[1 Modal verbs: general notes Modal verbs (e.g. can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) are special auxiliaries which add to the meaning of other verbs. (See also Units 14 and 15.) They follow these rules: + Modal verbs never change (we don’t add -s or -ed or -ing to them): He might help. Another verb follows the modal verb, e.g. can + help — I can help. A We don’t put to before the second verb: I can help (not 1-can-+o-help). = not follows the modal verb: That will not (or won't) be necessary. 2 The modal verb goes first: Could you sweep the floor? A Ought is like other modal verbs but we put to after it: I/You/He/We/They ought to help. (not They ought help.) ca A need can be a modal verb and a normal verb. (See Unit 14B3.) EE) Asking someone to do something Less polite More polite: Answer + ‘Answer — Can/Will you help me? | Could/Would you help me? | Yes, of course. / Certainly. (etc:)| I'm afraid nor. / Sorry: (etc.) A We never use May you? to ask someone to do something. (not May-yorhelpme2) ETSY [) Making suggestions and offers To make a suggestion, we can say: Shall I/we move some tables outside? I can make one of my special recipes if you like. If we are less sure of what we are suggesting, we say: We could serve more interesting food perhaps. We can also use these expressions: Why don’t I/we move some tables outside? Let's move some tables outside. How about / What about moving some tables outside? A We say moving not move after How about / What about ... When we offer to do something, we usually use shall: Shall I put the advert back in the window? (not Wit put=?) | =c3 | EZ) Asking for, giving and refusing permission When we give permission or talk about having permission, we use can: Less polite More polite Answer * Answer ~ Can I sit here? Could/May I sit here? Yes, of course. / Certainly. (ete:)| I'm afraid not. / Sorry: (etc.) You can borrow my camera. We can finish work early tomorrow. ‘When we refuse permission, we use can’: You can’t use the phone. care)C Grammar exercises I claire and Tim are planning a party. Make sentences using the modal verb in brackets. 1 2 aaa ew @ (2) sam has broken his wrist and he is going on a coach journey. He asks the other passengers to help him. What does he say? Use each of these expressions at least once: Can you ..., Will you ..., Could you ..., Would you ... He asks someone arene a we / tidy the flat before the party. (must) W¢..mast. Peter / help us. (tight) soso. we / decorate the flat. (will) we / (not) invite too many people. (should) ... you / bring your CDs? (can) your mother / lend us some plates? (could) we (not) / make too much noise. (must) the neighbours / complain. (might) 0.00» carry his bags to the coach ould, hold the door fasten his seat belt open his bottle of water ..... help him put his coat on close the window (©) Jamie has come to visit Sam. Complete this conversation with expressions from the box. shallI get Feould-de- Shall show What about having I can cook I could give Jamie: I'm sorry you've broken your wrist, Sam. (1) ..c@ald..¢.. some shopping for you. Sam: _ It’s OK. I've got lots of food. I just can’t cook at the moment. Jamie: Oh. Well, (2) on. Sam: That would be good. (3) Jamie: Fine. And (4) something for you. a pizza and some salad? you a drink? What would you like? Sam: Can you open that orange juice in the fridge? I can’t do it with one hand. Jamie: OK. Look, I've brought some work from college. (5) . you? Sam: Actually, I'm coming into college this afternoon. Jamie: Pm going t00. (6) secrnmnuunm You a lift. Pve got my motorbike outside. 75©) Underline the correct words. 10 I know you want to learn to sail. I could/may teach you. Why don’t we eat/eating in the new Chinese restaurant? Could/Would I speak to Silvana please? Can/May you drive me to school today? Shall/Will I carry that for you? It looks very heavy. Shall/Will you give me Maria’s phone number please? I enjoyed playing tennis with you. Shall/Would we play again next week? How about inviting/invite my sister too? ‘Would/May you help me to write this letter?’ ‘I'm sorry. I'm busy. Let’s meet/meeting in the café at 7. ©) Whar did these people say? Use a different expression in each question. 1 nv w ao a x ow 10 ‘Anan suggested meeting outside the supermarket. Anan said: Shall. :4¢.. the supermarket? Mirsad asked for permission to leave work early. Mirsad said: Fernando asked me to buy some stamps. work early? Fernando sai Jasmina offered to paint her grandmother's kitchen. some stamps” Jasmina sai your kitchen?” Martina suggested leaving a message for Luca. Martina said: ‘ sun message for Luca?” Michael offered to do the washing up. Michael said: * soo Washing up’ ‘The teacher gave the boy permission to use the computer. The teacher said: ‘.. Katharine asked the shop assistant to find a bigger size. ... the computer’ Katharine said: a bigger size” Ellie suggested buying a CD for Tom’s birthday. Ellie said: « wom @ CD for Tom's birthday?” Sanja asked for permission to put a poster on the wall. Sanja said: “.... .. @ poster on the wall?”