Modal Summary
Modals - Degrees of Certainty
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Expressing degrees of certainty
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Polar bears will perish. (100% certain) They might not survive in the arctic. (< 50% certainty)
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Modals - Past & Future Predictions
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Referring to future events and activities
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Next month, I will get a raise in salary. (I am determined to do so.) Next month, I will get a raise. (It's scheduled in my contract.)
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Modals - Would Expressions
Staing preferences, past habits, and making requests or excuses
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Would you like some coffee? Would you rather have tea or coffee?
On Sundays, we would visit our relatives On Sundays, we used to visit our relatives
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Modals – Expectation
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Giving advice, expressing personal expectations and social conventions
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The movie should be available next week. The movie will be available next week. (expectation)
Should we wear black pants to work? (convention) Are we supposed to wear black pants to work?(convention)
You should try ordering your movies online.(suggestion) She ought not to talk on her cell phone when she's with you. (advice)
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Modals - Options & Advice
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Offering solutions and problem-solving
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You could try using a hammer. (option, another choice) You should be careful. (advice) |
Modals – Degrees of Advisability
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Expressing advice and urgency
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Students should be honest about downloading copyrighted music. They must not download copyrighted music. They have to respect artists' rights to earn fair profits. The Recording Industry doesn't have to price their CDs so high.
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Modals – Conclusions
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Making guesses and conclusions
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She's sad. She might miss her family or she might be disappointed. Also, she is alone. She has nothing but a glass of absinthe (strong alcohol). She must be depressed. |
Modals - Ability
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Indicating ability to do something
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I can lift a car. I can change a tire. Driving drunk can cause a fatal accident. I was able to get pass my driving test. (single event) I could drive very well. (ongoing)
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Modals - Permission
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Asking permission and making requests
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You may leave early. You can leave early. May I see your arm? (I or we) (polite)
Shall we dance? |
Future Perfect
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Predicting completion in the future.
future perfect
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By 5 p.m., we will have finished our meeting. |
Predicting that something will be completed before another event or time
Located in Adverb Summary |
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By the time I leave work, the sun will be setting. (ongoing) |
Review
Identifying modal meanings through context
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He ____ be crazy to do that. may might could can must |
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Reviewing present and past differences in modal meanings
Do these modals mean the same in present and past tense?
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![]() I will cut the hedge. ![]() I would have cut the hedge. |
I can drive there. (ability) I could drive there. (permission / ability / potential)
Shall we go in there? (invitation) Should we go in there? (warning)
You must eat this. (necessity) You must have eaten this. (conclusion)
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Using future modals in complex sentences – with other connectors
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Apple said that it would introduce more functionality with the newer software.
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Auto-correcting modal self-quiz - multiple choice |
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Finding an apartment in San Francisco ____ be very difficult. |
More Related Pages ...
Hypothetical past: advice given after an accicdent; opportunities not taken
Located in Conditional Summary |
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Passengers could have taken other smaller trans-Atlantic ships.
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Index Grammar-Quizzes | Next Modals - degrees of certainty


















