When do we use modals?
- To talk about someone's ability (or inability) to do something
Example: "We can find your house without the street plan."
"She can't have a daughter that old!" - To talk about an action that is necessary (or impossible, or not necessary)
Example: "You must always have your driver's licence when you are driving your car."
"You needn't carry your passport around with you." - To talk about a situation that is possible (or impossible)
Modals in the Past Form
permission e.g. When I was a teenager, I could go out as late as I wanted. | |
general ability e.g. Tom could walk by the age of 8 months. |
possibility, but did not happen e.g. I could have passed my driving test if I'd really tried. | |
uncertainty e.g. I guess it could have been Sandra on the phone. |
permission e.g. When I was a teenager, I couldn't stay out as late as I wanted. | |
general ability e.g. I couldn't walk until I was 2. | |
ability in a particular situation e.g. I tried hard but I couldn't persuade him to go to the party with us. |
unnecessary action not done e.g. As I was alone this weekend, I didn't need to do any cooking (so I didn't). |
certainty e.g. He must have known how much it was going to cost. (I'm sure he knew.) | |
with surely in exclamations e.g. Surely he must have known how much it was going to cost! |
criticism (more common is shouldn't have) e.g. You ought not to have been so frank with him. |
expectation Why is she late? She should have arrived by now! | |
should have + verbs of thinking e.g. I should have thought you knew. | |
with be and adjectives, describing chance e.g. It was weird that you should have been staying in the same hostel last month. | |
criticism (you didn't do something, but it would have been the right thing to do) e.g. The party was such fun last night! You should have come! |
criticism e.g. You shouldn't have been so frank with him. | |
polite expression of thanks on receiving a gift or favour "Here's a bottle of wine for you" "Oh, you really shouldn't have!" |
events in the past that did not happen e.g. I wouldn't have gone out with him, but he didn't ask me. | |
assumptions e.g. Oh, that would have been Sarah on the phone just now. |
would not | unwillingness e.g. I asked Tom to close the window, but he wouldn't do it. |
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar