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The modal verbs

Автор:   •  Октябрь 12, 2020  •  Лекция  •  7,590 Слов (31 Страниц)  •  344 Просмотры

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The modal verbs

Can/could, may/might, must, have (got) to, be to, should/ought to, will/would, shall, need, dare

The forms of the infinitive following the modal verbs

the Indefinite Infinitive Active – to do; to ask; to sing

the Indefinite Infinitive Passive – to be done; to be asked; to be sung

the Continuous Infinitive – to be doing; to be asking; to be singing

the Perfect Infinitive Active – to have done; to have asked; to have sung

the Perfect Infinitive Passive – to have been done; to have been asked; to have been sung

the Perfect Continuous Infinitive – to have been doing; to have been asking; to have been singing


The modal verb can/could

Meaning

Forms of the verb

Forms of the Infinitive

Examples

N.B.

1. Ability, capability

Can – the present tense,

Could – the past tense

the Indefinite Infinitive

He can run fast.

Could you swim as a child?

I can’t translate from Russian into French.

2. Possibility due to circumstances

Can – the present tense,

Could – the past tense

the Indefinite Infinitive

You can borrow this book from the library.

He could buy a decent lunch at that café.

a single accomplished action («смог», «смогла», «смогли») – have been/has been/was/were able to do, managed to do;

a future action («смогу», «сможем»)– will be able to do

3. Permission

Can – the present tense,

Could – the past tense or the reported speech

the Indefinite Infinitive

You can go out if you wish.

She said I could phone her later.

4. Request

Can or could (a polite request)

the Indefinite Infinitive

Can (could) you pass me the salt, please?

5. Prohibition

Can’t – the present tense,

Couldn’t –the reported speech

the Indefinite Infinitive

You can’t come in, I’m sorry.

The doctor said she couldn’t take long walks.

«нельзя»

6. Unreality

Could

All the 6 forms of the Infinitive

He could help us right now if he were here.

I could be enjoying myself somewhere on the beach instead of sitting here and listening to you!

He could have stayed in bed for a few days. But he didn’t.

«мог бы», «могла бы», «могли бы»

7. Uncertainty, doubt, astonishment

Can/could

“Could” is more uncertain

All the 6 forms of the Infinitive

Can (could) she be his daughter?

Can (could) she be still waiting for us?
Can (could) they have left?

«неужели»

«Неужели …не»: the present – Is it possible that…?;

the past – Can (could) he/she/they have failed to …

8. Improbability, incredulity

Can’t/couldn’t

“Couldn’t” is less categorical

All the 6 forms of the Infinitive

He can’t (couldn’t) be a doctor.

She can’t (couldn’t) have said that!

He can’t (couldn’t) have been operated on.

«не может быть, что…»; «невероятно, чтобы…»

«Не может быть, что … не»: the present – It is hardly possible that…; I don’t believe that…

the past –He/she/they can’t (couldn’t) have failed to …

9. For emotional colouring

Can/could

“Could” is more emotional

All the 6 forms of the Infinitive

What can (could) you know of me?

What can (could) they be speaking about?
Why can (could) you have been waiting for ages?

In special questions

«И как же…»

«И почему же…»

«И что же…»


Set phrases with the verb can/could

  1. can’t help doing – не могу/может/можем/можешь не …
  2. couldn’t help doing – не мог/могла/могли не…
  3. can’t but do – ничего не остается, как …
  4. couldn’t but do – ничего не оставалось, как…
  5. can’t possibly do – просто не могу/может/можем/можешь …
  6. couldn’t possibly do – просто не мог/могла/могли …

Exercise 1. Read, translate and define the meaning of can/could.

  1. The teacher said we could go home.
  2. Can I open the window?
  3. I can’t have failed to inform Nick of the news.
  4. He could see the clear profile of her face.
  5. The letter can’t be delivered on time, I’m sorry to say.
  6. Could they have been invited to that party?
  7. What could you have told her?!
  8. He managed to buy the tickets.
  9. We could have gone for a picnic yesterday, but it was raining all day long!
  10. You can’t walk on the grass here.

Exercise 2. Open the brackets using the correct form to follow the modal verb. Translate the sentences, define the meaning of can/could.

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