Modal verbs and relative clauses

LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT. Read the memo. What is Lila writing about?

FROM: Chief Information Officer

TO: All Staff
DATE: June, 17th
SUBJECT: XBM Digital rules

Dear all,
As you know, many new staff joined us at XBM Digital, so now is a good time for a reminder about
some of our rules.
Firstly, passwords are important to keep our network secure. Natasha is the person who sets the
passwords and usernames at first. As soon as she gives them to you, you need to change the passwords. You
might find it difficult, but you can ask Natasha for help. They must be alphanumeric and at least eight
characters long. Also, you should not share them with anyone.
Secondly, the hardware that we have in our offices is delicate. You mustn't eat or put drinks near the
computers. You can take short breaks for eating and drinking. You have to do it at the dining room which is on
the second floor. You don’t have to spend time cleaning your stuff, Rudy and Mike will take care of that for
you.
Best regards,
Lila Davis

Modal verbs

FORM. Look at the words in bold and complete the rule.

● The verb that follows a modal verb is...

a) Present participle
b) Past participle
c) Infinitive verb

FUNCTION. Complete the chart with examples from the text and analyse the function of each modal verb.

Example Function

They (1) must be alphanumeric… Personal obligation / strong necessity

you (2) need to change the passwords

You (3) have to do it at the dining room External obligation

You (4) musn`t eat or put drinks near the computers. Prohibition

You (5) don’t have to spend time cleaning your stuff Lack of necessity / Lack of obligation

you (6) should not share them with anyone. Advice

You should buy a new computer.

You (7) can take short breaks for eating and drinking. Ability / inability
I could not swim when I was a child. (Past)
You will be able to program in nearly every language
when you finish this course. (future)
 You (8) might find it difficult Possibility
I may go to the party, but I still don’t know.

Can I go to the toilet, please? Request / Asking for permission / ask for or
Could you tell me where the restroom is? offer help
May I help you?

Relative clauses

FORM & FUNCTION. What is the difference between a sentence and a clause? Now, look at the underlined
words and choose the correct options to complete the rules.

1. The words that, who and which…

a) Introduce a new clause with information about something mentioned previously.
b) Introduce a new clause with information about something we didn’t mention.
2. The relative clauses are found…
a) At the beginning of a sentence.
b) Following a previous clause or noun phrase.
3. We use the relative pronoun who (that can be replaced by that)…
a) To refer to things.
b) To refer to people.
4. We use the relative pronoun which (that can be replaced by that)…
a) To refer to things.
b) To refer to people.

NOTE: We use where to refer to places, but we cannot replace it for that. Where cannot be the subject of the
clause.

1) Complete the sentences with the appropriate modal verbs. There’s an extra modal verb that you don’t need
to use:
Should - can - don’t have to - might - have to - must - mustn’t - doesn’t have to

a) We might have a picnic tomorrow, but it depends on the weather. (possibility)

b) You should wear a suit to the interview. (Advice)
c) Mary! you don't have to come to your aunt’s birthday next Saturday night. (Lack of necessity)
d) You mustn't smoke here! (Prohibition)
e) can I go to the toilette, please? (request/ask for permission)
f) Lisa must tidy her room before she goes out! (personal obligation)
g) In Britain you have to drive on the left. (external obligation)

2) Complete the sentences with who, which or where.

a) Do you know the man who lives next door?

b) That’s the gallery which had the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition.
c) Are those the people who are selling their house?
d) Do you know a good restaurant which is open on Saturday night?
e) Is that the bus which goes to the airport?
f) We walked past the school where their children go.
g) She’s the woman who everyone is talking about.
h) I took my laptop back to the shop where I bought it.
i) Antwerp is the city where I lived as a child.
j) Is there someone who can speak Arabic in your class?
HOMEWORK

3) Write sentences...

a) ...giving advice to a friend as regards the clothes to wear on a party.

She should wear white dress and with very high heels for the party____________________
b) ...asking for permission to do something in a polite way.
Could I go to the toilet?
c) ...describing a certain ability of your friend.
He can finish the exam in ten minutes.
d) ...a rule that you obey at school. (external obligation)
You have to be quiet in the classroom.
e) ...something that you do because of personal obligation.
I must drive more carefully around a school.
f) ...something that is prohibited to you.
I mustn't use my cellphone while I am driving.
g) ...something that you don't need to do. (lack of necessity)
I don't have to spend time with my playstation when I have to study for the exam

4) Write sentences with defining relative clauses using the prompts given:

a) Bus = central cable / link / computers

___ A bus is a central cable which/that links computers _____________________
b) Customers = people / buy / things
_Customers are people who buy things
facilities = places / manufacture / products
facilities are places where manufacture products
c) WAN = type of network / cover / large areas
WAN is a type of network which cover large areas