Grammar II Angie Alal

MODALITY is the category by which speakers express attitudes towards the event contained in
the proposition.When English speakers use a modal, they interject their own perspective and
view a proposition more subjectively than when they simply use present or past tense; all modal
expressions are less categorical than a plain declarative. For this reason, modality is said to
express a relation to reality, whereas an unmodalised declarative treats the process as reality.
Modals are used for several reasons: to give the proposition a degree of probability, to perform
various social functions, such as expressing politeness or indirectness when making requests,
giving advice or granting permission.

MODALS
The term refers to a small group of words in English, sometimes called modal auxiliaries (cf.
primary auxiliaries) or modal verbs.

They have a number of syntactic characteristics:

They can be followed only by a verb in the bare infinitive form.

They do not inflect.

They function as operators.

Only one modal can be used in a VP.

A modal can thus be used as a VP on its own when it is in contrast with another full VP. It is not
necessary to repeat the main verb; the effect is to draw attention on the contrast:

I havent strangled him yet but I might.

We distinguish two kinds of meanings for modal auxiliaries:

Intirinsic modality (which includes permission, obligation, and volition) involves some intrinsic
human control over events;
Extrinsic modality (which includes possibility, necessity and prediction) involves human
judgement of what is or is not likely to happen.

Each of the modals has both intrinsic and extrinsic uses. In some instances there is an overlap of
the two uses.
Most of the modals can be paired into present and past forms (can/could, may/might,
shall/should, will/would). From the point of view of meaning, the past forms are often merely
more tentative or more polite variants of the present forms.

CENTRAL MODALS

CAN

A) ABILITY

Present or general ability, i.e. the ability to do sth. at any time you want to

Animate Subjects: Potential Performance. e.g.: I can resist everything, except

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temptation.Inanimate Subjects: It indicates that they have the necessary qualities or power to
cause the event to take place. The subject is generally instrument, or external force.

e.g.: Our team can easily win. Hydrochloric acid cant dissolve gold

A1) CAN: Permanent accomplishment (know how to). E.g.: He can speak German fluently.

To make present decisions about future ability. E.g.: Were too busy today, but we can repair your
car tomorrow.

Ability + Willingness. (In my opinion, it is Ability, not Possibility, since the addressee may not be
able to perform the action because he hasnt got the ability to perform the action)

E.g.: Can you do me a favor? Can you translate this for me?

Speech Act: Requests (Ability + Will) Listeners will. Can you come here a minute, please?

a) The person addressed should act.

Can you do me a favor?

Can / May I have the salt?

b) The answer expected is Yes, the implication being We CAN and therefore we SHOULD

Cant we drop the subject?

Young children can play this game.

Liverpool can win the cup next year.

B) POSSIBILITY

Theoretical i.e. used to say that events are possible (without talking of the possibility of them
actually happening). It is possible for someone to do sth. /sth. to happen.
E.g.: Even expert drivers can make mistakes. (Its possible for even expert drivers to make
mistakes.)

Characteristic Behavior: talking of what may be possible.; usually but not always something
unpleasant. It implies a tendency. It is used to say what is common or typical
E.g.: A house in London can cost a lot of money.

Speech Act: Suggestions (about possible solutions to a problem or possible actions)

E.g.: Weve got three choices: we can go to the police, we can talk to Peter ourselves, or we can
forget all about it.

Speech Act: Offers: I can lend you a pound till Wednesday, if that will help.

Present Possibility (at the moment of speaking) Only in interrogative and negative sentences:
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Who can that be at the door?

It cant be true. She must be mistaken. (Its impossible for it to be true.)

With the Perfect infinitive, it is used for speculating or guessing about the past. E.g.: Where can
she have gone? She cant have gone to school - Its Sunday.

C) PERMISSION (asking for, giving, refusing or reporting it) Source of authority: General (not
identified)

1) Source of authority Speaker and Rules. E.g.: You can smoke in this room.
2) Source of authority Circumstances. E.g.: You can have my seat, I m leaving now.
3) Asking if it is allowed. E.g.:Can I smoke in here?
4) Refusing permission (rules). E.g.: You can t smoke in this room.

Speech Act: Offers (apparently, asking for permission; really, we are offering something) E.g.:
Can I buy you a drink?

Speech Act: Orders (apparently, giving permission; really, telling people what to do) Indirect
command: You can go and jump in the river. You can forget about a holiday.

To convey a command, often of an impolite kind. The speaker sarcastically offers someone the
choice to do sth. that cannot be avoided or sth. no one would choose to do.

b) Mike and Willy, you can be standing there and Jill can enter from behind.

COULD

A) PAST ABILITY (permanent or habitual ability) General. To say that you could do sth. at
any time you wanted to.

It is not used to talk about Particular Ability (to do sth. on one occasion) in the past. Instead, we
use WAS / WERE ABLE TO / MANAGED TO / SUCCEEDED IN. However, the negative form is used
for both GENERAL and PARTICULAR ability.
E.g.: When I was younger I couldnt decide what I wanted to do.

Potential performance in the chronological past. E.g.: I could swim when I was five.E.g.: My
father could speak ten languages.

Actual performance.E.g.: I could understand all he said (verb of mental state- inert cognition)

Hypothetical ability. It refers to a present situation. E.g.: I m so hungry I could eat a horse.

In Conditional Sentences: COULD in the ability sense does not occur in a hypothetical main
clause when the main verb is a state verb referring to a permanent accomplishment depending
upon some other event.
E.g.: If you had had proper lessons, you would have more fluency. *could
With the Perfect Infinitive: to say that we had the ability to do sth. but we did not try to do it
Unrealized past possibility:
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1- I could have married anybody I wanted.

B) POSSIBILITY: When we want to say that there is a chance of sth. happening but implying
that it is possible but unlikely.

1- Will you answer the phone? It could be your mother. may

might
2- According to the radio, it could rain this evening.
may might
3- Could I see you tomorrow evening?
4- It could rain later on this evening.
5- There could be trouble at the match tomorrow.

COULD is not only the past form of CAN, it can be used to talk about the present and the future.

Future Possibility: To give the idea that sth. is just possible but not particularly likely. E.g.: We
could go climbing this summer, but I doubt if we ll have time.

Past Possibility: Used for sth. that was possible in the past. E.g.: In those days those voyages
could be dangerous.

Present Possibility: To say that sth. is possibly true at the moment of speaking. E.g.: You could be
right, but I dont think you are.

Hypothetical Possibility: Contingent possibility in unreal conditions. Something possible in unreal

conditions. E.g.: If someone were to make a mistake the whole plan could/might be ruined.

Characteristic behavior in the past: E.g.: My grandmother could be very unpleasant at times.

Speech Act: Suggestions (more tentative or less strong or definite; therefore, politer) E.g.: We
could try asking Lucy if you think its a good idea
Speech Act: Offers.E.g.: I could do the shopping if youre tired.
Speech Act: Requests or Orders (implication of willingness) * Informal request.
E.g.: Could you help me? * An order in a polite way.
Speech Act: Criticisms.E.g.: You could/might/may try and be more civilized.
Criticisms with the Perfect Infinitive:
1) For speculating or guessing about the past in affirmative sentences. E.g.: She could have gone
off with some friends.
2) To talk about an unrealized past possibility, i.e. sth. That was possible but did not happen. E.g.:
You were stupid to go skiing there; you could have broken your leg.
3) To criticize people for not doing things; a complaint about a past omission. E.g.: You could
have given me some notice. Might
4) To say that sth. was not a possibility.a- My parents wanted me to be a doctor, but I couldnt
have put up with all those years of study.
5) Tentative guess about a past event. E.g.: Could you have left your purse on the bus? (Is it just
possible that you left it there?)

In Conditional Sentences
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If the astronauts momentarily lost radio contact with Earth the whole mission could be ruined.

C) PERMISSION (more hesitant than can). It is used when you are not too sure that you
will get permission or when you don t want to sound too sure. E.g.: Could I ask you something if
you re not too busy?

General permission (they were allowed to do sth at any time, not on one particular occasion)
E.g.: a) On weekdays we had to get up early, but on Sundays we could stay in bed till 9:00.
b) The prisoners could leave the camp when they wished. c) When I was a student I could travel at
half-price.

Note: To talk about permission for one particular occasion in the past we use WAS / WERE
ALLOWED TO, to show permission which resulted in an action.

In Conditional Sentences
If you were a student you could travel at half price.

In Reported Speech
You can speak to the patient.
He said we could speak to the patient.

With the Perfect Infinitive

We could / might have spoken to the patient.

In the past
. 1) I was plenty scared. In the state she was she could actually kill.
. 2) My father could usually lay hands on what he wanted.
. 3) He was laughing so much he could hardly get a word out.
. 4) I could almost/ nearly reach a branch. I could just reach the branch. I could
reach the branch because it was loaded down.

MAY

A) PERMISSION (Unstressed): It allows maynt in British English. It is used in statements and

questions.

Permission granted by one of the interlocutors. E.g.: You may smoke in this room
May I smoke?

Asking for permission to be granted by the person questioned. It suggests respect.

-May I leave?
-You may go, Smith. --- Almost imperative use.
General Permission in formal contexts:
E.g.: Visitors may/can ascend the tower for six pence. (In a guidebook)
Students may not stay out after midnight without written permission.

It is used to refuse permission or to forbid.

E.g.: Visitors may/must not feed the animals.
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Nowadays may (permission) is losing ground: to the more popular form of can:
e.g. These days, children can do what they like.

for general permission (at any time);When I was ten, I could watch most T.V. programmes if I
asked my parents first.

particular permission (on one particular occasion), was/were allowed/permitted/given permission;

We were allowed/permitted/given permission to stay out till 11 p.m.

when permission existed but it wasn t acted on, probably because of ignorance on the part of
the subject.We might have spoken to the patient.

B) POSSIBILITY (weak) (FACTUAL) (Stressed): It is used in statements but not in questions.

There is a chance that sth. will happen or is happening. => future reference

Negation: the proposition is negated. E.g.: We may go climbing in the Alps next summer.
I wonder where Emma is. She may be with Nelly I suppose. (It is possible that she is.)

You may notice Impersonal statements; rather empty formulae used as pointers
We may consider for the reader s attention.
William is working late tonight so that he may go to the cricket match tomorrow.

Concession: E.g.: Try as he may, he will not pass the examination.

She may not be pretty, but at least she knows her job.
He may be clever but he hasn t got much common sense.

With the perfect infinitive, it refers to past time to denote the possibility that past events
happened. A guess.E.g.: A: Polly s very late.
B: She may have missed her train

With the perfect infinitive

The modality (possibility) is Present; the event Past.
You may have guessed it s a dress of pure silk.

Speech act: Suggestion: very polite. E.g.: I thought perhaps you may like to come along with me.

D) WISHES
1- Benediction.
May you both be happy.
May all your dreams come true.

2- Malediction.
May his evil designs perish.May he never set foot on this house again.

C) In speech, it is used as a polite way of interrupting someone, asking a question or introducing

what you are going to say next.
May I finish?
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D) It is used to suggest: it seems reasonable to do so You may say Im a dreamer (John

Lennon)

CAN: THEORETICAL POSSIBILITY MAY: FACTUAL POSSIBILITY

A statement is uttered at any time. It is based on previous A statement uttered in certain moment. It is based
experience or on the nature of people or things. on present facts.

E.g.: A friend can betray you (like any other friend) E.g.: A friend may betray you (a warning)

In the NEGATIVE, can negates the modal. Impossibility. In the NEGATIVE, may negates the predication.
E.g.: He cant be working. E.g.: He may not be working

MIGHT
A) PERMISSION.: It carries the idea of being tentative or hesitant, and it is not very common.
Source of authority: General
E.g.: 1- I wonder if I might have a little more cheese.

2- Might/could I ask you for an opinion?

May and not might is used to give permission. Might is not used to give permission.
A tentative question gets a non-tentative answer. The question is tentative or hypothetical
because the speaker doesnt expect his plea (= request) to be granted.

3- You might have come yesterday. (if you had wanted) Permission existed but wasn t acted on.

4- The captain said that the prisoners might leave the camp when they wished. - It is especially
used in Reported Speech.

B) POSSIBILITY (Factual)
It suggests a smaller possibility than may.E.g.: A: I might get a job soon. B: Yes, and pigs
might fly. - Theres more reserve or doubt on the part of the speaker.

Hypothetical; unreal condition. E.g.: If you loved me, I might marry you. If you had loved me, I
would have married you.

In sentences about the past might is sometimes used in adverbial clauses of purpose introduced
by so that / in order that. This is a rather unusual, literary structure and in Modern English it is
more common to use could or should in these cases. E.g.: He saved all his money so that his
son might/could/should have a good education.

Concessive use. E.g.: Try as he might, he could not persuade his friends to go. The event is
marked as less likely, less relevant in the speaker s view.

Remote possibility: E.g.: The news might be true.

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No change in Reported Speech. He admitted that the news might be true. He might/could be
telling lies.

Speech acts: SUGGESTIONS-REQUESTS-CRITICISMS

Suggestion: You might try asking your uncle for a job.

Request.: If youre going to the shops, you might bring me some potatoes.
Criticism or Rebuke: You might ask before you borrow my car. (It denotes sarcasm or annoyance
on the part of the speaker.)
Sarcasm: You might look where youre going.
Wish: You might try to be more helpful. (I wish you would be...)
To compare an unpleasant situation to another: You never listen - I might as well talk to a brick
wall.
With the perfect infinitiveIt is used to speculate about the past: A: What do you think that noise
was? B: It might have been a cat.

It also denotes criticism, unfulfillment - Implied negative - Sarcasm or annoyance on the part of
the speaker: You might have told me she was going to stay out all night. (cf. You may have told
me she was going to stay out all night.)

To talk about a past event that was possible but did not happen:You were stupid to try climbing
up there. You might have killed yourself.

Reported statements
The news may be true. He admitted that the news might be true.

MUST

MUST can only be used to refer to present or future obligation. To talk about the Past, we must
use either HAD TO (fulfilment) or WAS/WERE TO (unfulfillment).

A) OBLIGATION (or Compulsion)

Source of authority: the speaker (or public signs)It is used to talk about an obligation that
depends on the person speaking or listening.

Strong advice or order to oneself or to other people. Self - compulsion through a sense of Duty.
E.g.: I must phone my parents tonight. -

Strong advice or order to oneself or to other people. Social responsibility. E.g.: We must invite the
Stewards to dinner. -

Self-compulsion through a sense of duty. E.g.: I must go or Ill be late.

Obligation imposed by the speaker. E.g.: You must be back at ten oclock.
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Expecting a negative answer.E.g.: Must you leave already? (...surely you dont)

To ask about the wishes or intentions of the person that one is speaking to. E.g.: Must I clean all
the room?

Sarcasm.E.g.: Must you make that dreadful noise? (...surely you dont have to)

Pressing advice; a stronger form of should - Social convention. You must see the film if you get
a chance.

In these examples Must does not seem appropriate as they are invitations, but it is in fact polite to
be insistent in matters in which the person addressed is the beneficiary from the action.E.g.:
Well, you must say what you want for a present. Oh, you must come around and see me.

Must is stressed. Theres a tone of petulant irony. Here must indicates compulsion by the
hearer (self-compulsion). It is as if the speaker pays service to the idea that the hearer does what
he does under internal compulsion, rather than of his own will
E.g.: If you must smoke, use an ashtray... (If you are under the compulsion of smoking...)

11- Obligation for non-action; it is used to tell people not to do things. Prohibition: You mustnt
say anything

To talk about complete fulfilment in the past, we use HAD TO. E.g.: I had to leave early yesterday
because I wasnt feeling well.

When there was no accomplishment of the past action ordered, we use WAS/WERE TO. E.g.: I
was to visit the dentist yesterday but I didnt have time.

In Indirect Speech
Then, I decided that I must stop smoking.
He said he had to go because he had an appointment.
He said he must tell you.

B) LOGICAL NECESSITY/ DEDUCTION (Given the evidence there can be no other conclusion)
DEDUCTION (knowledge arrived at by evidence or reasoning, rather than by direct experience)

We are sure about something because it is logically necessary.E.g.: That must be my wife.(I
know that she is due to phone at about this time and I therefore conclude that shes phoning
now.)

Assumption (I assume that you are; I take it that) You must be Mr. Jones.

A little more than a guess, an estimating statement. You must be a foot taller than I.

In negative and questions, we use CAN / CANT / NEEDNT

E.g.: That cant be the postman. Its only seven oclock.
E.g.: what do you think this letter can mean?
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It is used in a question positively oriented to get the hearer to reconsider his assumption. Must the
purse be at the station?
Yes, it must.
No, it neednt.

Also: Why must the purse be at the station? It is often preceded by why Must they be on
holiday? Can

With the Perfect Infinitive (for deductions about the past)

His wife died in an accident. It must have been a great shock to him.

NOTE:
MUST is used in a rather weaker sense with a limited set of verbs all related to the act of
conversation. The speaker either imposes the obligation on himself and by doing so actually
performs the act (I must admit - I admit) or else asks his hearer to behave in a similar way.

I must say... You must remember...

admit... admit...
be honest... realize...
ask you... understand...
confess...

C) ROOT NECESSITY (no implication of human control) It is essential/necessary for.

E.g.: To be healthy, a plant must receive a good supply of both sunshine and moisture.
To reproduce well, the tiger must live free in the wilderness.
Alpine plants must be able to flower and ripen viable seeds within a short growing period in order
to reproduce themselves.

SHALL

It indicates the will of the speaker, rather than that of the Subject of the sentence.

A) WILLINGNESS on the part of the speaker (the speaker is conferring a favor)- With 2nd. And
3rd. person subjects it is common in older English when the speaker wanted to show strong
emotions in promises or threats. It is rare especially among young speakers.

1- He shall be rewarded if hes patient.

2- He shall get his money.
Im willing to see that he gets his money.
3- You shall stay with us as long as you will.
4- You shall have an answer tomorrow.
Speech act: OFFERS
- It is used usually, but not always with 1st. person subjects. It generally represents a request on
the part of the speaker to know the wishes or opinion of the person addressed.

1- Shall I bring you a chair? Shall I try this number again?

Cf. Shall I be told what to do? Shall we hear from you soon?
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2- Shall Sally do the shopping for you?

3- Shall we tell him that hes not wanted? Should

We are asking what decision we ought to make. SHOULD is more tentative.

4- a) What shall I / we do? Request for advice or instructions. Cf.

b) What will we do there? Mere future.

5- Invitation. E.g.: Shall we go out for lunch?

B) INSISTENCE OR DETERMINATION on the part of the speaker (of very restrictive use because
it carries strong overtones of imperiousness and sounds undemocratic).

1- You shall obey my orders.I insist that you obey my orders.

2- He shall be punished.

3- The Societys nominating committee shall ...

4- You shall suffer for this.

This could be found in fairy tales in the speech of wicked uncles, ogres and stepmothers.
Nowadays we would prefer Ill make you suffer for this.

C) INTENTION on the part of the speaker. (Intrinsic Modality)

- It occurs exclusively with 1st. person subjects.

1- I shall write as soon as I can.

2- We shall celebrate tonight.

3- We shall stop your packet money if you dont behave.

D) PREDICTION (Extrinsic Modality)

1- We shall all be dead in a hundred years.

- So this was the place where I should study for the next three years. It made a bad first
impression. Future in the past.

D) In questions
There is a slight additional modification of the meaning of SHALL in statements. The volitional
meaning is the neutral of wanting rather than the strong sense of insistence or the weak sense of
willingness. In all these examples, the speaker asks the hearer the responsibility for deciding that
an act can take place. Hes not simply obtaining information.
Hes offering to act.
Shall I close the window?
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In Reported Speech
1- Shall I try this number again?
He asked if he should try this number again. *would
If WOULD were used, the meaning of asking for instructions would be lost.

SHOULD

A) MORAL OBLIGATION / ESCAPABLE obligation. (Unstressed) DESIRABILITY / DUTY

Speech act: ADVICE / RECOMMENDATION/

- Its used in general to say what we think is right or good for people to do.
- Its used instead of MUST, which would sound too peremptory (expecting to be obeyed
immediately and without question or refusal) in instructions or corrections.
E.g.: You should do as he says.
E.g.: The children should be punished.
E.g.: This should be done before the pollen is ripe.

Should: we give our own subjective opinion.

Ought to: has a more objective force, and is used when talking about laws, regulations, etc. E.g.:
You should / ought to go to see Mary. and

Disguised imperative. E.g.: Applications should reach us before March 1st.

It can be used as the conditional auxiliary for the 1st. person.

E.g.: (If I were you) I should get that car serviced.
E.g.: I shouldnt worry (if I were you).

B) LOGICAL NECESSITY/ TENTATIVE INFERENCE (unstressed)- The meaning is it is necessary

and would happen.- It is used to talk about strong probability, present or future; but never past.
E.g.: Well, both of them should be on the Modern Board.
E.g.: Our guests should be home by now. ought to be
E.g.: If its a story by P.G. Wodehouse, it should be amusing.

Question (rare) E.g.: Should there be any difficulty in getting the tickets?

With the Perfect Infinitive: To talk about things that did not happen, although they were
supposed to.
E.g.: The taxi should / ought to have arrived at 8.30, but it didnt turn up.

C) IN SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

Conditional clauses: in rather formal real conditions it is more tentative than the indicative or the
subjunctive; it makes it less likely that the condition be fulfilled.

1- If he changes his mind no one will blame him. change

should change
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2- If you should hear news of them, please let me know. Should you hear news of them, please let
me know.

3- Should the container explode, there would almost certainly be widespread damage.

Omission of IF and S-op. Inversion; a more formal expression of hypothetical, unreal

conditions.

Nominal that-clauses (Od): after certain emotive or volitional verbs, especially in Past sentences,
when we are expressing the idea that something must be done or is important.

1- He insisted that the contract (should) be read aloud.

2- I recommended that you should reduce your expenditure.
3- a) I suggested that he should take legal advice.
. b) take
. c) took
a) Mandative Subjunctive.
b) Subjunctive.
c) The verb form has been regularized, to give the normal sequence of tenses.

Verbs: advise - ask - command - decide - decree - demand - insist - move - order - propose -
recommend - request - require - suggest - urge - vote - wish - deplore - prefer- regret.

Nominal that-clauses (delayed Subject): after certain adjectives or nouns.

1- Was it necessary that my uncle (should) be informed?

a) It - be - Adj.(active meaning)
alarming - amazing - curious - disconcerting - embarrassing - essential - extraordinary - fitting -
fortunate - frightening - important - interesting - irritating - natural - necessary - normal - odd-
queer - sad - shocking - surprising - vital - etc.

b)It-be-Noun - Its a pity-shame.

Nominal that-clauses (Adjectival complement): after volitional and emotive adjectives such as:
amazed - angry - anxious - astonished - concerned - eager - shocked - sorry - surprised - keen -
insistent.in sentences where we express personal reactions to events

Im anxious that nobody (should) be hurt.

c) Pers. - be - Adj.: amazed - angry - anxious - concerned - eager- shocked - surprised - keen -
insistent.
1- I was shocked that he shouldnt have invited Phyllis.
2- Im sorry that you should think I did it on purpose.
3- 3- He was astonished that she should do a thing like that.

- The subjunctive is not possible here; i.e. SHOULD cannot be deleted.

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In past sentences in subordinate clauses of purpose introduced by so that in order that.

1- He came in quietly in order that he shouldnt wake his wife.
2- Mary talked to the shy girl so that she shouldnt feel left out.
3- He turned the stereo down so that he shouldnt disturb the neighbours. in order that
4- I hid it lest he should see it.

In present or past sentences after in case

1- Ill get some beer in case Aunt Mary should come/comes.

D) IDIOMATIC USES IN EXCLAMATIONS AND QUESTIONS: to express extreme surprise in

stereotyped constructions, using inversion.

1- That he should think me capable of!

Putative use of SHOULD (the very idea surprises me)

- When you dont want to do something, or do not know something and want to show that you
are angry that someone expects you to do it or know it.

2- How should I know? When you do not know something, and want to show that you are angry
that someone expects
you to know it.

3- We were having a good time when who should come along but Tom Brown!
Who do you imagine came along but...

- It is used for turning direct statements into questions to emphasize that something is very
surprising.

WILL
A) WILLINGNESS (to do something, or to offer to do something)

To express the speakers willingness. E.g.: A: Can somebody help me?

To tell people what to do.

a) Will you please open the door?
b) Will you open the door? With second person subjects, the listeners will is involved; Request.

- b) More peremptory than a); its a politer substitute for an Imperative.

Who will lend me a cigarette?Who is willing to lend me a cigarette?

Ask about peoples wishes: Will you have some more wine? What will you drink? Invitation.

Invitation, more emphatic. E.g.: Won t you come in?

In the negative the meaning is refusal. E.g.: She won t open the door.
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With the first person subjects, it is the non-volitional future. E.g.: What will I do?

B) INSISTENCE - DETERMINATION

Determination: With first person subjects the speaker makes his own, uncompromising
determination felt.
E.g.: I will go out with him.

Insistence: With the second and third person subjects, the speaker expresses his exasperation at
somebodys obstinacy.
E.g.: He will go swimming in dangerous waters.
E.g.: She will do it.
E.g.: Janet, why will you keep making jokes about Aunt Betty?

C) INTENTION
Decisions either to do something definitely or to do it under certain circumstances.

With the first-person subjects it conveys a promise, threat or corporate decision (a decision has
been made at the fulfilment of the intention is guaranteed)

Firm intention. E.g.: I will stop smoking.

Promise. E.g.: Ill write to you as soon as I can.

Decision. E.g.: He wont stay too long.

We treat things which refuse to do what we want as if they had a mind and will of their own. E.g.:
My car will keep breaking down.
The car wont start.
Will the window open?

D) PREDICTION * Future
* Present
* Habitual

Prediction about the future

Will + bare inf: used to ask/ give information about what we think, guess or calculate. It represents
an assumption.
E.g.: The astronauts will land tomorrow.E.g.: Do you think it will rain?
E.g.: Ill never finish the book.

Will + progressive: It is used to talk about future as a matter of course.

E.g.: we will be flying at 300 feet.
It is also used to talk about future events which are already fixed or arranged.
E.g.: Ill be taking the children to the zoo tomorrow.
Finally, it is used to talk about a future period of time within which another situation occurs.
E.g.: At 5 oclock, Ill be working.
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Prediction about the present

- A forecast about the present. It lacks the assertive force of MUST, although it does not
necessarily indicate any less certainty
E.g.: That will be my wife. must
E.g.: Dont phone them now - theyll be having dinner.
E.g.: The game will be finished by now.

It lacks the assertive form of MUST although it does not necessarily indicate any less certainty on
the part of the speaker.

- Belief or conjecture: You will already be familiar with this subject

to say that you are assuming or guessing that something is true because you have good reasons
for thinking it. (Present prediction)

With the Perfect Infinitive:

E.g.: John will have arrived by now / by tomorrow must

Habits and characteristic behavior. (Habitual prediction) (Whenever X happens; it is predictable

that Y happens) Persistent pattern of behavior or of events.

Description of personal habits of characteristic behavior. E.g.: Hell often say something and then
forget what it was he said.

3- Timeless prediction. E.g.: Sulphuric acid will dissolve most metals.

Truth will out.
This auditorium will hold 500 people.
Accidents will happen.
A lion will only attack a human being when it is angry.

To Criticize peoples behavior: He will keep forgetting things.

In conditional Sentences. E.g.: If snow is heated, it will turn into water.

Inherent capacity (capacity in relation to things)

It is half a statement of fact and half a prediction.
The pound in your pocket will buy far less today that it would ten years ago
It suggests that the fact or prediction can be put to the test and verified.

WOULD

A) WILLINGNESS

WOULD: Past willingness of a general kind. E.g.: She would hoover dust and iron but she didnt
like cooking.

WOULDNT: can be used to imply refusal on one particular occasion. E.g.: I asked him very
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politely but he wouldnt tell me.

1- A: Would you excuse me

B: Of course I will.
2- Johns so greedy he would do anything for money. (if you asked him)

3- When John was young he was so poor he would do anything for money.
4- a) The car wouldnt start.
c) They wouldnt listen to me Refusal - a) impersonal subject b) personal subject
5- Would you please open the door? More tentative, and therefore politer than WILL.

B) INSISTENCE
1- The annoying thing was that he would leave the house in a muddle.
2- It was your own fault: you would take the baby with you.
3- He would borrow my things without asking.

C) PREDICTION (less definite form of WILL, in some cases past of WILL)

1- Would your name be Fowler by any chance?
2- One would suppose the danger is over.

Habits, characteristic behaviour in the Past:

E.g.: On Sundays, when I was a child, we would get up early and go fishing.
E.g.: In spring birds would return to their nests.
E.g.: Every morning he would go for a walk.
< Voluntary action; time expression required.

4- Sometimes he would bring me little presents without saying why.

Future Prediction: future in the past. To talk about a past action which had not yet happened at
the moment we re talking about. E.g.: When I went on holidays, I didn t know I would meet the
love of my life.

D. AFTER I WISH / IF ONLY

1- She will keep making noise. I wish she (will) stop/would stop that noise.

2- She makes a noise. I wish you stopped that noise.

With the perfect infinite:

A: I met a charming girl at your party last night. B: Ah, yes! That will/would have been my
cousin Sarah.

There are also marginal auxiliaries that can be divided in four groups:

SEMI-MODALS
Verbs that closely resemble the central modal auxiliaries but have a homomorphic verb.

DARE TO
Meaning: having enough courage or to be rude enough to do something and actually doing it. As
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a modal auxiliary: in non-assertive contexts.

E.g.: She didnt dare tell her the truth.

Indignant exclamations.

E.g.: How dare he make her such a terrible accusation!

As a main verb: with inflected forms.

- To discourage somebody from doing something- like a threat.
E.g.: These words indicated trusts in the people such as no other government in Europe have
dared to show.

NEED (COUNTERPART OF MUST)

IMMEDIATE NECESSITY (extrinsic modality): Source of authority: The speaker.

Used in negatives: E.g.: you neednt look at me like that.
Used in questions: Asking for permission not to do something. E.g.: Need I do the washing up?

LOGICAL NECESSITY (extrinsic modality): it might happen but it is not necessarily the case.
Used in Negatives: E.g.: strikes need not be caused by bad pay.
Used in Questions: E.g.: need there be a motive for the crime

ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION (intrinsic modality) = dont have to.

E.g.: You neednt come (give permission not to do something, give the choice)

Need + perfect Infinitive. E.g.: You neednt have woken me up. (he did it but it was unnecessary)

NEED is used in formal style; in informal style NEED TO is used.

Meaning: there is no reason why a particular thing should happen or a particular state of affairs
come into existence.

As a modal auxiliary: in non-assertive contexts.

- With second person subjects, youre telling them or advising them that there is no good reason
why they should do something.
E.g.: You neednt worry about me. I can look after myself.
_ If you say that something need not happen, you mean it might happen but it is not necessary
that it
will happen.E.g.: This need not be so.

NEED TO
(ordinary verb) counterpart of HAVE TO

It can be used in affirmative sentences. In scale of intensity it is half-way between MUST and
OUGHT TO.

A) NECESSITY (HABITUAL OR GENERAL)

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- General source of authority.

- It is necessary or it is a good idea.

. It is necessary or it is a good idea.

E.g.: One needs to have a visa to go to the United States.
E.g.: Did you really need to spend all that money on a pair of shoes?

. Making decision about the future. E.g.: I need to get the car serviced soon.
Youll need to start work soon if you want to pass your exams.
He needs to come.

. Internal obligation, self-compulsion. E.g.: He needs to feel wanted.As opposed to he ought to

feel lonely, which shows an external obligation.

OUGHT TO

OBLIGATION IMPOSED BY THE SPEAKER (escapable)

- Moral obligation.
- There is often an implication that the event does not, will not or did not take place, i.e. an
implication of non-actuality.

a) He must pay for the broken windows.

And he will do so because I say so.

b) He ought to/should pay for the broken windows.

But he probably wont.

OUGHT TO: more emphatic SHOULD: more neutral

DUTY or DESIRABILITY.
The general consensus of opinion regards a certain action as recommend behavior.
E.g.: People ought to vote even if they dont agree with any of the candidates.

Speech Act: ADVICE (to say what we think is right or good for people to do)
1- You ought to/should go and see American Beauty its a great film.
2- You ought to/should go and see Mary some time.
3- We ought to go and see Mary tomorrow, but I dont think we will. *should
It would be strange to give oneself advice and say that one is not going to follow it.

Note: With OUGHT TO, we negate the modal. E.g.: You oughtnt to complain. (It is not advisable
for you to complain)

With SHOULD, we negate the predication. E.g.: You shouldnt complain. (Its advisable that you
dont complain)

LOGICAL NECESSITY/TENTATIVE INFERENCE (weaker equivalent of MUST, when meaning

deduction/assumption) to refer to Present or Future Time.
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The term which best seems to characterize the non-committed necessity meaning of should and
ought to is tentative inference. That is, the speaker does not know if his statement is true but
tentatively concludes that it is true, on the basis of whatever he knows. Apart from this
tentativeness, SHOULD and OUGHT TO differ from MUST in that they frequently refer to the
future. The proposition within this scope is desirability. They have the additional meaning of if
everything goes well.

E.g.: Our guests ought to/ should/ must be home now.

E.g.: Henrys team ought to win the match tomorrow.
E.g.: We ought to see the Eiffel Tower from the hotel room.It suggests that the proposition
within its scope is desirable

Negation:
E.g.: You oughtnt to have any difficulty in getting the tickets.
You cant possibly have any difficulty in getting them.

- Unlike MUST, you can negate this modals with no change in meaning.

With the Perfect Infinitive: It refers to the Past Time.

E.g.: We ought to have got here earlier: the train is packed.
E.g.: You ought not to have spent all that money on such a silly thing.

In Reported Speech:
E.g.: He told me I ought to be ashamed of myself.
Meaning: having the moral duty to do something, showing: what would be right or sensible.
- To say that something is probably true or will probably happen in the way mentioned.
E.g.: And he ought, by rights, to be dead already.

USED TO
To denote a habit or state that existed in the past. It is used when we mean that something used
to be done or be true; it was done regularly in the past or was true in the past, but is not true or is
not done now.

E.g.: I used to lie on my back all the time in the kitchen or, on bright warm days, out in the garden,
a little bundle of crooked muscles and twisted nerves.

< Not generally used as an auxiliary: formal style

MODAL IDIOMS
These have no non-finite forms and cannot therefore follow other verbs in the verb phrase.<
They do not behave as operators and it is normally the first word alone which acts as operator.

HAD BETTER
It denotes advisability. To give strong advice or to tell people what to do. E.g.: Youd better turn
that music down before your dad gets angry.

It has a meaning similar to the obligational meaning of ought to and should. E.g.: Now Id
 Grammar II Angie Alal

better explain their social arrangement.

It refers to the immediate future. More urgent that Should / Ought to. E.g.: A: I really ought to go
and see Fred one of these days. B: Well, youd better do it soon hes leaving for South Africa.

It is used as a polite way of telling, advising, warning or threatening people. We give firm advice to
avoid some problems, unpleasantness or danger. It introduces a recommended alternative.

I think youd better mention this specifically so theres no chance of complaints.

< Sometimes, Had is omitted in informal style, for emphasis.
< In old fashioned English:
You had best leave your foolery, for if my master comes, hell conjure you, faith.

Not used for polite requests. E.g.: Youd better help me. If you dont, there will be trouble.
(order/threat)

WOULD - HAD / RATHER / SOONER

It denotes preference. It has volitional meaning.
<You use it to express preference or to say what you want to happen. It implies more willingly. It
introduces a preferred alternative.

E.g.: I would rather die than give up drinking.

< When you use it to say what you want someone else to do, it is always followed by a past tense
even though the action refers to the future.

E.g.: Id rather you didnt drive so fast.

Old fashioned: I would (rather) he had put in dry too.

They have two kinds of negation:

a) negation in which NOT follows the whole expression (an instance of predication negation).
b) negation in which NOT follows the first word in contexts where an earlier statement or
assumption is being challenged.

BE TO
This structure is often used to talk about arrangements which have been planned for the future or
to express a command or instruction issuing from the speaker or imposed on the speaker by
external authority.

Command
a) He is to return to Germany now / tomorrow He has received explicit orders.
b) He has to return from Germany. Circumstances obliged him to return hes run out of
money, his ticket expires, hes got an appointment

Arrangements
Something planned for the future. Here it loses its imperative flavor and becomes a way of
indicating a future happening already determined in the present, by a plan, decree or
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arrangement. To say that something is planned to happen.

E.g.: They are to be married in St Jamess church.

Future contingency (if you intend to ...) In Conditional clauses, it joins the ideas of Condition and
Purpose.
E.g.: If you are to win the competition, you must start training now.

Quasi-imperative. It is also used to give orders. Its meaning includes the specific idea of ordering
and commanding
E.g.: You are to be back by ten.You are to give the letters to the boss.You are to do your
homework before you watch T.V.

In notices and instructions to say that something must happen. E.g.: This form is to be filled in and
returned within three weeks.

The usefulness of this construction lies in its ability to signify future meaning when NO SPECIFIC
TIME is mentioned.E.g.: MISS UNITED KINGDOM IS TO MARRY FILM BOSS

Unfulfillment; instructions were not carried out. E.g.: You were to have given the letter to the
manager.
The taxi was to arrive / have arrived at 8.30 but it didnt turn up.

Future in the Past (was destined to be) referring to things hidden in the future, written in the
stars, etc. E.g.: 30 years later the precautious youth was to be the first president of the United
States.

a) There is nothing to do. Im bored

Nothing I can do, NO ENTERTAINMENT.

b) Theres nothing to be done. Well have to buy another one.

No way of putting it right. NO SOLUTION.

Also: something, anything.

A) Theres a lot of work to do.
We think more about the person who has to do the action than about the action itself.

b) Theres a lot of work to be done.

We think more about the action that has to be done than about the person who will do it.

The sheets are to be washed.

This form is to be filled in ink.

I have a lot of work to do.

If the Subject of the sentence is the person that has to do the action, the active infinitive is used. If
the Subject of the sentence is the person or thing the action has to be done to, we use the passive
infinitive
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A) You are to be congratulated on your success.

b) Who is to question him?

To say or ask what should happen in a particular situation

a) We looked and looked but the ring was nowhere to be found.
It refers to what cannot or could not happen.

b) The answer is not to be found in studying her private life.

Shows what cannot happen. If the Subject of the sentence is the person or thing the action has to
be done to, we use the passive infinitive

SEMI - AUXILIARIES
These are a set of verb idioms which express modal or aspectual meaning and which are
introduced by one of the primary verbs be and have. They can fill slots in a modal verb paradigm
where modal auxiliaries of equivalent meaning cannot occur:

BE ABLE TO
Having the physical skill, power, necessary knowledge; or having enough time, freedom, money
or other qualities that are needed in order to do sth.

1) It is used where can lacks the necessary forms.

Shes got to be able to finish it by Friday.

2) It is more formal than can and is therefore more likely to be used in written texts.... is no
guarantee that he is able to criticize whatever it is that he himself accepts.

3) In the present it implies actuality, i.e. it suggests not only that the subject can perform the
action but also that they do perform it. We are concerned with the ability of a subject to behave in
a certain way, not with the mere possibility of such behavior.

a) BE ABLE TO: CAN + DO

b) CAN: CAN + WILL DO
a) In this way, we are able to carry out research and not simply to undertake consulting.
b) In this way, we can carry out research and not simply undertake consulting.

4a) Could is not used if there is an implication of actuality and if its a particular ability in the
past.
I ran fast and was able to catch the bus. * could

4b) Either could or was/were able to can be used in the negative because there is no difference
between general and particular ability.
I ran fast but wasnt able to/ couldnt catch the bus.

5) On that particular occasion.How many eggs were you able to get? * could

6a) General Ability.

He was a terrific liar: he could make anybody believe him.
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6b) One particular occasion.He talked for a long time; and in the end he managed to make her
believe him.

7) WILL BE ABLE TO is used when there has already been explicit reference to a specific time in
the future so that ABILITY depends on some event in the future.
When you are a mother youll be able to say My mother was right.

8) The presence of a future time indication does not itself mean that BE ABLE TO has to be used.
Provided the possibility is timeless (e.g. any April) CAN may refer to a specified future event. It is
not easy to decide whether to use CAN or BE ABLE TO.
The next time you will be able to take the exam is in April. Otherwise, youll have to wait till
September.

HAVE (GOT) TO

It is not an auxiliary on the same footing as the others because it has an infinitive form, it can
combine with other auxiliaries and modals. However, it cannot semantically be separated from
other modals.

A) OBLIGATION (external forces)

To talk about or report an obligation that comes from outside; another person wants it done, or
theres a law, rule, agreement or something of the kind.

E.g.: You have to sign your name here, otherwise the document isnt valid

Although MUST is possible, HAVE TO is more common.

In British English, we make a distinction between
a- Habitual or repeated obligation: HAVE and auxiliaries. E.g.: I have to help at home.
b- Non-habitual obligation, one thing that we are obliged to do: GOT FORMS. E.g.: Ive got to clean
the bathroom. (Only for today)

GOT forms are unusual in the past, and are replaced by ordinary verb forms. E.g.: Did you have to
go to church on Sundays when you were a child?

To talk about the future both forms are possible. E.g.: I have (got) to get up early tomorrow
were going to Bristol.

You must do it or are forced to do it without having any choice. E.g.: I have to work from 9.00 a.m.
till 5.00 a.m

Habitual obligation. E.g.: I dont usually have to go to work on Sundays. Do you often have to
speak French in your job?

Non- habitual obligation, one occasion. Something planned for the future.
E.g.: I havent got to work tomorrow. Have you got to do any interpreting next week?

- In Am. E. ordinary verb forms can be used for all meanings. This is also becoming common in Br.
Grammar II Angie Alal

E. because of American influence. GOT forms are also possible in informal American English
(spoken) in affirmative sentences.

E.g.: A: Ive got to go B: Oh, do you?

HAVE is left out in a very informal style.

The authority of the speaker is not involved.

E.g.: Ive got to be at London airport at four-ish.
E.g.: Theres a whole lot of literature youve got to read.

HAVE GOT TO conveys obligation generally, without specifying who does the compelling.

A) Have we got to have jam every day? (Just a question.)

B) Do we have to have jam every day? (Idea of repetition, you are complaining)

a) Have we got to go now?

b) Do we have to go now?
c) Need we go now?

Implication of actuality (the event took place). E.g.: We had to copy everything again.

We had to make a special trip down to Epton to collect the damned thing.
We had got to make a special trip down to Epton anyway so it didnt matter.

Have to + progressive temporary continues obligation. E.g.: Im having to work very hard at the
moment.

FUTURE OBLIGATION
Have (got) to If an obligation exists now. E.g.: Ive got to get up early tomorrow Were going
to Devon.

Going to have to E.g.: Were going to have to repair that window.

Will have to purely future obligation. E.g.: one day, everyone will have to ask permission to buy
a car.

BUT

Have (got) to is preferred when arrangements for the future have already been made.B)
B) LOGICAL NECESSITY OR CERTAINTY: (this is a stronger meaning of logical necessity which
cannot be matched by the use of MUST)

Somebody had to lose the game.

Past time. It was impossible for both to win; i.e. it was necessary by the rules of the game for
someone to lose.
There has to be some reason for his absurd behavior.
Does there have to be a reason for his absurd behavior?
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Present time.
Strikes dont have to be caused by bad pay.

Present time. (They can also be caused by bad work conditions, etc.).
If God did not exist, someone would have to invent Him.

Hypothetical. It would be necessary for someone to invent Him.

C) ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION, COMPULSION OR NECESSITY (the implication is that you can do

it if you want to)

-You dont have to tell Bob.

You can, if you like, but it isnt necessary.

-You neednt tell Bob.

He already knows.

Do you have to make that noise when you eat?

Sarcastic utterance.

Unlike have to, the form have got to does not occur with other modal forms.

Both form differ from MUST in the negative. MUSNT an obligation not to do something.
DONT HAVE TOmeans that there is NOT an obligation to do something.

BE OBLIGED TO
If you are obliged to do something, you have to do it because the situation, the law, a duty etc
makes it necessary.

The minister was obliged to report at least once every six months

Feel obliged to do something: feel that you have a duty to do something.

Many parents feel obliged to pay for at least part of the wedding.

BE INTENDED TO - v:
I dont have information about this, I asked the girls to send me their power point. Once they do
it, I add that information here
E.g.: The World Nature Games are intended to be more than just an environmentally correct
novelty.

BE ABOUT TO - v:
(On the point of doing something) youre going to do it very soon; be just ready to.
E.g.: I was about to ask you the same thing.
E.g.: We were just about to leave when Jerry arrived.
Action in the near future.
E.g.: The train is about to leave.
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Refers to arranged actions happening in the immediate future and is often used with just. E.g.: Do
you have a minute? Im sorry, Im just about to leave.

Not be about to do something/ to not be willing to do something. E.g.: Ive never done any
cooking and Im not about to start now.In Am. E., meaning unwilling to

By late April, the trees were about ready to burst into leaf, the first bats were flying again, and the
warblers were returning.

In the past: WAS/WERE ABOUT TO: on the point of. It has the sense of unfulfilled action. E.g.: He
was about to hit me.

BE BOUND TO v
To be very likely to do or feel a particular thing.E.g.: The plan is bound to fail (= must inevitably
fail; necessity) You are bound to pay your debts. (= are compelled to...; obligation)

It is certain/likely to happen or be done.

To be certain or destined, to be determined or resolved to do something.

E.g.: The bold figure in the parlor was bound to be traumatic.

When a team is successful the product sold by its sponsor is bound to be a hit.

Necessity: E.g.: Plan is bound to fail.

Obligation (intrinsic modality): E.g.: Youre bound to pay.

BE GOING TO- v
Future; not usually in sentences containing a condition (with personal subjects) to intend to.

Present intention:
E.g.: Im going to meet Tom this evening. Do you know him?
E.g.: John and Anita are going to get married in two weeks time.
E.g.: Are you going to pay the bill, or shall I?

Prediction of the present situation: Predict the future on the basis of present evidence. E.g.: Im
going to regret this, he thought to himself.E.g.: Damn! Were going to be late for the party.
Close action
E.g.: I thought the boat was going to break up.

(With a person or thing that cannot be controlled) to be certain or be expected to, at some time in
the future.
E.g.: Its dreadful and its going to be devastating, he said.

Past intention or arrangement: unfulfilled action.

E.g.: The fact is I thought he was going to kill me.E.g.: He had a kind of ritual each time he was
going to hit someone.
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But sometimes action really happens.

To insist that people do things or do not do things. E.g.: Shes not going to play football in my
garden.

To talk about plans (especially in Informal Style). This structure often emphasises the idea in
INTENTION, or a decision that has already been made. E.g: were going to get a new car soon.

When expressing intention/prediction, it is used in place of will, but it is not used to express the
willingness associated with will.

BE SUPPOSED TO- (Necessity, Obligation)

To have a duty or responsibility to do something. If something is supposed (not) to be done, it
should (not) be done because of a law, rule or custom.
E.g.: Martin is supposed to put on gloves before touching electrical equipment.
E.g.: You are supposed to report it to the police as soon as possible.

If something is supposed to be true, people think that it is true, but you dont know for certain
that it is true. (be reputed) It is said that...To say what is generally believed.
E.g.: This stuff is supposed to kill flies, lets try.
E.g.: The hill was supposed to be haunted by the ghost of a leper.

E.g.: Machine-breaking was a characteristic of the Luddite Riots, which were named after a half-
witted lad, Ned Ludd, who was supposed to have revenged himself on his master in this fashion.

If something was supposed to happen, you meant that it was planned or intended that it should
happen; especially when the particular thing does not happen. (be meant)
E.g.: Charities, which the corporation was supposed to support, were often neglected and their
funds diverted to private uses.

There is an implication that the social requirements being mentioned is external to the speaker
and may be one that the speaker feels is being ignored.E.g.: You are supposed to be studying,
not watching TV.

Be supposed to often expresses expectations about scheduled events as in The game is

supposed to begin at 8.00
BE WILLING TO
Not mind doing it; have no objection to do it.

Men are less willing to leave a building in a fire than women are.

They were not willing to bolster up foreign tyrannies, Spanish, Turkish, or Austrian.

Not mind doing it; have no objection to doing it.

E.g.: I was still willing to marry her.
1) Not objecting to do something.
E.g.: How much are they willing to pay?
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2) Prepared to do something, or having no reason for not doing it (not before a noun).
E.g.: Im perfectly willing to discuss the problem.
3) If you are willing to do something that is necessary or that youve been asked to do, you do it
fairly happily.
E.g.: To do well as a journalist, you have to be willing to change jobs frequently.
4) Negative form: be not willing to or be unwilling to to refuse to do something.
E.g.: Hes unwilling to or not willing to cooperate.

BE APT TO
Be likely to because thats usually the case (=be prone)
Babies who are small at birth are apt to grow faster.

1) Likely or having a natural tendency to do something. (Synonym: tend to) E.g.: He was
apt to be very upset when things went wrong.

2) Often do something or be likely to do something especially at a particular time or in a particular

situation.E.g.: The pond is apt to dry up during summer.

BE DUE TO
Arranged or expected. E.g.: She is due to start school in January.

Be expected or supposed to happen at a particular time.

E.g.: The committee was due to meet on August 22.

Used for fixed events happening at or within a specific time.

E.g.: Federal employers are due to return to work on January 8th.

Used to refer to planned future events that you expect to happen soon.
E.g.: Negotiations were due to take place later that week.

Used for timetables.

E.g.: The film is due to start at 8 pm.
BE LIKELY TO
Something that is likely will probably happen or is probably true.
E.g.: They are likely to win by several goals

1) Something probable or expected

E.g.: Smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer compares to non-smokers.
2) Something that is likely will probably happen or is probably true.
E.g.: Im likely to be late tomorrow.
3) Express possibility or probability
E.g.: He is unlikely to be late tomorrow.
4) Makes reference to a possible future event: we are confident that something will happen, but
not totally sure about such an occurrence.
E.g.: They are likely to ask you about your knowledge of computers in the interview, so be
prepared for that.
5) Negative form: be unlikely to (more common because people tend to be pessimistic). E.g.:
Sarah was unlikely to know that her boyfriend was cheating on her.
Grammar II Angie Alal

E.g.: Even the dullest examples of the species are likely to be enlivened with good songs and to
offer oases of easily actable clownage.
E.g.: Any eagle partaking of such a banquet is likely to be seen by another hungry eagle.
E.g.: I am no longer too embarrassed to ask people for directions, but I often receive extremely
confusing replies and I am no more likely to get to my destination than I was if I had not stopped
to ask the way.

BE MEANT TO
It is very strongly expected to happen, almost as though there is a law or rule.

They are meant to celebrate mans interaction with the environment.

These brief explanations are meant to help you understand -and forgive- that not-so-smooth
landing of your last trip.E.g.: Are parrots meant to love all their children equally?

Have a reputation for being: E.g.: They are meant to be good cars.