Modals
VBO35, seminar VI
In most of the sentences below there are mistakes
concerning the use of modal verbs. Can you correct
them?
1. I had lost my car keys so I took out a knife and could get the car
started.
2. When I was a teenager I could run 1500 m in less than four
minutes.
3. No, you can not have any more sweets!
4. I couldn’t jump out of a plane with a parachute – I’d be too scared.
5. It’s disgusting! I must pay another 10,000 Kc in tax!
6. The law says that you don’t have to smoke at tram and bus stops etc.
7. In those days it was easier to get permission to travel, so I could take
my whole family to West Germany to visit Roland.
I had lost my car keys so I took out a knife and could get the car started.
I had lost my car keys so I took out a knife and WAS ABLE TO get the car
started.
When I was a teenager I could run 1500 m in less than four minutes.
Fine.
No, you can not have any more sweets!
No, you CANNOT have any more sweets!
I couldn’t jump out of a plane with a parachute – I’d be too scared.
FINE.
It’s disgusting! I must pay another 10,000 Kc in tax!
It’s disgusting! I HAVE TO pay another 10,000 Kc in tax!
The law says that you don’t have to smoke at tram and bus stops etc.
The law says that you MUSTN’T / CAN’T smoke at tram and bus stops etc.
In those days it was easier to get permission to travel, so I could take my whole
family to West Germany to visit Roland.
Fine
The following verbs collocate either with have,
take, or bring. Match them to one or two of these.
place
a decision
a shower
a deep breath
sth to eat
(an) experience
fun
a taxi
charges (against sb)
sth to a close
a rest
the bus,
dinner / lunch
care of smbdy
control of smth
part in sth
st to an end
a seat
a shower
a picnic
a shower
sth to sb's attention
a party
medicine
tears to sb's eyes
a party
an exam
an operation
a holiday
time
have + . . . take + . . . bring + . . .
a shower
dinner / lunch
sth to eat
(an) experience
fun
a holiday
an operation
a party
a picnic
a rest
time
the bus,
a taxi
care of smbdy
control of smth
a decision
a deep breath
an exam
medicine
part in sth
place
a seat
time
sth to sb's attention
charges (against sb)
sth to a close
st to an end
tears to sb's eyes
Bars and pubs in town centres should
close at 10.30 p.m. every day of the
week.
Discussion
1. Decide if you are happy or not with the
proposal.
2. Think of at least two reasons why / why not.
Write them down. Each of them must contain a
modal verb.
Bars and pubs in town centres should close at 10.30 p.m.
every day of the week.
Apples
You're an office
worker who has to
get up for work
very early in the
morning. The
block of flats
where you live in
the centre of town
has a bar
underneath it.
Oranges
You are a
student and you
live in a village
with your
parents. Most of
your friends live
in town so that's
where you
usually meet up
with them.
Bananas
You're a bar owner
who has a bar in the
centre of town with a
terrace which does
really well in the
summer months.
Discussion language:
Agreeing:
I quite agree.
I totally agree
That's what I
think, too.
Absolutely!
Half-agreeing:
I take your
point, but . . .
I see what you
mean, but . . .
I agree up to a
point, but . . .
Disagreeing:
I completely
disagree
I don't agree at all.
BNC: The British National Corpus
have control
take control
First, decide which of the following statements are
not grammatically possible. (Put a cross in the box
next to each one.)
That could be Dr Smith at the door.
That should be Dr Smith at the door.
That can be Dr Smith at the door.
That might be Dr Smith at the door.
That will be Dr Smith at the door.
That may be Dr Smith at the door.
That shall be Dr Smith at the door.
That must be Dr Smith at the door.
That would be Dr Smith at the door.
First, decide which of the following statements are
not grammatically possible. (Put a cross in the box
next to each one.)
That could be Dr Smith at the door.
That should be Dr Smith at the door.
That can be Dr Smith at the door.
That might be Dr Smith at the door.
That will be Dr Smith at the door.
That may be Dr Smith at the door.
That shall be Dr Smith at the door.
That must be Dr Smith at the door.
That would be Dr Smith at the door.
Now order the remaining sentences according to
degrees of certainty: 1 – most certain; 2 – next most
certain... etc.
That could be Dr Smith at the door.
That should be Dr Smith at the door.
That might be Dr Smith at the door.
That will be Dr Smith at the door.
That may be Dr Smith at the door.
That must be Dr Smith at the door.
That would be Dr Smith at the door.
Now order the remaining sentences according to
degrees of certainty: 1 – most certain; 2 – next most
certain... etc.
That could be Dr Smith at the door. Equal 4th
That should be Dr Smith at the door. 3rd
That might be Dr Smith at the door. 5th
That will be Dr Smith at the door. 1st
That may be Dr Smith at the door. Equal 4th
That must be Dr Smith at the door. 2nd