MODAL AUXILIARIES AND VERB TENSES.

By Angela Liliana Franco Moran ID: 31-2387-2012

MODAL AUXILIARIES OR HELPING VERBS.

• We use modal verbs to show if we believe something is certain, probable or possible (or not).

• We also use modals to do things like talking about ability, asking permission making requests and offers, and so on.

• The modal verbs are can, could, may, might, shall, should, will and would.

POSSIBILITY:• We use the modals could, might and may to show that something is possible in the future,

but not certain:

• They may come by car. (= Perhaps/Maybe they will come by car.)

• If we don’t hurry we could be late. (= Perhaps/Maybe we will be late)

• We use could have, might have and may have to show that something was possible now or at some time in the past:

• It’s ten o’clock. They might have arrived now.

• They could have arrived hours ago.

• We use the modal can to make general statements about what is possible:

• It can be very cold in winter. (= It is sometimes very cold in winter)

• You can easily lose your way in the dark. (= People often lose their way in the dark)

• We use the modal could as the past tense of can:

• It could be very cold in winter. (= Sometimes it was very cold in winter.)

• You could lose your way in the dark. (= People often lost their way in the dark)

IMPOSSIBILITY:

• We use the negative can’t or cannot to show that something is impossible:

• That can’t be true.

• You cannot be serious

• We use couldn’t/could not to talk about the past:

• We knew it could not be true.

• He was obviously joking. He could not be serious.

PROBABILITY:

• We use the modal must to show we are sure something to be true and we have reasons for our belief:

• It’s getting dark. It must be quite late.

• You haven’t eaten all day. You must be hungry.

• We use must have for the past:

• They hadn’t eaten all day. They must have been hungry.

• You look happy. You must have heard the good news.

• We use the modal should to suggest that something is true or will be true in the future, and to show you have reasons for your suggestion:

• Ask Miranda. She should know.

• It's nearly six o'clock. They should arrive soon.

• We use should have to talk about the past:• It's nearly eleven o'clock. They should have arrived by now.

• The modals are used to do things like talking about ability, asking permission making requests, and so on.

• We use can to talk about someone’s skill or general abilities:

• She can speak several languages.

• He can swim like a fish.

• They can’t dance very well.

ABILITY:

• We use can to talk about the ability to do something at a given time in the present or future:

• You can make a lot of money if you are lucky.

• Help. I can’t breathe.

• They can run but they can’t hide.

• We use could to talk about past time:

• She could speak several languages.

• We use could have to say that someone had the ability/opportunity to do something, but did not do it:

• She could have learned Swahili, but she didn’t have time.

• I could have danced all night, but I didn't.

PERMISSION:

• We use can to ask for permission to do something:

• Can I ask a question, please?

• Can we go home now.

• Could is more formal and polite than can:

• Could I ask a question please?

• Could we go home now?

• May is another more formal and polite way of asking for permission:

• May I ask a question please?

• May we go home now?

• We use can to give permission:

• You can go home now if you like.

• You can borrow my pen if you like.

• May is a more formal and polite way of giving permission:

• You may go home now, if you like.

INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUESTS:

• We use could you and would you as polite ways of telling or asking someone to do something:

• Could you take a message please?

• Would you carry this for me please?

• Could I have my bill please?

• Can and will are less polite:

• Can you take a message please?

• Will you carry this for me please?

SUGGESTIONS AND ADVICE:• We use should to make suggestions and give advice:

• You should send an email.

• We should go by train.

• We use could to make suggestions:

• We could meet at the weekend.

• You could eat out tonight.

• We use conditionals to give advice:

• Dan will help you if you ask him.

• Past tenses are more polite:

• Dan would help you if you asked him.

OFFERS AND INVITATIONS:• We use can I… and to make offers

• Can I help you?

• We can also use shall I …

• Shall I call you on your mobile?

• We use would you like (to) ... for invitations:

• Would you like another drink?

• We use you must or we must for a very polite invitation:

• You must come round and see us.

OBLIGATION AND NECESSITY:

• We use must to say that it is necessary to do something:

• You must stop at a red light.

• I’m sorry, but you mustn’t make a noise in here.

• We use had to for this if we are talking about the past:

• Everyone had to bring something to eat.

ENGLISH TENSES:

SIMPLE PRESENT:

USE

• Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens.

• Action in the present taking place once, never or several times.

• Facts.

• Actions that are taking place one after another.

• Action set by a timetable or schedule.

EXAMPLES:

• I play tennis

• She does not play tennis.

• Does he play tennis?

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE /CONTINUOUS:

USE:

• Actions happening at the moment of speaking.

• Fixed plan in the near future.

• Temporary actions

• Form:

• to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + -ing

EXAMPLES:

• I am playing football.

• She is not playing football.

• Are they playing football?

SIMPLE PAST:

USE:

• Action in the past taking place once, never or several times.

• Action finished in the past.

• Form: with regular verbs: infinitive + -ed.

• Irregular Verbs.

EXAMPLES:

• I played football.

• I went to the cinema.

• Did he go to the cinema?

• I didn’t play tennis.

PAST PROGRESSIVE / CONTINUOUS:

USE:

• Indicates continuing action, something thatwas happening, going on, at some point inthe past.

• Form: (was, were) + verb + ing.

• Use this tense to talk about two on-goingactions that were happeningsimultaneously in the past.

EXAMPLES:

• We were eating dinner when the phone rang.

• Were you studying when she called?

• Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.

PRESENT PERFECT:

USE:

• You say that something has happened or is finished in the past and it has a connection to the present.

• Action started in the past and continues up to the present.

• Form: have/has + past participle.

EXAMPLES:

• I have worked.

• He hasn't gone.

• Have I gone?

PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE / CONTINUOUS:

USE:

• Action began in the past and has just stopped.

• Using the Past Perfect Continuous before another action in the past is a good way to show cause and effect.

• How long the action has been happening.

• Form: have/has + been + infinitive + -ing.

EXAMPLES:

• They have been talking for the last hour.

• She has been working at that company for three years.

• James has been teaching at the university since June.

SIMPLE PAST PERFECT:

USE:

• Mostly when two actions in a story are related to each other: the action which had already happened is put into Past Perfect, the other action into Simple Past.

• The past of the Present Perfect.

• Form: Had + past participle.

EXAMPLES:

• I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.

• I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.

• Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?

PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE / CONTINUOUS:

USE:

• how long something had been happening before something else happened.

• Form: had + been + infinitive + ing.

EXAMPLES:

• They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.

• How long had you been waiting to get on the bus?

• Mike wanted to sit down because he had been standing all day at work.

SIMPLE FUTURE (WILL):

USE:

• Predictions about the future (you think that sth. will happen)

• You decide to do something spontaneously at the time of speaking, you haven't made a decision before

• Form: will + infinitive

USE:

• Will you help me move this heavy table?

• I will send you the information when I get it.

• I will not do your homework for you.

FUTURE WITH GOING TO:

USE:

• When you have already decided to do sth. in the future.

• what you think what will happen.

• Form: be (am/are/is) + going to + infinitive

EXAMPLES:

• He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.

• I'm going to be an actor when I grow up.

• They are going to drive all the way to Alaska.

FUTURE PROGRESSIVE / CONTINUOUS:

USE:

• An action will be in progress at a certain time in the future. This action has begun before the certain time.

• Something happens because it normally happens.

• Form: will + be + infinitive + ing

EXAMPLES:

• I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives.

• I will be watching TV when she arrives tonight.

• Will you be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?

SIMPLE FUTURE PERFECT:

USE:

• The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It can also show that something will happen before a specific time in the future.

• Future Perfect has two different forms: "will have done" and "be going to have done.“

• Forms: will have + past participle ; am/is/are + going to have + past participle.

EXAMPLES:

• You will have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S

• I am not going to have finished this test by 3 o'clock.

• Sam is probably going to have completed the proposal by the time he leaves this afternoon.

FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE / CONTINUOUS:

USE:

• We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Friday" are all durations which can be used with the Future Perfect Continuous.

• Forms: will have been + present participle;am/is/are + going to have been + present participle.

EXAMPLES:

• You will have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

• We are going to have been driving for over three days straight when we get to Anchorage.

• How long will you have been studying when you graduate?

CONDITIONAL SIMPLE AND CONDITIONALPROGRESSIVE / CONTINUOUS:

Conditional simple:

• Something that might happen.

• Form: would + infinitive.

• Examples:

• She would sing.

• I would do.

• I would play.

Conditional progressive:

• Something that might happen.

• emphasis: length of time of an action.

• Form: would + be + infinitive + ing

• Examples:

• I would be playing.

• They would be dancing.

CONDITIONAL PERFECT:

USE:

• Something that might have happened in the past (It's too late now.)

• Form: would + have + past participle.

EXAMPLES:

• I would have phoned you if you hadn't switched your mobile off.

• He would have gone.

• Would he have worked?

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE / CONTINUOUS:

USE:

• We use it for something that might have happened in the past.

• Form: would + have + been + infinitive + ing.

EXAMPLES:

• Maria would have been singing if there had been more people in the church.

• She would have been studying.

By Angela Liliana Franco MoranID: 31-2387-2012