Advanced English

Grammar
Mg. Sc. Beldad Fenco Periche.

beldadfp@gmail.com

Obligation
Present
I must get more exercise.
(I need to; I say so)
I have to get more exercise.
(I'm obliged to; the doctor say
so)
We ought to give more money
to charity.
(It's the right thing to do, but
we don't always do it.)

Past
I had to get more
exercise because I was
unfit.
I had to get more
exercise because I was
unfit.
We ought to have given
more money to charity.
(It was the right thing to
do but we didn't do it.)

Prohibition
Present
You can't wear jeans at work.
(You aren't allowed to)
You mustn't walk on the grass.
(Its forbidden)
You may not talk during the test.
(formal)

Past
They couldn't wear jeans at
work.
(They weren't allowed to)

Necessity
Present
I must return these books soon. (I say so.)

Past
I had to return the books to the
library. (I was obliged to.)

She has to find a new job. (Necessity She had to find a new job after she
coming from outside the speaker)
was demised.
You need to wash the car.
Your car needed washing.
Your car needs washing.
Your car needed to be washed.
Your car needs to be washed.
(it's necessary)
She doesn't have to / doesn't need to / She didn't have to /didn't need to
needn't leave when they do.
work as hard as me.
(It isn't necessary-absence of necessity)
(Absence of necessity)
She needn't have got a taxi.
We ought to replay to the invitation.
(It wasn't necessary for her to get a
(Its necessary)
taxi but she did)

Permission

CAN / CANT

We use CAN to give PERMISSION.

Informal

You can use a dictionary for the exam.

You can smoke in here.

You can watch TV after you do your homework.

We use CAN to ask for PERMISSION.
Informal

Can I go to the disco?

We use CANT to refuse PERMISSION.

To express PROHIBITION.
Informal

You cant park here.

mustnt
7

You cant use a calculator for the exam.

You cant take your dog to school.

COULD

We use could to give a suggestion.

COULD

Yoko could go to the beach.

She could sleep until 9 am if she wants.
Yoko is on vacation.

We use could to ask for permission

More polite
Could I open the window?

Its boiling hot.

We use could to ask somebody to do something.
(Request)

Could you open your mouth, please?

Match the prompts to the pictures, then use can or

could to ask questions, as in the example.
A. turn on page 54
B. have this model aeroplane.
C. give me a hand

D. take a message
E. have some tomatoes
F. use your computer

Could I have some tomatoes, please?

3

11

Could I have this model aeroplane, please?

Could I use your computer, please?

Could you give me a hand, please?

5

Could I take a message, please?

Could I turn on page 54, please?

12

May / Might

13

We use may to give permission.

You may leave your luggage in this area.

Formal usually written

We use may not to refuse permission.

You may not park your car in this area.

Formal usually written

We use may to ask for permission.

May / Might I open the window, please?
Formal

14

Permission
You can / can't have a party.
(Giving or refusing permission; informal)
Could I be excused? (More polite; asking for permission)
You may be excused. (Formal; giving permission)
Might I bring a friend to the wedding?
(More formal; asking for permission)
I'm afraid you can't /mustn't have visitors.
(Informal; refusing permission)
Guests may not smoke in their rooms.
(Formal; refusing permission)

15

Requests

16

We use Can/Will/Could/Would/May/Might for requests.

Could/Would you help me with this exercise?

17

More polite
May I have one of those leaflets?
Formal
Might I borrow your pen drive?
Very formal

Can / Will I use your phone?

Informal

Requests

Can I use your phone? (Informal)

Could I use your phone? (Polite)
May I make a phone call, please? (Formal)
Might I borrow your pen? (Very formal)
Will you give me a hand? (Very friendly)
Would you mind helping me? (Very polite)

18

Advice

19

Giving orders and advice

must

strong

had better

ought to /
should

20

could

less strong

You really must finish your major at your college.

= an order I am telling you to do this, or this is

my opinion which I feel very strongly about.
Youd better finish your major at your college.
= advice otherwise you may regret it.

SHOULD

21

should / shouldnt+ simple verb

He should take an aspirin.
simple verb

John has a headache.

He shouldnt watch TV.

simple verb

We use should to say what is the best thing or the right

thing to do and to give advice.
People should exercise regularly.
Youre a student. You should be studying.
You shouldnt spend all your money as soon as youve earned it.
Nurses and doctors shouldnt smoke.

What should?
What should John do?

simple verb

He should take an aspirin.

He shouldnt watch TV.

22

John has a headache.

We use should in questions when we ASK for advice.

A: I have to present a report tomorrow morning. What should I do?
B: You should take notes during the lectures.

OUGHT TO

John ought to take an aspirin.

simple verb

23

John should take an aspirin.

John has a headache.

We can use ought to instead of should.

Neighbors ought to / should help each other.

You really ought to / should be more careful.

How are you feeling today?

24

1. She has a cold.

4. He has a cough.

2. She has a temperature.

5. He has a hangover.

3. He has a sore throat.

6. He has a toothache.

7. He has a headache.
8. She has a stomachache.

What should I do?

d
f
a

b
g
e

c
h

25

What should they do?

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

put up your umbrella

try on a bigger size
26
go to the dentist
go to sleep
go outside and play

f. go on a diet

advice
You should try to make more of an effort.

You ought to keep to the speed limit.

27

General advice; I
advise you
I advise you; most
people believe this

You had better not keep her waiting. Its not a good idea; advice on
a specific situation.

Shall I apply for the job?

Asking for advice.

Advice
Present

28

Past

You should try to make more of an You should have paid more
effort.
attention.
(General advice; I advise you)
(But you didn't)
She ought to have reserved a
You ought to keep to the speed limit.
table.
(I advise you; most people believe this)
(But she didn't)
You had better not keep her waiting. It would have been better if
(Is not a good idea; advice on a specific you hadn't kept her waiting.
situation)
(But you did)

Offers

29

I'll help you with the

housework.
Im willing to help you.

Shall / Can / Could I carry this bag for you?

Informal

Would you like me to help you cross the road?

Formal

Offers

Can I/we do anything to help?

(Informal)
Shall I/we help you tidy up?
(Informal)
Would you like me to do it for you?

30

Suggestions
Shall we go out for a dinner?
We can/ could go to a concert tonight.

Where shall we go?

Why dont we ?
How about ?
What about ?
Lets

Whats your suggestion?

31

Suggestions
Present

32

Past

Shall we stop for a drink?

I/we can always leave early.
We could eat out tonight if He could have asked for
you want.
advice.

Ability

33

Kim is five years old. She can read and write.

present

When she was three. She could count to ten.

past repeated action

Paula was able to climb to the top of the mountain.

Managed to do; past single action
then

now

Lack of ability

Sue cant ride a bike.

present

She couldnt swim fast when she was 3 years old.

past repeated action

Paul wasnt able to finish the book.

Managed to do; past single action
then

34

Tom Ghou
35

Justin Kase

John Nash

Bill Jones

Peter Khan
Thropus

Paul Kha
Dotts

Eli Kopter

Ability
Present
He can speak Japanese.

36

Past
He could / was able to speak
Japanese.
(repeated action-ability in the
past).

We were able to go on a three

She's able to make people
month tour of Australia.
laugh.
(single action)

DEDUCTION: Certainty
When you are SURE something is possible or true.
He must be at home.
Positive; Im sure he is.

When you are sure something is NOT

possible or true.
He cant be sleeping.
Negative; Im sure he isnt.

37

DEDUCTION: Possibility

38

When you are NOT SURE.

She could / may / might finish her work by six

oclock.
It is possible / it is likely / perhaps

She could / might have been late.

( Luckily, she wasnt late.)

39

Present

Past

He can still be at work.

(90% certain)
She could be angry.
(50% certain; its possible she is angry)

We could have had an accident.

(lucky we didn't)

Sally may be teaching.

John may have broken that vase.
(50% certain; it's possible that she is
(perhaps he did it)
teaching)
You might need to come tomorrow.
Jane might have lost our telephone
(40% certain; perhaps you need to come number.
tomorrow)
(perhaps she has lost it)

DEGREES OF CERTAINTY
Certain

Simple
tenses

Probable

should

ought
to

Possible
(strong)

may

might

Possible
(weak)

can

could

Impossible

cant

couldnt

must

40

Positive
sense

Negative
sense

EXPECTATIONS

41

Should expresses one's expectation for something to happen in the present

or near future. We use should to make an assumption based on personal
knowledge, information, or insights. ("inference").

The movie should be available online next week.

It has left theaters, so it should go for release online.

The movie should be good.

I've read some good reviews.

Web pages

42

http://www.esl-classroom.com/grammar/modals2.html
http://www.english-test.net/esl/learn/english/grammar/ei007/esltest.php
http://www.wca.uow.edu.au/call/mdthree/modalthree.htm
http://www.professornativodeingles.110mb.com/modals2.html
http://www.english-4u.de/modal_verbs_ex1.htm
http://www.english-test.net/esl/learn/english/grammar/ir021/
http://www.nonstopenglish.com/exercise.asp?exid=917
http://www.nonstopenglish.com/exercise.asp?exid=914
http://www.testyourenglish.net/englishonline/grammartests/modal2.html
http://www.rong-chang.com/ex/lowmodals.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal8.htm
http://www.esl-classroom.com/grammar/perfmodals1.html
http://www.esl-classroom.com/grammar/perfmodals2.html