I

/
USES PRESENTIFUTURE

may (1) polite request (dy May I borrow your pen?

with I or we)

(2) formal permission You may leave the room.

(3) less than 50% -Where's John?
certainty He may be at the library. library.
mighl (1) less than 50% --Where's John? He might have been at the
certainty He might be at the library.
1 (2) polite request (rare) I Might I borrow your pen?
1 should I (1) advisability I I should study tonight. I should have studied last
night, but I didn't.
( 2 ) 90% certainty She should do well on the test. She should have done well on
(expecrarh) @lure only, not present) the test.
ought w I ( 1 ) advisability I ought to study tonight. I ought to have studied last
night, but I didn't. 1
(2) 90% certainty She ought to do well on the She ought to have done well on
(expectation) test. (juture only, nor presmo
had better (1) advisability with You had better be on time, or
threat of bad result we will leave without you.
Class is supposed to begin at

(2) unfulfilled Class was supposed to begin

expectation at 10:00, but it didn't begin until
10:15.
must (1) strong necessity
(2) prohibition
(negative)
I must go to class today.
You must not open that door.
1
( I had to go to class yesterday.)

(3) 95% certainty Mary isn't in class. She must

be sick. (present only)
Mary must have been sick
yesterday. I
have to (1) necessity I have to go to class today.
(2) lack of necessity I don't have to go to class I didn't have to go to class
(negative) today. yesterday.
I have got to I (1) necessity ( I have got to go to class today. ( I had to go to class yesterday.) I
will (1) 100% certainty He will be here at 6:00.
Cfuture only)

1 (2) willingness -The phone's ringing.

I'll get it.
(3) polite request Will you please pass the salt?

Modals, Part 2 199

AUXILIARY USES PRESENT~EOTURE PAST

be going w (1) 100% certainty He is going to be here at 6:OO.

(2) definite plan I'm going to paint my

(inmh) bedroom. (future only)

can
( 3 ) unfulfilled intention

(1) abilitylpossibility I can run fast.

I I was going to paint my room,
but I didn't have time.
I could run fast when I was a
child, but now I can't.
1 (2) informal permission I You can use my car tomorrow. 1 I
(3) informal polite Can I borrow your pen?
request
(4) impossibility That can't be true! That can't have been true!
(negative only)
(1) past ability I could run fast when I was a
child.
(2) polite request Could I borrow your pen?
Could you help me?
(3) suggestion -I need help in math. You could have talked to your
(ajjirmative only) You could talk to your teacher. teacher.
(4) less than 50% -Where's John? He could have been at home.
certainty He could be at home.
(5) impossibility That couldn't be true! That couldn't have been true!
(negative only)

be able w (1) ability I a m able to help you. I will I was able to help him.
be able to help you.
would (1) polite request Would you please pass the salt?
Would you mind if I left early?
(2) preference I would rather go to the park I would rather have gone to
than stay home. the park.
(3) repeated action in When I was a child, I would
the past visit my grandparents every
weekend.
(4) polite for "want"
(evilh like)
(5) unfulfilled wish
I would like an apple, please.
1 I would have liked a cookie,
but there were none in the house.
wed w (1) repeated action in I used to visit my grandparents
the past every weekend.
(2) past situation that no I used to live in Spain. Now I
longer exists live in Korea.
- - -

shall (1) polite question to Shall I open the window?

make a suggestion
(2) future with "I" or I shall arrive at nine.
"we" as subject (will = more common)

NOTE: Use of modals in reported speech is discussed in Chart 12-7, p. 254. Use of rnodals in conditional sentences is
discussed in Chapter 20.
EXERCISE 28. Review: modals and similar expressions. (Chapters 9 and 10)
Directions: Discuss the differences in meaning, if any, in each group of sentences.
1. a. May I use your phone?
b. Could I use your phone?
c. Can I use your phone?
2. a. You should take an English course.
b. You ought to take an English course.
c. You're supposed to take an English course.
d. You must take an English course.
3. a. You should see a doctor about that cut on your arm.
b. You had better see a doctor about that cut on your arm.
c. You have to see a doctor about that cut on your arm.
4. a. You must not use that door.
b. You don't have to use that door.
5. a. I will be at your house by six o'clock.
b. I should be at your house by six o'clock.
6 . -There is a knock at the door. W h o do you suppose it is?
a. It might be Sally.
b. It may be Sally.
c. It could be Sally.
d. It must be Sally.
7. -There's a knock at the door. I think it's Mike.
a. It may not be Mike.
b. It couldn't be Mike.
c. It can't be Mike.
8 . -Where's Jack?
a. He might have gone home.
b. He must have gone home.
c. He had to go home.
9. a. Each student should have health insurance.
b. Each student must have health insurance.
10. a. If you're having a problem, you could talk to Mrs. Anderson.
b. If you're having a problem, you should talk to Mrs. Anderson.
11. a. I've got to go.
b. I have to go.
c. I should go.
d. I'm supposed to go.
e. I'd better go.
f. I'd rather go.
12. -I needed some help.
a. You should have asked Tom.
b. You could have asked Tom.
13. a. When I was living at home, I would go to the beach every weekend with my
friends.
b. When I was living at home, I used to go to the beach every weekend with my
friends.

Modals, Part 2 201

0 EXERCISE 29. Review: modals and similar expressions. (Chapters 9 and 10)
Directions: Use a modal or phrasal modal with each verb in parentheses. More than one
auxiliary may be possible. Use the one that seems most appropriate to you and explain
why you chose that one rather than another.
1 . It looks like rain. We (shut) the windows.

2. Ann, (you, hand) me that dish? Thanks.

3. Spring break starts on the thirteenth. We (go, not) to

classes again until the twenty-second.

4. The baby is only a year old, but she (say, already) a

few words.

5. In the United States, elementary education is compulsory. All children (attend)

six years of elementary school.

6. There was a long line in front of the theater. We (wait)

almost an hour to buy our tickets.

7. A: I'd like to go to a warm, sunny place next winter. Any suggestions?

B: You (go) to Hawaii or Mexico. Or how about Indonesia?

8. I don't feel like going to the library to study this afternoon. I (go)
to the shopping mall than to the library.

9. A: Mrs. Wilson got a traffic ticket. She didn't stop at a stop sign.
B: That's surprising. Usually she's a very cautious driver and obeys all the traffic
laws. She (see, not) the sign.

10. Annie, you (clean) this mess before Dad gets home.
He'll be mad if he sees all this stuff all over the living room floor.

1 1 . A: This is Steve's laptop, isn't it?

B: It (be, not) his. He doesn't have a laptop computer, at
least not that I know of. It (belong;) to Lucy or to
Linda. They sometimes bring their laptops to class.

12. In my country, a girl and boy (go, not) out on a date unless
they are accompanied by a chaperone.

13. Jimmy was serious when he said he wanted to be a cowboy when he grew up. We
(laugh, not) at him. We hurt his feelings.

202 CHAPTER 10
14. A: (I, speak) to Peggy?
B: She (come, not) to the phone right now. (I, take)
message?

15. A: How are you planning to get to the airport?

B: By taxi.
A: You (take) a shuttle bus instead. It's cheaper than a
taxi. You (get) one in front of the hotel. It picks up
passengers there on a regular schedule.

16. A: Why didn't you come to the party last night?

B: I (study)
A: You (come) . We had a good time.
17. A: The phone's ringing again. Let's not answer it. Just let it ring.
B: No, we (answer) it. It (be)
important. We (get) an answering machine.

18. It's not like Tony to be late. He (be) here an hour ago.
I hope nothing bad has happened.

19. A: This is a great open-air market. Look at all this wonderful fresh fish! What kind of
fish is this?
B: I'm not sure. It (be) ocean perch. Let's ask.

20. The teacher called on Sam in class yesterday, but he kept looking out the window and
didn't respond. He (daydream)

Modals, Part 2 203

 EXERCISE 30. Error analysis: modals. (Chapters 9 and 10)
Directions: Correct the errors. Some of the sentences contain spelling or singular-plural
errors.
1. If you have a car, you can traveled around the United State.

2. During class the students must to sit quitely. When the student have questions, they

must to raise their hands.

3. When you send for the brochure, you should included a self-addressed, stamped

envelope.

4. A film director must has control over every aspect of a movie.

5. When I was a child, I can went to the roof of my house and saw all the other houses

and streets.

6 . While I was working in the fields, my son would brought me oranges or candy.

7. I used to brake my leg in a soccer game three month ago.

8. May you please help me with this?

9. Many student would rather to study on their own than going to classes.

10. We supposed to bring our books to class every day.

11. You can having a very good time as a tourist in my country. My country have many

diferent wheather area, so you have better plan ahead before you came.

12. When you visit big city in my country, you must to be paying attention to your wallet

when you are in a crowdy place because there's a lot of thief.

EXERCISE 31. Activity: modals. (Chapters 9 and 10)

Directions: Complete the dialogues with your own words. Work in pairs.
Example:
SPEAKER A: Why don't . . . we go to Luigi's Restaurant for lunch?
SPEAKER B : Thanks, but I can't. I have to . . . stay and finish this report during lunchtime.
SPEAKER A: That's too bad.
SPEAKER B: I should have . . . come early this morning to$nish it, but I couldn't. I had to . . .
drop my daughter off at school and meet with her teacher.
1 . A: I . . . . 2. A: ....
B: You shouldn't have done that! B: No, he had to . . . .
A: I know, but . . . . A: Why?
B: Well, why don't . . . . B: ....

204 CHAPTER 10
 3. A: Did you hear the news? We don't 9. A: ....
have to . . . . B: . . . ,but I'd rather not have gone.
B: Why not? I'd rather . . . .
A: . . . . 10. A: M a y I . . . .
B: Well, then, why don't . . . . B: Please do. I . . . .
4. A: Whose.. . . A: We could, but it's going to ....
B: I don't know. It . . . or it . . . . 11. A: ....
A: C a n . . . .
B: That can't be true! She couldn't
B: 1'11 try. have.. . .
5. A: . . . . A: Oh? Why not? Why do you say
B: Not at all. I'd be happy to. that?
A: Thank you. Maybe sometime . . . . B: Because . . . .
6 . A: . . . . 12. A: Did you have to . . . .
B: I would have liked to, but I . . . . B: Yes.
A: Are you going to have to . . . .
7. A: You must not ... .
B: I think so. So I'm probably not
B: Why not?
going to be able to . . . . But I
A: . . . . might be able to . . . .
8.A: . . . .
B: Well, you'd better . . . or . . . .
A: I know, but . . . .

EXERCISE 32. Activity: modals. (Chapters 9 and 10)

Directions: In small groups, debate one, some, or all of the following statements. At the
end of the discussion time, choose one member of your group to summarize for the rest of
the class the principal ideas expressed during your discussion.
Do you agree with the following statements? Why or why not?
1. Violence on television influences people to act violently.
2. Cigarette smoking should be banned from all public places.
3. No family should have more than two children.
4. Books, films, and news should be censored by government agencies.
5. People of different religions should not marry.
6. People shouldn't marry until they are at least twenty-five years old.
7 . All nuclear weapons in the possession of any nation should be eliminated.
8. The United Nations is a productive and essential organization.
9. All people of the world should speak the same language.

Modals, Part 2 205

 EXERCISE 33. Review of verb forms. (Chapters 1 5 , 9 , and 10)
Directions: Complete the sentences with the words in parentheses. Use any appropriate
tense or modal.
A: Yesterday I (1. have) a bad day.

B: Oh? What (2. happen) ?

A: I was supposed to be at a job interview at ten, but I didn't make it because while I
(3. drive)' down the freeway, my car (4. break)
down.

B: What (5. you, do) ?

A: 1 (6. pull) over to the side of the road, (7. get)

out, and (8. start) walking.

B: You (9. do, not) that! Walking alone along a

highway can be dangerous. You (10. stay) in
your car until help came.

A: You (1 1. be, probably) right, but I (12. start)

walking down the highway. After I (13. walk) for about
20 minutes, I got to an exit ramp. Near the bottom of the exit ramp, there was a
restaurant with a public phone. I (14. go) to the phone and
( 15 . discover) that I had left my purse in the car, so I
(1 6. have, not) any money to make a phone call.

B: What did you do then?

A: What do you think I should have done?

B: I don't know. I (17. think) of several things. You ( 18. go)

back to your car for your purse. You (19. try)
to borrow some change from a customer in the
restaurant. You (20. ask) to use the private phone in
the restaurant. What did you actually do?

A: I(21. ask) to speak with the manager of the restaurant.

B: That was a good idea. That's exactly what you should have done. What did the
manager do?

206 CHAPTER 10
 A: When I (22. tell) her my tale of woe, she (23. be) very
sympathetic. She (24. allow) me to use her private phone to call
my friend Bill, who (25. drive) to the restaurant.

B: You (26. feel) really glad when you saw Bill.

A: I did. First he (27. take) me to my job interview, and then he

(28. take) care of the car.

B: Good friends are important, aren't they?

A: They sure are.
B: Did you get the job you interviewed for?
A: I don't know yet. I (29. get) it, or I might not. I just don't
know. I (30. know) in a couple more days.

B: Good luck!
A: Thanks! I need it! Well, I (3 1. leave) now. I(32. be)
at a meeting in 45 minutes. (33. I, use)
your phone? I (34. need) to call a taxi. My car is still in the
garage, and I (35. have, not) time to wait for a bus.

B: I (36. take) you to your meeting.

A: Really? Thanks. As you said, good friends are important!

EXERCISE 34. Writing: modals. (Chapters 9 and 10)

Directions: Write a short paragraph on one or more of the topics.
Topics:
1. Write about when, where, and why you should (or should not) have done
something in your life.
2. Write about a time in your life when you did something you did not want to do.
Why did you do it? What could you have done differently? What should you have
done? What would you rather have done?
3. Look at your future. What will, might, should it be like? Write about what you
should, must, can do now in order to make your life what you want it to be.
4. Write about one embarrassing incident in your life. What could, should, might you
have done to avoid it?
5. Look at the world situation and the relationships between nations. What could,
should (or should not), must (or must not) be done to improve understanding?
6. Choose one of the environmental problems we are facing today. What could,
should, may, must, might be done to solve this problem?

Modals, Part 2 207