modals: special difficulties (and 9)

9.- MODAL VERBS AND THE PASSIVE

Having no past participle, modal verbs cannot be conjugated in the passive, but they can express passive ideas if they are followed by a passive infinitive:

It can’t be done – no puede hacerse.

It must be done - debe hacerse.

To know more about Modal Verbs, you can consult my Gramática Inglesa pp. 294-327.

Practice -9

Turn the following sentences into the passive

a.- You must finish this as soon as possible

a.- This ........................................................

b.- We must tell the police at once

b.- The police ................................................

c.- They might have run you over

c.- You ......................................................

d.- They ought to give him a medal

d.- He ..........................................................

KEY TO PRACTICE -9

a- This must be finished as soon as possible

b- The police must be told once

c- You might have been run over

d- He ought to be given a medal.  

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modals: special difficulties (8)

8.- POLITE REQUESTS

You can make a polite request in English with the following modals: can/could, may/might and will/would.

May is more formal than can, and the past forms (could, might and would) are considered to be more polite than the present ones (can, may and will):

Can I have some coffee, please? - ¿puedo tomar café, por favor?

Could you lend me a pen, please? - ¿podrías prestarme una pluma, por favor?

May I come in? - ¿puedo pasar?

Might I have another drink? - ¿podría tomarme otra copa?

Will you please answer the phone? - ¿quieres contestar el teléfono?

Would you please stop the car? - ¿Querría usted parar el coche, por favor?

Practice-8

Make polite requests using the words in brackets

a.- ¿Quieres abrir la ventana, por favor? (will)

a.-

b.- ¿Puedo tomar otro café? (may)

b.-

c.- ¿Puedes ayudarme a llevar la maleta al piso de arriba? (can)

c.-

d.- ¿Podrías prestarme tu moto? (could)

d.-

e.- ¿Podría traer otro amigo a la fiesta? (might)

e.-

KEY TO PRACTICE -8

a- will you please open the window?

b- may I have another coffee?

c- can you help me (to) carry the suitcase upstairs?

d- could you lend me your bike/motorcycle?

e- might I bring another friend to the party?

     

  

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modals: special difficulties (7)

7.- USED TO/TO BE USED TO

To be used to + infinitive is used to express habitual actions in the past:

I used to smoke, but I gave it up two years ago – yo solía fumar, pero lo dejé hace dos años.

to be used to + -ing form is used to express sth you are accustomed to doing:

I’m not used to getting up so early – no estoy acostumbrado a levantarme tan temprano.

Practice-7

Put the verb in brackets in the infinitive or the –ing form as required

a.- Basil’s used to (work) .............................................. eight hours on his farm.

b.- He’s used to (sleep) .................................. late on Sunday mornings.

c.- I used to (play) ........................................ basketball at school.

d.- Grace used to (cry) ................................... a lot when she was a baby.

e.- I’m not used to (eat) ........................................ so much.

f.- My father used to (travel) ......................................... a lot.

Attention! for habitual actions in the present the simple present is used:

I usually get up at seven o’clock every day Me suelo levantar a las siete todos los días

Carol is usually late Carol suele llegar tarde

  KEY TO PRACTICE -7

a- work; b- sleeping; c- play; d- cry; e- eating; f- travel

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modals: special difficulties (6)

6.- QUESTIONS WITH SHALL OR WILL

· Use shall for questions that suggest sth, or ask for instructions or for the hearer’s agreement about sth.

shall we dance? ¿bailamos?

shall I walk the dog? ¿saco a pasear al perro?

shall I call a taxi? ¿llamo un taxi?

· Use will for polite requests or invitations:

will you please help me? ¿quiere ayudarme, por favor?

will you have another drink? ¿quieres tomar otra copa?

Practice-6

Complete the following questions with shall or will as required

a.- .................. I make some coffee?

b.- .................. you pass me the salt please?

c.- .................. we play cards?

d.- .................. you join me for lunch?

KEY TO PRACTICE -6

a- shall; b- will; c- shall; d- will

  

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modals: special difficulties (5)

5.- ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION/PROHIBITION

We all know that mustn’t is used to express prohibition, and needn’t or not have to for absence of obligation:

You mustn’t do it

You needn’t do it/you don’t have to do it

But, attention, if there was no need for you to do sth, but you did it nevertheless, needn’t have is used:

You needn’t have done it – no tenías que haberlo hecho  

and if there was sth that you had to do, but you didn’t do it, use should have and not must have, because must have indicates supposition:

You should have done it

Practice- 5

* Insert  needn’t or mustn’t according to whether the sentences express obligation or absence of obligation

a.- You ..................... cut the roses in the park; it’s forbidden.

b.- You ..................... tell him, I’ve already done it.

c.- You...................... wake me up; I’ve bought an alarm clock.

d.- You ..................... smoke in the office.

e.- Why did you order chicken as well? you ................... have ordered so much food

** Complete now with must have or should have according to whether you want to express supposition or sth that had to be done and wasn’t done

a.- “He didn’t phone me.” “He ........................ forgotten.

b.- “Sorry I dropped the glass”. “You ..................... been more careful.

c.- “A burglar entered my house last week”. “You .................... left the door open; you .......................... locked it.”

KEY TO PRACTICE -5

 * a.- mustn’t; b.- needn’t; c.- needn’t; d.- mustn’t; e.- needn’t.

** a.- must have; b.- should have; c.- must have; should have.

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modals: special difficulties (4)

4.- MUST IN THE PAST

In indirect speech you can use must or had to, but only had to in direct speech:

The boss told me that I must /had to get to work earlier - el jefe me dijo que debía/tenía que llegar más temprano al trabajo.

He had to sell his house - tuvo que vender su casa.

Practice-4

Turn the following sentences into the past

a.- My father always tells me that I must respect my teachers.

b.- My husband is away, so I must walk the dog.

c.- He must retire at 55 owing to bad health.

d.- The cleaning lady is ill, so I must make the beds.

KEY TO PRACTICE -4

a.- My father always told me that I must/had to respect my teachers. b.- My husband was away, so I had to walk the dog. c.- He had to retire at 55 owing to bad health. d.- The cleaning lady was ill, so I had to make the beds.

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modals: special difficulties (3)

3.- MUST/SHOULD?

Both can mean ‘deber’, but must is always stronger, more assertive than should, so use must for moral or legal obligation, rules, commands or strong advice:

You must switch off your mobile phone in the cinema – debes apagar tu móvil en el cine

You must smoke less – debes fumar menos

and use should for convenience or less strong advice:

You shouldn’t eat so many cakes – no deberías comer tantos pasteles.

Practice -3

* Complete with should or must as required

a.- You’re getting a pot belly; you ................ drink so much beer.

b.- There’s a school nearby, you ................ drive more slowly.

c.- He’s losing too much blood, we ............... call an ambulance at once.

d.- You work too hard, I think you ........................ slow down.

KEY TO PRACTICE -3

a.- shouldn’t; b.- must; c.- must; d.- should.

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modals:special difficulties (2)

2.- ‘PODER’ IN THE INFINITIVE AND FUTURE AND PERFECT TENSES

To translate ‘poder’ in the infinitive, the future or perfect tenses use to be able:

I won’t be able to come tomorrow – no podré venir mañana.

I haven’t been able to do it – no he podido hacerlo.

Practice -2

* Complete the sentences with the adequate form of to be able

a.- In fifty years’ time I’m sure that everybody ........... to live to a hundred.

b.- I have your report, but I ........................ to read it yet.

c.- I’ve always wanted ............................... to speak Japanese.

d.- Martin has just phoned to say that he ......................... to come tomorrow.

KEY TO PRACTICE -2

a.- will be able; b.- haven’t been able; c.- to be able; d- won’t be able.

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Modals : special difficulties (1)

1.- CAN/MAY?

· Can indicates mainly capacity or abilility to do sth:

I’m sure he can do (it) better than that – estoy seguro de que puede hacerlo mejor.

My wife can speak French - mi mujer sabe hablar francés.

 · May indicates that sth is possible:

It may rain this afternoon - puede que llueva esta tarde.

· Both can and may can be used to indicate ‘permission’, but may is more formal than can:

Can I smoke? - ¿puedo fumar? (informal)

May I smoke? - ¿puedo fumar? (formal)

Practice -1

* Fill in the blanks with can or may as required

a.- Gwen ........... play the piano, but she ............... play the violin.

b.- He says he ........... come this weekend if he ............... find a cheap flight.

c.- ................. you walk a bit faster? We’re going to be late for the concert.

d.- The TV said that it .................... be colder tomorrow.

e.- If there’s anything I .................... do to help you give me a ring.

f.- Mum, ................. I borrow your necklace for Linda’s wedding?

g.- Excuse me, Madam, .................... I use your phone?

KEY TO PRACTICE - 1

a.- can; can’t; b.- may; can; c.- can; d.- may/might; e.- can; f.- can; g.- may.

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