Unit 19: Modals 1: ability, permission, advice
Ngữ pháp Modals 1: ability, permission, advice
📘 Giải thích tiếng Việt
Động từ khuyết thiếu (modal verbs)
Các modal như can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must chỉ có một hình thức (không chia theo ngôi) và luôn theo sau bởi động từ nguyên mẫu không "to". Ví dụ: You should call Stella. Câu hỏi đảo modal lên trước: Can you understand?
Bán khuyết thiếu (semi-modals)
Gồm ought to, have to, need to. Ought to không đổi; còn have to / need to chia theo ngôi và thì như động từ thường.
Ability – Khả năng
Dùng can cho khả năng ở hiện tại (Can you use a fax machine?) và could cho khả năng trong quá khứ (Tom could read when he was two.). Với các thì khác dùng be able to: I'll be able to speak Italian.
Permission – Xin/cho phép
Xin phép: can / could / may (May I use the phone?). Cho phép: can / may. Mức độ lịch sự tăng dần: can < could < may.
Advice – Lời khuyên
Dùng should hoặc ought to để khuyên nhủ: Liam should / ought to watch less TV. Nhớ ought luôn đi kèm to, còn should thì không.
Tổng điểm: 0/42
Theory
Introduction to modals
| Statement | Negative | Statement | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| can | can't / cannot | could | couldn't / could not |
| may | may not | might | mightn't / might not |
| will | won't / will not | would | wouldn't / would not |
| shall | shan't / shall not | should | shouldn't / should not |
| must | mustn't / must not |
All modal verbs:
• have only one form (I/you/he/she/it/we/they may write an e-mail)
• are followed by the bare infinitive (You should call Stella.)
• do not have an infinitive
• have only one form (I/you/he/she/it/we/they may write an e-mail)
• are followed by the bare infinitive (You should call Stella.)
• do not have an infinitive
Watch out!
• We form questions with modal verbs like this: Can you understand what he's saying?
• We use modals with the passive voice like this: The address should be written clearly on the front of the envelope.
• We form questions with modal verbs like this: Can you understand what he's saying?
• We use modals with the passive voice like this: The address should be written clearly on the front of the envelope.
Semi-modals
There are also some phrases that we use like modals:
• ought to (ought not to)
• have to (don't have to)
• need to (don't need to / needn't)
Like modals, ought to doesn't change. Have to and need to change for person and tense like normal verbs and have infinitives.
• ought to (ought not to)
• have to (don't have to)
• need to (don't need to / needn't)
Like modals, ought to doesn't change. Have to and need to change for person and tense like normal verbs and have infinitives.
Ability
| Use | Modal | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ability now or generally | can | Can you use a fax machine? |
| Ability in the past | could | Tom could read when he was two years old. |
Watch out! We use be able to to form other tenses.
✓ It's useful to be able to order things by e-mail. (infinitive)
✓ Soon, I'll be able to speak Italian quite well. (future)
✓ Have you been able to speak English for a long time? (present perfect)
✓ It's useful to be able to order things by e-mail. (infinitive)
✓ Soon, I'll be able to speak Italian quite well. (future)
✓ Have you been able to speak English for a long time? (present perfect)
Permission
| Use | Modal | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Asking for permission | can / could / may | Can / Could / May I use the phone? |
| Giving permission | can / may | You can / may send the fax when you like. |
Watch out! May is more polite than could and could is more polite than can.
Advice
| Use | Modal | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Asking for and giving advice | should / ought to | Liam ought to / should watch less TV. |
Exercise A
A Score: 0/8
Underline the mistake in each sentence and write the correct words.
1
My older brother can to ride a motorbike, but I can't.
can ride
2
He'll has his dinner early today because he's going out.
He'll have
3
Do you can come to my party?
Can you come
4
You should to see a doctor about your foot.
should see
5
I couldn't bought any bread because the baker's was closed.
couldn't buy
6
You needn't to do the washing-up. I've already done it.
needn't do
7
The school ought listen to pupils' opinions.
ought to listen
8
People shouldn't to drop their rubbish in the street.
shouldn't drop
Exercise B
B Score: 0/6
Complete the sentences using can, could or the correct form of be able to. You may have to use some negative forms.
Amy really loves playing chess and she (1) __________ play very well. When she was a baby she (2) __________ play chess. She thinks that when she's older, she'll (3) __________ win the national championships!
1
Amy really loves playing chess and she _______ play very well.
can
2
When she was a baby she _______ play chess.
couldn't
3
She thinks that when she's older, she'll _______ win the national championships!
be able to
Amy has (4) __________ ride a bicycle since she was three. She wants to learn to drive when she grows up, though. When she's eighteen, she hopes she'll (5) __________ do her driving test. She (6) __________ drive a car now though. It's against the law!
4
Amy has _______ ride a bicycle since she was three.
been able to
5
When she's eighteen, she hopes she'll _______ do her driving test.
be able to
6
She _______ drive a car now though. It's against the law!
can't
Exercise C
C Score: 0/7
Write what they say using the word given.
1
Tony wants to borrow his friend's pencil. could
Could I borrow your pencil?
2
Alex wants to allow her friend to use her dictionary. can
You can use my dictionary.
3
Julie wants permission from her teacher to leave the classroom. may
May I leave the classroom?
4
Lou wants to wear his brother's new trainers. can
Can I wear your new trainers?
5
Terry wants to ask her boss for permission to take the day off work. could
Could I take the day off work?
6
Diane wants to use her dad's car this weekend. can
Can I use your car this weekend?
7
A teacher wants to give her students five extra minutes to finish the test. may
You may have five extra minutes to finish the test.
Exercise D
D Score: 0/6
Rewrite the sentences using should or ought to and the words in brackets. You may have to use some negative forms.
1
'I need to earn more money.' (a, get, job, new, you)
You should/ought to get a new job.
2
'Brenda is angry about what I said.' (are, say, sorry, you, you)
You should/ought to say you are sorry.
3
'Tom doesn't understand his homework.' (about, ask, it, he, his, teacher)
He should/ought to ask his teacher about it.
4
'I'd like to learn to play the piano.' (having, lessons, start, you)
You should/ought to start having lessons.
5
'Tina is often tired at work.' (at, late, night, she, TV, watch)
She shouldn't/ought not to watch TV late at night.
6
'I don't seem to have much energy at the moment.' (exercise, get, some, you)
You should/ought to get some exercise.
Exercise E
E Score: 0/10
Circle the correct word or phrase.
1
I've been having swimming lessons and now I can / could swim really well.
can
2
Please could / should I use your mobile phone? Mine doesn't have any power.
could
3
Sam could / ought to get a job instead of complaining about having no money.
ought
4
Okay, yes – you can / should leave five minutes early today.
can
5
Do you think I must / should tell Michael the truth about what happened?
should
6
I can't / couldn't read until I was five years old.
couldn't
7
I'm sorry, but you can't / couldn't leave your car there.
can't
8
If you want to pass the exam, you can / ought to do some revision.
ought to
9
I know John lived in Tokyo, but I don't think he can / may speak Japanese.
can
10
Tracy can / could sing really well now that she's had a few lessons.
can
Exercise F
F Score: 0/5
Match to make sentences. Choose the correct ending (A–E) for each sentence beginning (1–5).
A wait for their flight in the VIP area.
B borrow some if you need it.
C to think about getting a taxi.
D offer to do it.
E walk when he was just six months old.
B borrow some if you need it.
C to think about getting a taxi.
D offer to do it.
E walk when he was just six months old.
1
There's a lot of washing-up; I think we should _______
D – offer to do it.
2
It's getting quite late and we ought _______
C – to think about getting a taxi.
3
I don't have much money, but you can _______
B – borrow some if you need it.
4
It's amazing that Andrew could _______
E – walk when he was just six months old.
5
Passengers travelling in first class may _______
A – wait for their flight in the VIP area.
Học tiếp bài khác
Xem tất cả Grammar B1
Thấy chỗ nào chưa đúng trong bài này?
Đáp án sai, lỗi chính tả, nội dung thiếu… hãy đăng nhập rồi báo cho chúng tôi để sửa cho các bạn học sau.