MEETING 1

MODALS FOR EXPRESSING ABILITY,GIVING PERMISSION AND

ASKING POLITE QUESTIONS ( WOULD YOU MIND)

OBJECTIVES : By the end of this course students will be able to recognice modals for

expressing Ability and Permission.

A. Modal for expressing Ability.

When we talk about ability, we mean two things.

First, we mean general ability. This is something that once you have learned you can do any
time you want, like being able to read or swim or speak a language .

The other kind of ability is specific ability. This mean something that you can or can't do in one
particular situation. For example, being able to lift something heavy, or find somewhere you are
looking for.

Present:
can / can't (for both general and specific ability)

 I can play the piano.

 She can speak English.

 He can't drive – he's too tired.

 We can't come now.

Past:
could / couldn't (for general ability)

 I could read when I was four.

 She could speak French when she was a child, but now she has forgotten it.

 He couldn't dance at all until he took lessons.

 My grandfather couldn't swim.

was able to / couldn't (for specific ability)

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  When the computer crashed yesterday, I was able to fix it.(not 'I could fix it')

 She was able to pass the exam, even though she hadn't studied much.(not 'she could pass')

 He called us because he couldn't find the house.

 I couldn't open the window.

could + have + past participle (an ability someone had in the past, but didn't use)

 I could have played the piano well but I didn't practise enough.

 We could have come earlier.

 She could have studied law, but she preferred to become a secretary.

Future:
will / won't be able to (general ability)

 At the end of the course, you will be able to make your own website.

 He won't be able to speak Japanese in a week! It will take months.

can / can't (specific ability)

 I can help you tomorrow

 I can't come to the part

B. Permission.

Modal verbs can be used to give or ask for permission.

The lesson below shows you how to use these types of modal verbs.
These modal verbs show permission:

 May

 Can

 Could

May
May is a polite modal verb used to ask for permission. Here
are some examples:

 May I use a calculator on the test?

 May I have another piece of cake?

The polite answers using may are as follows:

 Yes, you may.

 No, you may not.

Could

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Could is also used to ask for permission. It is less formal than
using may. Here are some examples with could:

 Could I have some more juice?

 Could I bring a friend to the party?

Can
Can is the least formal of the modal verbs used to ask
permission. Here are some examples with can:

 Can I play music?

 Can I wear shorts?

The examples above are all with "I". This is because it is most common to ask permission for
yourself. However, it is possible to ask permission for another person:

 May she bring a friend?

 Could he try again?

 Can they sleep here?

The examples are also all questions. These are very common.
But you can also give permission. Here are some examples:

 You may sleep on the sofa.

 You can wear my jacket

1.Choose the correct modal verb for these statements of ability.

1. The music teacher ___________ play the piano very well. She plays every class.
a) can
b) could
c) will be able to

2. When I was a child, I ___________ run faster than I can run now.
a) can
b) could
c) can't

3. After my classes, I ___________ speak English very well.

a) can
b) could
c) will be able to

4. My brother ___________ drive a car. He does not have his license.

a) can
b) could

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 c) can't
d) couldn't

5. I didn't have much time last night, so I ___________ finish my homework.

a) can
b) can't
c) could
d) couldn't

6. She has to work tomorrow, so she ___________ come to the party.

a) can
b) couldn't
c) wasn't able to
d) won't be able to

7. ___________ you hear the music? It is very quiet.

a) Can
b) Could
c) Will be able to
c) Couldn't

8. He ___________ come to class yesterday because he had a doctor's appointment.

a) can
b) can't
c) could
d) couldn't

9. My boss ___________ meet with us tomorrow. He will be away all day.

a) could
b) wasn't able to
c) won't be able to
d) will be able to

10. This book is very small. I ___________ read the words on the page.
a) can't
b) couldn't
c) wasn't able to
d) could

Ex 2 - Complete these sentences about present and future ability using the words in the box. ?
can be able not able able to can't

1. She speak four foreign languages.

2. The candidate should to speak fluent English.

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3. They've been come to an agreement at last.

4. He's run 100 metres in 10 seconds.

5. He will to see you tomorrow afternoon.

6. I do it tomorrow afternoon, if you like.

7. We might not to do that.

8. She make it to the wedding.

9. She won't to do it until next week.

10. I've never been understand her.

11. I'm afraid we are to fulfill your request.

12. They do it before next Thur

2. Ability in the past

Ex 2a - Complete these sentences about past ability using the words in the box. ?
able to couldn't could

1. At the age of eight she already speak three languages.

2. And when she was ten she was speak another two languages.

3. When I was 15 I ride a motorbike.

4. Nor was I drive a car.

5. Unfortunately I find my keys last night.

6. But I was unlock the door with a spare key.

7. Although I wasn't find the original keys.

8. They were contact the trapped miners several times.

9. She smell gas coming from the cooker.

10. But she distinctly remember turning off the gas.

11. I understand a word of what he was saying.

12. We see any food shops anywhere.

Exercise 2

1.You ____ leave if you've finished.

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 may
might
Either could be used here.
2 - ____ I come in?
Can
May
Either could be used here.
3 - We ____ not get into the concert without tickets, so we went home.
might
could
Either could be used here.
4 - ____ I open the window?
Could
May
Either could be used here.
5 - ____ you turn the heating up a bit, please?
Could
May
6 - You ____ take a mobile phone into the exam.
can't
may not
Either could be used here.
7 - ___ you help me?
Can
Could
Either could be used here.
8 - I'm afraid you ____ not take the exam until you pay for it.
may
might
9 - You ____ smoke anywhere on the train.
cannot
might not
10 - You ____ use my dictionary if you want.
can
might
Either could be used here.

References

Frank Marcela, Modern English a practical reference guide, Englewood Clifts, New Jersey, 1993
Azar, Betty Schramper 1992 Fundamentals of English Grammar Second.
Learn English Grammar Online ,[Website],2016, www.myenglishpages.com/site_Php_files,
(accessed 8 September 2016)

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