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Unit 5 grammar notes
This document provides explanations and examples of how to use modal verbs and modal-like expressions to express different degrees of certainty about facts, events, and speculations in the present, past and future. Some key points covered include: - Modals like must, may and should are used to speculate about present and past events with varying levels of certainty, from almost certain to approximately 50% likely. - Progressive and simple forms can both be used with modals. - To state absolute certainty about a fact, modals are not used. - Different modals and constructions express certainty, possibility, necessity or speculation in questions, negatives and about future events. - Modals like could have and
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Unit 5 grammar notes
- 1. Unit 5 GrammarNotes Pages 72-74
- 2. Explanation Example(s) We usemodals and modal-like expressions to express different degrees of certainty. With these modals we speculate on logic and facts. The story must be true (approximately 90% certain) The story may be true (approximately 50% certain) 1.
- 3. Explanation Example(s) Remember thatwe we use modals with progressive as well as simple forms. He may be planning another trip. 1.
- 4. Explanation Example(s) When wewant to state a fact that we are absolutely – 100% - - sure of, we don’t use modals That story is true. He was planning another trip. 1.
- 5. Explanation Example(s) Use must/have to/havegot to + base form when you are speculating about the present and are almost certain. The evidence must/has to/has got to mean something. 2.
- 6. Explanation Example(s) Use must/have to/havegot to + base form when you are speculating about the present and are almost certain. The evidence must/has to/has got to mean something. 2.
- 7. Explanation Example(s) To makea negative speculation, use can’t/couldn’t + base form. The theory can’t be right. The theory couldn’t be right. We often say this in response to something we do not believe. 2.
- 8. Explanation Example(s) Use mustnot + base form when you are slightly less certain. It must not be right. The explorer must not be famous. 2.
- 9. Explanation Example(s) We normallydon’t contract must not in this meaning of must. **The explorer mustn’t be famous. Correct: The explorer must not be famous. 2.
- 10. Explanation Example(s) In questions,use could/might + base form. Could that be correct? Might that be correct? 2.
- 11. Explanation Example(s) Use may/might/could +base form when you are speculating about the present and are less certain. We may know the answer soon. We might know the answer soon. We could know the answer soon. 3.
- 12. Explanation Example(s) Use may/might+ base form in the negative. They may not have any evidence. They might not have any evidence. 3.
- 13. Explanation Example(s) Be careful!We usually do not contract might not, and we never contract may not. **The mayn’t have any evidence. Correct: They may not have any evidence. 3.
- 14. Explanation Example(s) In questions,use can have/could have + base form Could that be correct? Might that be correct? 3.
- 15. Explanation Example(s) Use musthave/had to have + past participle when you are speculating about the past and are almost certain. The must have visited America. They had to have visited America. 4.
- 16. Explanation Example(s) In thenegative, use can’t have/couldn’t have + past participle to suggest impossibility. That can’t have happened. That couldn’t have happened. 4.
- 17. Explanation Example(s) Use mustnot have + past participle when you are slightly less certain. They must not have made the trip. 4.
- 18. Explanation Example(s) In questions,use can have/could have + past participle. Can that have been the reason? Could that have been the reason? 4.
- 19. Explanation Example(s) When youare speculating about the past and are less certain (about 50%), use may have/might have/could have + past participle. They may have reached the New World. They might have reached the New World. They could have reached the New World. 5.
- 20. Explanation Example(s) BE CAREFUL! Couldhave + past participle has two meanings. He could have gone. I don’t know for sure. (It’s a possibility– a degree of certainty. He could have gone but didn’t. (a missed opportunity) 5.
- 21. Explanation Example(s) In thenegative, use may not have/might not have + past participle They may not have found what they were looking for. They might not have found what they were looking for. 5.
- 22. Explanation Example(s) In questions,use might have/could have + past participle. Might they have had trouble? Could they have had trouble? 5.
- 23. Explanation Example(s) Use should/oughtto + base form when you are almost certain about a future action or event. Continued research should get us closer to the answer. Continued research ought to get us closer to the answer. 6.
- 24. Explanation Example(s) Should andought to + base form can have two different possible meanings. He should be here soon. (= I expect that he will come soon.) He should be here now. (= He is supposed to be here, but he is not.) 6. TEACHER’S NOTE
- 25. Explanation Example(s) Use may/might/could +base form when you are less certain about a future action or event. We may know the answer soon. We might know the answer soon. We could know the answer soon. 7.
- 26. Explanation Example(s) In thenegative, use may/might/could + never + base form. However, we may never know the answer. However, we might never know the answer. 7.