you know the answer? (more polite than: Do you know the answer?)
  • What would the capital of Nigeria be? (more polite than: What is the capital of Nigeria?)

would: Opinion or hope

• • I would imagine that they'll buy a new one.
  • I suppose some people would call it torture.
  • I would have to agree.
  • I would expect him to come.
  • Since you ask me I'd say the blue one is best.

would: Presumption or expectation

• • That would be Jo calling. I'll answer it.
  • We saw a police helicopter overhead yesterday morning. | Really? They would have been looking for those bank robbers.

would: Uncertainty

• • He would seem to be getting better. (less certain than: He seems to be getting better.)
  • It would appear that I was wrong. (less certain than: It appears that I was wrong.)

would: Derogatory

• • They would say that, wouldn't they?
  • John said he didn't steal the money. | Well, he would, wouldn't he?

would that: Regret (poetic/rare) - with clause

• This rare, poetic or literary use of would does not have the normal structure:
  • Would that it were true! (If only it were true! We wish that it were true!)
  • Would that his mother had lived to see him become president.
  
  
                                        Must
  

  It is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express obligation or strong recommendation. "Must not" can be used to prohibit actions, but this sounds very severe.

  • This must be the correct answer! Certainty

  • Visitors must buy a ticket to entrance to the park. Obligation

  • You must take some medicine for that sickness. Strong recommendation

  • Students, you must not play in the classroom. 

MAY
Talking about things that can happen in certain situations

If the monitors are used in poorly lit places, some users may experience headaches.
Each nurse may be responsible for up to twenty patients.
With a similar meaning to although

The experiment may have been a success, but there is still a lot of work to be done. (= Although it was a success, there is still ...)
MIGHT
Saying that something was possible, but did not actually happen

You saw me standing at the bus stop! You might have stopped and given me a lift!
SHOULD
Giving advice

I think you should go for the Alfa rather than the Audi.
You shouldn't be drinking if you're on antibiotics.
You shouldn't have ordered that chocolate dessert - you're not going to finish it.

Obligation: weak form of must

The university should provide more sports facilities.
The equipment should be inspected regularly.

Deduction

The letter should get to you tomorrow - I posted it first class.
Things which didn't or may/may not have happened

I should have renewed my TV licence last month, but I forgot.
You shouldn't have spent so much time on that first question.