Grammar and usage(1): Modal verbs: general introduction教学设计案例

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Grammar and usage

Step 1: General introduction

For reference:

1. If we talk about the ability someone has now, we use the modal verb

can.

2. If we talk about the ability someone had in the past, we usually use the modal verb could.

3. If we want to talk about the ability someone will have in the future, we will use the form of the modal verb will /shall be able to. 4. Modal verbs

should/ought to (sometimes have to) are always used to give advice or tell someone that he or she is under obligation to do something.

5. If we want to express that it is necessary for us to do something, modal verb must is often used.

6. Model verbs may/might, can/could are often used to ask for permission.

Examples: 1. Now, many of us can speak English quite well, but a few years ago, we

couldn’t. 2. Shall we be able to be admitted the famous university for further study in a year? 3.You should/ought to learn enough knowledge to serve the people. 4. Every one present at the meeting must look into the matter careful and give as much advice as possible on how to solve the problem.

5. As a student, you have to obey the rules of the school.

6. I’m sorry I am late for class. May/Can I come in? Step 2: Practice 1. Now look at the blackboard,

I’d like you to explain the meanings of the different modal verbs used in this sentence: I

might/may/could/should/ought to/will/must

watch the TV programme tonight. When might is used, it shows that the speaker is uncertain whether he or she will do something.

When may

is used, it shows that the speaker is s bit more certain than when might is used.

Could is more certain than may, but less certain than should and ought to. Should and ought to

are more certain. When we use will, we mean we are quite certain that we will do something. If we use must, we are almost certain to do something. 2. If you want to have a look at your friend’s book, what do you say? (Can

I have a look at your book?) What does your friend say to you? (‘Of course, you can.’ Or ‘sorry/No, you can’t) So can is also used to ask for permission, especially in informal or spoken English. 3.

Now read Part 1 on page 28 to find out how modal verbs are used to talk about ability, obligation, certainty and permission. Pay attention to the three arrows that illustrate the degrees of obligation, certainty and permission when modal verbs are used. 4. Read part 2 and use modal verbs to make requests, suggestions or offers, and give advice. e.g.: Will/Can you read the sentence once more? (To make a request.) Shall we watch a film tonight? (To make a suggestion) I will help you if you have any problems (To make an offer) The manager is not in now. You should

come back at three o’clock (To give advice) 5. Now please read the instructions for the exercise on page 29. Then complete the article individually and I will check the answers later. Answers:

(1) must

(2) has to

(3) should

(4) must

(5) ought to

(6) should

6. Read Part 4 on page 28 and try your best to understand why the continuous form or the perfect form is used with a modal verb in the example sentences. First I’ll give you some examples: John isn’t here to attend the party. He must be reviewing his notes for the big exam tomorrow. (The speaker thinks that John is reviewing his notes now.) Tom knows nothing about the subject. He can’t have been at the lecture yesterday. (The speaker is sure that Tom did not go to the lecture yesterday.) The money is gone. Who could have taken it? (The speaker does not know who has taken the money.) Step 3: Comparison of some pairs of model verbs

comparison can, be able to shall, will

need, dare mustn’t, needn’t 1. Read Part 1 on page 30 and find the differences between can and be able to.

·Be able to is more formal and less common than can when referring to ability. ·Be able to can be used in different tenses or after other modal verbs, for example, will /shall be able to , would/should be able to , have/has /had been able to, must/may/might be able to. ·Be able to can be used after the infinitive marker to. ·The past form of be able to is

was/were able to. ·Can is more common and informal than be able to when referring to ability ·Can

can be used to talk about a possible future action. ·The past form of can is could. Now please make some sentences with be able to and can, using different tenses, or after modal verbs or in a to-infinitive. 2. Read Part 2 and then complete the chart below.

In affirmatives

In questions Shall

expressing promises Will

expressing determinations or decisions

making offers or asking about willingness suggestions for third person for the second and third person Make some sentences using shall or will. Let’s complete the dialogue in Part B on page 31, and then read the dialogue in pairs to check your answers. Answers B (1) Shall

(2) shall

(3) will

(4) will/shall (5) will/shall

(6) will/shall

3.

Read Part 3 which explains the use of

mustn’t

and needn’t

and then make sentences with mustn’t and needn’t. 4. Read Part 4 which explains when to use need or dare as modal verbs 5. Read the instructions for Part A on page 31, and then complete the passage. Answers A (1) can

(2) dare

(3) will/ may/might/could

(4) mustn’t/shouldn’t/can’t /ought not to (5) mustn’t/shouldn’t/can’t /ought not to

(6)

can

(7)needn’t/shouldn’t/do noy have to

For reference（此处排版同人教实验B3U1，直接粘贴调用即可）

Modals Words like can, will, may, must, and a few others are called modals. Modal auxiliary verbs help other verbs express a meaning or an idea. Some common uses of the modals are these: Ability: He can speak English now. He couldn’t speak English a year ago. I’m not able to come to the game on Friday.

Permission: All passengers may now board. We can board now. Obligation: You must fasten your seat belts.

(strong) You should pay attention.

(weak) You out to pay attention. Possibility: It may rain. How could I forget an import thing like that? He can’t /must have known the result. Meanings similar to those of the modals can often be conveyed by real verb forms: He

has to

=…must…

is able to

speak English.

=…can…

is allowed to

=…may…

is supposed to

=…should…

ability, less used than can

(be) able to

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.

ability

can’t

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).

possibility or uncertainty (can also use might) e.g. He could be the one for you! request (more polite than can) could

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.

strong advice (less used than should) had better

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.

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) may

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”

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.

may as well/might as well

possibility or uncertainty might

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.

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).

must

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.

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) shall

e.g. I shan’t be late for the meeting.

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) should

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.

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”.

will

“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.

emphatically forbid an action, in response to a will

expression e.g. “I’ll take gran’s pearls then”.

won’t

“You won’t!”

“I will!”

refusal e.g. “I won’t clean my room!”

“Yes you will!”

request (can and could are more common) e.g.

Would you go to the shop for me?

would like - offer/invitation would

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)

certainty in a suppressed conditional sentence wouldn’t

e.g. I wouldn’t agree to that. (even if he asked me.)

Step 4: Consolidation: I. Relative items in recent years’ college entrance examination: 1. I was really anxious about you. You

home without a word.

A. mustn’t leave

B. shouldn’t have left

C. couldn’t have left

D. needn’t leave

2. --Is John coming by train? --He should but he

not. He likes driving his car.

A. must

B. can

C. need

D. may 3. How

you say that you really understand the whole story if you have covered only part of the article?

A. can

B. must

C. need

D. may 4. “The interest

be divided into five parts, according to the agreement made by both sides,”declared the judge. A. may

B. should

C. must

D. shall 5. --I’ll tell Mary about her new job tomorrow.

--You

her last week.

A. ought to tell

B. would have told

C. must tell

D. should have told 6. --Excuse me, is this the right way to the Summer Palace? --Sorry, I am not sure. But it

be.

A. might

B. will

C. must

D. can 7. I

pay Tracy a visit, but I am not sure whether I will have time this Sunday.

A. should

B. might

C. would

D. could 8. --I don’t mind telling you what I know.

--You

.I’m not asking you for it.

A. mustn’t

B. may not

C. can’t

D. needn’t

9. --Isn’t that Ann’s husband over there?

--No, it

be him. I’m sure he doesn’t wear glasses.

A. can’t

B. must not

C. won’t

D. may not

10. Children under 12 years of age in that country

be under adult supervision when in a public library. A. must

B. may

C. can

D. need 11. --Who is the girl standing over there? --Well, if you

know, her name is Mabel. A. may

B. can

C. must

D. shall 12. You might just as well tell the manufacturer that male customers

not like the design of the furniture. A. must

B. shall

C. may

D. need 13. --Mum, I’ve been studying English since 8 o’clock.

I go out and play with Tom for a while? --No, I’m afraid not. Besides, it’s raining outside now.

A. Can’t

B. Wouldn’t

C. May not

D. Won’t

14. A left-luggage office is a place where bags _____ be left for a short time, especially at a railway station. A. should

B. can

C. must

D. will

15. I often see lights in that empty house. Do you think I _____ report it to the police? A. should

B. may

C. will

D. can

16. I have lost one of my gloves. I

it somewhere.

A. must drop

B. must have dropped C. must be dropping

D. must have been dropped 17. He _____ have completed his work; otherwise, he wouldn’t be enjoying himself by the seaside.

A. should

B. must

C. wouldn’t

D. can’t

18.Tom, you

leave all your clothes on the floor like this!

A. wouldn’t

B. mustn’t

C. needn’t

D. may not

19. - I hear you’ve got a set of valuable Australian coins. ____ I have a look? -Yes, certainly. A. Do

B. May

C. Shall

D. Should 20. My English-Chinese dictionary has disappeared. Who ____ have taken it.

A. should

B. must

C. could

D. would II. Translation: 1. 我相信当刘翔赢得男子100米跨栏金牌时，所有的亚洲人都一定非常自豪。

2. 在选择一个合适的野营地点时，我们应当首先考虑是否方便。

3. 老板做出了承诺，若你下个月工作良好，你就可得到更高的工资。

4. 没人理解他怎么敢在那种情况下跟总经理那样说话。

5.

我表弟一定非常努力,才会表演的如此好。

6.

半夜响起了敲门声，我们都纳闷儿可能会是谁呢。

Keys: 1-5BDADD

6-10AADA A

11-15CCABA

16-20BABBC 1. I’m sure people all over Asia must have felt very proud when Liu Xiang won the gold medal in the men’s 110-metre hurdles. 2. When choosing a suitable place for camping, we should first consider whether it is convenient. 3. The boss made a promise that if you work well next week, you shall get even higher wages. 4. No one could understand how he dared say that to the general manager in that case. 5. My cousin must have made a great effort so that he gave such a good performance. 6. We all wondered who it could be when there was a knock on the door at midnight.