An In-depth Look at Modals used in the Present and the Future
(be) able to
can
can’t
could
don’t have to
don’t need to
had better
have (got) to
may
may as well/might as well
might
must
must not
need
needn’t
ought to
shall
shan’t
should
will
won’t
would
wouldn’t
(be) able to ability, less used than can
e.g. I’m not able to come to the game on Friday.
can ability
e.g. Can you play the piano?
asking for and giving permission
e.g. “Mom, can I go the cinema tonight?”
“No, you can’t. You have homework to do”
offer
e.g. Can I help you?
request, instruction
e.g. Can you switch on the light for me?
capability
e.g. The summers in England can be really unpredictable.
with be to make criticisms
e.g. Susan can be a real pain in the neck at times.
can’t ability
e.g. I can’t come to the game on Friday.
when you feel sure something is not possible (opposite of must)
e.g. The tennis match can’t be over yet. (I’m sure it isn’t).
could possibility or uncertainty (can also use might)
e.g. He could be the one for you!
request (more polite than can)
e.g. Could you switch on the light for me?
suggestion
e.g. We could go on a picnic this afternoon.
asking for and giving permission
e.g. “Could I use your phone?”
“Yes, of course you can”
unwillingness
e.g. I couldn’t possibly leave Tom alone while he’s in this state.
with comparative adjectives to express possibility or impossibility
e.g. I could be fitter.
e.g. He couldn’t study harder.
don’t have to when you don’t need to do something (but you can if you want)
e.g. You don’t have to go to school if you don’t want to.
don’t need to not necessary to do something (more used than needn’t)
e.g. You don’t need to come to the party if you don’t want to.
had better strong advice (less used than should)
e.g. You’d better do the washing up now.
e.g. I’d better not go out tonight, because I have to get up early tomorrow.
have (got) to necessity, impersonal, not for personal feelings, but for a rule or situation. If you are unsure whether to use must or have to, it is usually safer to use have to.
e.g. I have to get up early tomorrow to catch the train to the office.
may to express although in clauses
e.g. I may be married to you, but that doesn’t give you the right to treat me like dirt.
possibility or uncertainty (formal)
e.g. There may be a cure for AIDS within the next ten years.
asking for and giving permission (less usual, more formal)
e.g. “May I use your phone?”
“Yes, of course you may”
may as well/might as well describes the only thing left to do, something which the speaker is not enthusiastic about
e.g. I’m so bored, I may as well do some housework.
might possibility or uncertainty
e.g. There might be a cure for AIDS within the next ten years.
unreal situation
e.g. If I knew her better, I might invite her to the ball.
must when you feel sure something is true (opposite of can’t)
e.g. The tennis match must be over by now. (I’m sure it is).
necessity, personal feelings
e.g. I haven’t spoken to Liz for ages. I must give her a call.
order, strong suggestion
e.g. You must stop smoking or you’ll get lung cancer.
must not prohibition (negative order)
e.g. You must not leave the table until you have finished your dinner.
need as a normal verb
e.g. Do you need me to help you?
in questions (less usual)
e.g. Need you make so much mess?
needn’t not necessary to do something (unusual)
e.g. You needn’t come to the party if you don’t want to.
ought to expectation (can use should)
e.g. If you like Picasso, you ought to enjoy the exhibition.
recommendation (can use should)
e.g. You ought to have more driving lessons before you take the test.
criticism (can use should)
e.g. You ought not to shout at your mother like that.
shall certainty or desire (mainly British English)
e.g. I shall give up chocolate for Lent.
in formal rules and regulations (mainly British English)
e.g. Racism or sexism shall not be tolerated in this building.
in questions to ask for instructions and decisions, and to make offers and suggestions (mainly British English)
e.g. What shall I do?
When shall we come and see you?
Shall we go to the cinema this evening?
shan’t certainty (less usual, mostly British English)
e.g. I shan’t be late for the meeting.
should expectation (can use ought to)
e.g. If you like Picasso, you should enjoy the exhibition.
suggestion, advice, opinion (can use ought to)
e.g. You should have more driving lessons before you take the test.
when something is not right or as you expect it
e.g. The price on this can of beans is wrong. It should say $1.20, not $2.20.
criticism (can use ought to)
e.g. You shouldn’t shout at your mother like that.
uncertainty
e.g. Should I ask her out on a date?
should + words of thinking, to make an opinion less direct
e.g. I should think he could find a more compatible match.
with be and adjectives describing chance, including odd, strange, typical, natural, interesting, surprised, surprising, funny (=odd) and What a coincidence.
e.g. It’s odd that he should ask you so many personal questions.
after in case to emphasise unlikelihood
e.g. I’m not going out tonight in case she should call me.
If…..should
e.g. If Jane should drop by when I am out, tell her to come back later.
polite order or instruction
e.g. Applications should be sent by 3rd January.
will assumption
e.g. Oh, that’ll be John on the phone.
request (can and could are more common)
e.g. Will you go to the shop for me?
intention or willingness
e.g. “I’ll take gran’s pearls then”.
“You won’t!”
“I will!”
order
e.g. Will you please shut up?
insistence
e.g. “I won’t clean my room!”
“Yes you will!”
habits and typical behaviour
e.g. Sarah will sit and gaze at the stars all night.
criticism
e.g. She will drink too much when she goes out.
won’t emphatically forbid an action, in response to a will expression
e.g. “I’ll take gran’s pearls then”.
“You won’t!”
“I will!”
refusal
e.g. “I won’t clean my room!”
“Yes you will!”
would request (can and could are more common)
e.g. Would you go to the shop for me?
would like - offer/invitation
e.g. Would you like a cup of tea?
after be, followed by adjectives doubtful, unlikely, to emphasise a tentative action
e.g. It’s doubtful that he would be there in time of need.
annoying habit, typical of a person
e.g. She would ask me for money, wouldn’t she?
certainty in a suppressed conditional sentence
e.g. I would never agree to that. (even if he asked me)
wouldn’t certainty in a suppressed conditional sentence
e.g. I wouldn’t agree to that. (even if he asked me.)
domingo, 9 de maio de 2010
Past Continuous
FORM
[was/were + present participle]
Examples:
•You were studying when she called.
•Were you studying when she called?
•You were not studying when she called.
Complete List of Past Continuous Forms
USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
Examples:
•I was watching TV when she called.
•When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
•While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
•What were you doing when the earthquake started?
•I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
•You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
•While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
•Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
•While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
•A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.
USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption
In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
Examples:
•Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
•At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
•Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
Examples:
•Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
I started eating at 6 PM.
•Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.
USE 3 Parallel Actions
When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
Examples:
•I was studying while he was making dinner.
•While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
•Were you listening while he was talking?
•I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
•What were you doing while you were waiting?
•Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
•They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
USE 4 Atmosphere
In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.
Example:
•When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.
USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."
Examples:
•She was always coming to class late.
•He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
•I didn't like them because they were always complaining.
While vs. When
Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when she called" or "when it bit me." Other clauses begin with "while" such as "while she was sleeping" and "while he was surfing." When you talk about things in the past, "when" is most often followed by the verb tense Simple Past, whereas "while" is usually followed by Past Continuous. "While" expresses the idea of "during that time." Study the examples below. They have similar meanings, but they emphasize different parts of the sentence.
Examples:
•I was studying when she called.
•While I was studying, she called.
FORM
[was/were + present participle]
Examples:
•You were studying when she called.
•Were you studying when she called?
•You were not studying when she called.
Complete List of Past Continuous Forms
USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
Examples:
•I was watching TV when she called.
•When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
•While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
•What were you doing when the earthquake started?
•I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
•You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
•While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
•Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
•While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
•A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.
USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption
In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
Examples:
•Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
•At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
•Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
Examples:
•Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
I started eating at 6 PM.
•Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.
USE 3 Parallel Actions
When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
Examples:
•I was studying while he was making dinner.
•While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
•Were you listening while he was talking?
•I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
•What were you doing while you were waiting?
•Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
•They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
USE 4 Atmosphere
In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.
Example:
•When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.
USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"
The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."
Examples:
•She was always coming to class late.
•He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
•I didn't like them because they were always complaining.
While vs. When
Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when she called" or "when it bit me." Other clauses begin with "while" such as "while she was sleeping" and "while he was surfing." When you talk about things in the past, "when" is most often followed by the verb tense Simple Past, whereas "while" is usually followed by Past Continuous. "While" expresses the idea of "during that time." Study the examples below. They have similar meanings, but they emphasize different parts of the sentence.
Examples:
•I was studying when she called.
•While I was studying, she called.
domingo, 25 de abril de 2010
Simple Present and Present Continous
É fácil, preste bem atenção: Toda vez em que eu quiser falar sobre opinião pessoal, rotina ou fatos que se repetem, eu uso o Simple Present.
Exemplos: Everyday I wake up at 6 am, brush my teeth and have breakfast. Esses fatos ocorrem diraiamente e se repetem, daí o uso correto do Simple Present.
No Present Continous é um pouco diferente porque tenho de dereminar duas formas: Verb To Be+ - ing e a ação ocorre no momento em que o falante mostra sua fala:
exemplos I'm typing a letter - eu estou digitando uma carta - analise: a ação está ocorrendo nesse momento, há movimento pois o verbo encontra-se em -ing daí a forma correta é o Present Continous.
Outra forma de identificar o Present Continous, é pelos advérbios de tempo: Right now; Now, Imediately, Now.
Espero que tenha esclarecido um pouco mais sobre esses verbos tão importantes em nossas vidas!
Bjos
Pax et Lux
Exemplos: Everyday I wake up at 6 am, brush my teeth and have breakfast. Esses fatos ocorrem diraiamente e se repetem, daí o uso correto do Simple Present.
No Present Continous é um pouco diferente porque tenho de dereminar duas formas: Verb To Be+ - ing e a ação ocorre no momento em que o falante mostra sua fala:
exemplos I'm typing a letter - eu estou digitando uma carta - analise: a ação está ocorrendo nesse momento, há movimento pois o verbo encontra-se em -ing daí a forma correta é o Present Continous.
Outra forma de identificar o Present Continous, é pelos advérbios de tempo: Right now; Now, Imediately, Now.
Espero que tenha esclarecido um pouco mais sobre esses verbos tão importantes em nossas vidas!
Bjos
Pax et Lux
sábado, 25 de julho de 2009
Conditional sentences
The conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for learners of English.
Watch out:
1) Which type of the conditional sentences is used?
2) Where is the if-clause (e.g. at the beginning or at the end of the conditional sentence)?
There are three types of the if-clauses.
type
condition
I
condition possible to fulfill
II
condition in theory possible to fulfill
III
condition not possible to fulfill (too late)
Form
type
if clause
main clause
I
Simple Present
will-future (or Modal + infinitive)
II
Simple Past
would + infinitive *
III
Past Perfect
would + have + past participle *
Examples (if-clause at the beginning)
type
if clause
main clause
I
If I study, I will pass the exam.
II
If I studied,I would pass the exam.
III
If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.
Examples (if-clause at the end)
type
main clause
if-clause
I
I will pass the exam if I study.
II
I would pass the exam if I studied.
III
I would have passed the exam if I had studied.
Examples (affirmative and negative sentences)
type
Examples
long forms
short/contracted forms
I+If I study, I will pass the exam.
If I study, I'll pass the exam.
-
If I study, I will not fail the exam.If I do not study, I will fail the exam.
If I study, I won't fail the exam.If I don't study, I'll fail the exam.
II
+
If I studied, I would pass the exam.
If I studied, I'd pass the exam.
-
If I studied, I would not fail the exam.If I did not study, I would fail the exam.
If I studied, I wouldn't fail the exam.If I didn't study, I'd fail the exam.
III
+
If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.
If I'd studied, I'd have passed the exam.
-
If I had studied, I would not have failed the exam.If I had not studied, I would have failed the exam.
If I'd studied, I wouldn't have failed the exam.If I hadn't studied, I'd have failed the exam.
* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes possible, too).
I would pass the exam.
I could pass the exam.
I might pass the exam.
I may pass the exam.
I should pass the exam.
I must pass the exam.
The conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for learners of English.
Watch out:
1) Which type of the conditional sentences is used?
2) Where is the if-clause (e.g. at the beginning or at the end of the conditional sentence)?
There are three types of the if-clauses.
type
condition
I
condition possible to fulfill
II
condition in theory possible to fulfill
III
condition not possible to fulfill (too late)
Form
type
if clause
main clause
I
Simple Present
will-future (or Modal + infinitive)
II
Simple Past
would + infinitive *
III
Past Perfect
would + have + past participle *
Examples (if-clause at the beginning)
type
if clause
main clause
I
If I study, I will pass the exam.
II
If I studied,I would pass the exam.
III
If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.
Examples (if-clause at the end)
type
main clause
if-clause
I
I will pass the exam if I study.
II
I would pass the exam if I studied.
III
I would have passed the exam if I had studied.
Examples (affirmative and negative sentences)
type
Examples
long forms
short/contracted forms
I+If I study, I will pass the exam.
If I study, I'll pass the exam.
-
If I study, I will not fail the exam.If I do not study, I will fail the exam.
If I study, I won't fail the exam.If I don't study, I'll fail the exam.
II
+
If I studied, I would pass the exam.
If I studied, I'd pass the exam.
-
If I studied, I would not fail the exam.If I did not study, I would fail the exam.
If I studied, I wouldn't fail the exam.If I didn't study, I'd fail the exam.
III
+
If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.
If I'd studied, I'd have passed the exam.
-
If I had studied, I would not have failed the exam.If I had not studied, I would have failed the exam.
If I'd studied, I wouldn't have failed the exam.If I hadn't studied, I'd have failed the exam.
* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes possible, too).
I would pass the exam.
I could pass the exam.
I might pass the exam.
I may pass the exam.
I should pass the exam.
I must pass the exam.
Reported Speech
Reported commands
If you put a command into Reported speech there are some steps which are the same like in statements: (changing of the person, backshift of tenses, changing of expressions of time).
The form is mostly: form of to tell + to + infinitive.
Affirmative commands
Negative commands
Father: "Do your homework."
Teacher. "Don't talk to your neighbour."
Father told me to do my homework.
The teacher told me not to talk to my neighbour.
Reported questions
If you put a question into Reported speech there are some steps which are the same like in statements: (changing of the person, backshift of tenses, changing of expressions of time).
In Reported speech there is no question anymore, the sentence becomes a statement.That's why the word order is: subject - verb
Question without question words (yes/no questions):Peter: "Do you play football?" - Peter asked me whether (if) I played football.
Question with question words:Peter: "When do you play football?" - Peter asked me when I played football
If you put a command into Reported speech there are some steps which are the same like in statements: (changing of the person, backshift of tenses, changing of expressions of time).
The form is mostly: form of to tell + to + infinitive.
Affirmative commands
Negative commands
Father: "Do your homework."
Teacher. "Don't talk to your neighbour."
Father told me to do my homework.
The teacher told me not to talk to my neighbour.
Reported questions
If you put a question into Reported speech there are some steps which are the same like in statements: (changing of the person, backshift of tenses, changing of expressions of time).
In Reported speech there is no question anymore, the sentence becomes a statement.That's why the word order is: subject - verb
Question without question words (yes/no questions):Peter: "Do you play football?" - Peter asked me whether (if) I played football.
Question with question words:Peter: "When do you play football?" - Peter asked me when I played football
Gerund
We use the Gerund after prepositions.
adjective + preposition
We use the Gerund after the following phrases:
afraid of - They are afraid of losing the match.
angry about/at - Pat is angry about walking in the rain.
bad atgood at- John is good at working in the garden.
clever at- He is clever at skateboarding.
crazy about- The girl is crazy about playing tennis.
disappointed about/at- He is disappointed about seeing such a bad report.
excited about- We are excited about making our own film.
famous for- Sandy is famous for singing songs.
fed up with- I'm fed up with being treated as a child.
fond of- Hannah is fond of going to parties.
glad about- She is glad about getting married again.
happy about/at -The children are not happy about seeing a doctor.
interested in- Are you interested in writing poems?
keen on- Joe is keen on drawing.
proud of- She is proud of riding a snowboard.
sick of- We're sick of sitting around like this.
sorry about/for- He's sorry for eating in the lesson.
tired of -I'm tired of waiting for you.
used to -She is used to smoking.
worried about- I'm worried about making mistakes.
adjective + preposition
We use the Gerund after the following phrases:
afraid of - They are afraid of losing the match.
angry about/at - Pat is angry about walking in the rain.
bad atgood at- John is good at working in the garden.
clever at- He is clever at skateboarding.
crazy about- The girl is crazy about playing tennis.
disappointed about/at- He is disappointed about seeing such a bad report.
excited about- We are excited about making our own film.
famous for- Sandy is famous for singing songs.
fed up with- I'm fed up with being treated as a child.
fond of- Hannah is fond of going to parties.
glad about- She is glad about getting married again.
happy about/at -The children are not happy about seeing a doctor.
interested in- Are you interested in writing poems?
keen on- Joe is keen on drawing.
proud of- She is proud of riding a snowboard.
sick of- We're sick of sitting around like this.
sorry about/for- He's sorry for eating in the lesson.
tired of -I'm tired of waiting for you.
used to -She is used to smoking.
worried about- I'm worried about making mistakes.
Translation? I'ts easier than you think!!!!
"Synchronicity I" – 3:23
"Walking in Your Footsteps" – 3:36
"O My God" – 4:02
"Mother" (Andy Summers) – 3:05
"Miss Gradenko" (Stewart Copeland) – 2:00
"Synchronicity II" – 5:02
"Every Breath You Take" – 4:13
"King of Pain" – 4:59
"Wrapped Around Your Finger" – 5:13
"Tea in the Sahara" – 4:19
"Murder by Numbers" (Words Sting, Music Andy Summers) – 4:36
"Walking in Your Footsteps" – 3:36
"O My God" – 4:02
"Mother" (Andy Summers) – 3:05
"Miss Gradenko" (Stewart Copeland) – 2:00
"Synchronicity II" – 5:02
"Every Breath You Take" – 4:13
"King of Pain" – 4:59
"Wrapped Around Your Finger" – 5:13
"Tea in the Sahara" – 4:19
"Murder by Numbers" (Words Sting, Music Andy Summers) – 4:36
Assinar:
Postagens (Atom)
