Modals Intro

8/8/2019 Modals Intro

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Modals Logical Probability

What are the chances?

Wilbur: Someones knocking at the door.

Gertrude: That must be Sydney.

That has to be Sydney.That has got to be Sydney.

That should be Sydney.

That may be Sydney.

That could/might be Sydney.

High certainty

Low certainty

Lifted from: Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman, The Grammar Book


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Wilbur: Someones knocking at the door.

Do you think its Sydney?

Gertrude: That might not be Sydney.

That may not be Sydney.

That wont/wouldnt be Sydney.

That cant/couldnt be Sydney.

Fairly High Possibility

Impossibility

Adapted from: Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman, The Grammar Book


with negation


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Wilbur: What did the weatherman say?

Gertrude: It will rain tomorrow.

It should rain tomorrow.

It may rain tomorrow.

It could/might rain tomorrow.

High probability

Low probability



Prediction


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Modals Social

Making Requests


General Requests:

Willyou help me with this math problem?

Wouldyou help me with this math problem?

Can you help me with this math problem?

Couldyou help me with this math problem?

Requests for Permission:

MayI leave the room now?

MightI leave the room now?

Can I leave the room now?

CouldI leave the room now?


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General Requests [for help with the math problem]:

Yes I can. No I cant.

Yes I will. No I wont.

How about?:

Yes I could. No I couldnt. Yes I would. No I wouldnt.

Requests for Permission [to leave the room]:

Yes you may. No you may not.

Yes you can. No you cant.

How about?:

Yes you might. No you might not. Yes you could. No you couldnt.

Modals Social

Responding to requests


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Modals Social

AHot Tip from Mss. Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman


Many ESL/EFL students, even at the advanced level, do not recognizethat they are often perceived by native speakers of English as being abrupt

and aggressive with their requests, given the social circumstances. If they

learned to soften requests by employing the historical past tense forms of

the modals, they might find their requests being better received. Forexample,

Could (instead of Can) I talk to you for a minute?

Would (instead ofWill) you open the door?

[italics mine]


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Modals Social

A funny thing about requests and negation

Lifted from: Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail.

"There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail.

See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!

They are waiting on the shingle--will you come and join the dance?

Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?

Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?

"You can really have no notion how delightful it will be

When they take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to sea!

But the snail replied "Too far, too far!" and gave a look askance

Said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not join the dance.

Would not, could not, would not, could not, would not join the dance.

Would not, could not, would not, could not, could not join the dance.

`"What matters it how far we go?" his scaly friend replied.

"There is another shore, you know, upon the other side.The further off from England the nearer is to France

Then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance.

Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?"


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Modals Social

A funny thing about requests and negation, cont

Whats the difference between these two negated requests?:

Wont you join the dance?

Will you please not join the dance?

Adapted from: Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman, The Grammar Book

Modals Intro

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