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GIU Essential (Modals, imperative etc. 029-036)

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GIU Essential (Modals, imperative etc. 029-036)

Unit 029. might

A

  • Where are you going for your holidays?
    • I’m not sure. I might go to New York.
    • He might go to New York.
    • (= it is possible that he will go to New York)
  • It might rain.
    • (= it is possible that it will rain)
  • might + infinitive

B

  • I might = it is possible that I will:
    • I might go to the cinema this evening, but I’m not sure. (= it is possible that I will go)
  • When is Rebecca going to phone you?
    • I don’t know. She might phone this afternoon.
  • Take an umbrella with you. It might rain.
  • Buy a lottery ticket. You might be lucky. (= Perhaps you will be lucky)
  • Are you going out tonight?
    • I might. (= I might go out)
  • Study the difference:
    • I’m playing tennis tomorrow. (sure)
    • I might play tennis tomorrow. (possible)
    • Rebecca is going to phone later. (sure)
    • Rebecca might phone later. (possible)

C

  • I might not = it is possible that I will not:
    • I might not go to work tomorrow. (= it is possible that I will not go)
    • Sue might not come to the party. (= it is possible that she will not come)

D

  • may

  • You can use may in the same way. I may = I might:
    • I may go to the cinema this evening.
    • Sue may not come to the party.
  • May I …? = Is it OK to …? / Can I … ?:
    • May I ask a question? (= is it OK to ask / can I ask?)
    • May I sit here?
      • Yes, of course.
  • it’s possible that I’ll go to the cinema
    • I might go to the cinema.
  • it’s possible that I’ll see you tomorrow
    • I might see you tomorrow.
  • it’s possible that Sarah will forget to phone
    • Sarah might forget to phone.
  • it’s possible that it will snow today
    • It might snow today.
  • it’s possible that I’ll be late tonight.
    • I might be late tonight.
  • it’s possible that Mark will not be here next week
    • Mark might not be here next week.
  • it’s possible that I won’t have time to go out
    • I might not have time to go out.
  • Where are you going for your holidays?
    • I’m not sure. I might go to Italy.
  • What are you doing at the weekend?
    • I don’t know. I might go away.
  • When will you see Kate again?
    • I’m not sure. I might see her on Monday.
  • What are you going to have for dinner?
    • I don’t know. I might have fish.
  • How are you going to get home tonight?
    • I’m not sure. I might get a taxi.
  • I hear you won some money. What are you going to do with it?
    • I haven’t decided yet. I might buy a new car.
  • Are you playing tennis tomorrow?
    • Yes, in the afternoon.
    • He’s playing tennis tomorrow afternoon.
  • Are you going out tomorrow evening?
    • Possibly.
    • He might go out tomorrow evening.
  • Are you going to get up early?
    • Perhaps.
    • He might get up early.
  • Are you working tomorrow?
    • No, I’m not.
    • He’s not working tomorrow.
  • Will you be at home tomorrow morning?
    • Maybe.
    • He might be at home tomorrow morning.
  • Are you going to watch television?
    • I might.
    • He might watch television.
  • Are you going out in the afternoon?
    • Yes, I am.
    • He’s going out in the afternoon.
  • Are you going shopping?
    • Perhaps.
    • He might go shopping.
  • I might have lunch at home tomorrow.
  • I might talk with Mr.Yu tomorrow.

Unit 030. can and could

A

  • I can play the piano.
  • Could you open the door, please?

  • He can play the piano.

  • can + infinitive

B

  • I can do something = I know how to do it, or it is possible for me to do it:
    • I can play the piano. My brother can play the piano too.
    • Sarah can speak Italian, but she can’t speak Spanish.
    • Can you swim?
      • Yes, but I’m not a very good swimmer.
    • Can you change twenty pounds?
      • I’m sorry, I can’t.
    • I’m having a party next week, but Paul and Rachel can’t come.

C

  • For the past, we use could/couldn’t:
    • When I was young, I could run very fast.
    • Before Maria came to Britain, she couldn’t understand much English. Now she can understand everything.
    • I was tired last night, but I couldn’t sleep.
    • I had a party last week, but Paul and Rachel couldn’t come.

D

  • We use Can you …? or Could you …? when we ask people to do things:
    • Can you open the door, please?
    • Could you open the door, please?
    • Can you wait a moment, please?
    • Could you wait a moment, please?
  • We use Can I have …? or Could I have …? to ask for something:
    • (in a shop) Can I have these postcards, please?
  • Can I …? or Could I …? = is it OK to do something?
    • Tom, can I borrow your umbrella?
    • Tom, could I borrow your umbrella?
    • (on the phone) Hello, can I speak to Gary, please?
    • Could I speak to Gary, please?

Exercise

  • Can you ski?
  • Can you play chess?

  • Can you run ten kilometres?

  • I’m sorry, but we can’t come to your party next week.
  • I like this hotel room. You can see the mountains from the window.
  • You are speaking very quietly. I can’t hear you.
  • Have you seen my bag? I can’t find it.

  • Catherine got the job because she can speak five languages.

  • I was tired, but I couldn’t sleep.
  • I wasn’t hungry yesterday. I couldn’t eat my dinner.
  • Kate doesn’t know what to do. She can’t decide.
  • I wanted to speak to Martin yesterday, but I couldn’t find him.
  • James can’t go to the concert next Saturday. He has to work.

  • Paula couldn’t go to the meeting last week. She was ill.

  • Could you open the door, please?
  • Could you pass the salt, please?
  • Could you turn off the radio, please?
  • Could I have your phone number?
  • Could I look at your newspapers?
  • Could I use your pen?

Unit 031. must mustn’t don’t need to

A

  • It’s a fantastic film. You must see it.
  • must + infinitive

B

  • I must (do something) = I need to do it:
    • I’m very hungry, I must eat something.
    • It’s a fantastic film. You must see it.
    • The windows are very dirty. We must clean them.
  • For the past, we use had to … (not must):
    • I was very hungry, I had to eat something.
    • We had to walk home last night. There were no buses.

C

  • mustn’t (= must not)
  • I mustn’t (do something) = it is necessary not to do it, it is wrong thing to do:
    • I must hurry. I mustn’t be late.
    • I mustn’t forget to phone Jane.
      • (= I must remember to phone her)
    • Be happy! You mustn’t be sad. (= don’t be sad)
    • You mustn’t touch the pictures.
      • (= don’t touch the pictures)

D

  • I don’t need (to do something) = it is not necessary:
    • I don’t need to go yet. I can stay a little longer.
    • You don’t need to shout. I can hear you OK.
  • You can also say don’t have to … :
    • I don’t have to go yet. I can stay a little longer.
  • Compare don’t need to and mustn’t:
    • You don’t need to go. You can stay here if you want.
    • You mustn’t go. You must stay here.

Exercise

  • I’m very hungry. I must eat something.
  • Marilyn is a very interesting person. You must meet her.
  • My hands are dirty. I must wash them.
  • You must learn to drive. It will be very useful.
  • I must go to the post office. I nned some stamps.
  • The game tomorrow is very important for us. We must win.

  • You can’t always have things immediately. You must be patient.

  • I had to walk home last night. There were no buses.
  • It’s last. I must go now.
  • I don’t usually work on Saturdays, but last Saturday I had to work.
  • I must get up early tomorrow. I’ve got a lot to do.
  • I went to London by train last week. The train was full and I had to stand all the way.
  • I was nearly late for my appointment this morning. I had to run to get there on time.

  • I forgot to phone David yesterday. I must phone him later today.

  • I don’t need to go home yet. I can stay a little longer.
  • We have a lot of time. We don’t need to hurry.
  • Keep these papers in a safe place. You mustn’t lose them.
  • I’m not ready yet, but you don’t need to wait for me. You can go now and I’ll come later.
  • We mustn’t forget to turn off the lights before we leave.

  • I must contact David, but I don’t need to phone him - I can send him an email.

  • You don’t need to go. You can stay here if you want.
  • It’s a fantastic film. You must see it.
  • The restaurant won’t be busy tonight. We don’t need to reserve a table.
  • I was very busy last week. I had to work every evening.
  • I want to know what happened. You must tell me.
  • You mustn’t tell Sue what happened. I don’t want her to know.
  • I must hurry or I’ll be late.
  • Why were you so late?
    • I had to wait half an hour for a bus.
  • We don’t need to decide now. We can decide later.
  • It’s Lisa’s birthday next week. I mustn’t forget to buy her a present.

Unit 032. should

A

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