UNIT 8: PRESENT & PAST MODALS
H. Past Modals
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uses I wish I could afford the
car.
Expectation should My order should be here by this afternoon.
Repeated action in the past
would When I was five, my mom would tell a bedtime story.
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Wish (you
wanted to do but you could not)
I would have replied Sally’s email, but she did not send me any.
Should have Criticism Liverpool FC lost to Arsenal in last week’s match. Salah should have played.
Your car just bumped into mine. You shouldn’t have driven too fast.
unreal
recommendation (something did not happen, but we wish it had happened, past mistakes)
You drive on the wrong path. I should have told you before.
May have Speculation/past unreal possibility
Why did Ali arrive late to the meeting? He may have missed the train.
Might have Past small possibility
I think I saw Umar in the market, but I might have been wrong. It was too crowded.
Must have Logical
deduction about the past
Someone phoned us yesterday. It must have been Sarah.
125 I. SUGGESTIONS
1. Not all modals are used to express modal meaning. Some of them like will and may are used to express non-modal meaning such as the future.
2. In terms of pronunciation, can is normally unstressed while can’t is stressed since on many occasions the sound of t in can’t is not clearly pronounced.
3. Be wise for the use of modals for expressing suggestions, offers and request (can could, may might). May and might tend to be used more formally and tentatively than can and could.
J. UNIT SUMMARY
Modal verbs are one of the most frequently used function words in both spoken and written English.
Modals mainly fall into present and past modals. Some expressions that have the same meaning as modals are also often used such as phrasal modals. Each modal has its own function as listed and exemplified in the previous subsections. In many cases some modal verbs may be used for the same function, for example, expressing less possibility using may, might or could.
K. EXERCISES PART A
Read carefully each of the following statements or questions and choose the best option to complete the sentences.
1. My bag is really heavy. ……. you help me carry it?
A. Might B. would C. would have D. must
2. Had I arrived earlier to the masjid, I ………. sat in the front lines.
126 A. Would have
B. Would C. Must have D. Must
3. There are so many cuisines for our iftar this evening, but I ……. have the drinks only.
A. can B. will C. must D. might
4. It’s five minutes left before the meeting begins. …….
we leave now?
A. Ought to B. must have C. must D. shall
5. Beware of the weather in Saudi Arabia. The temperature there ……. reach 50 centigrade in summer.
A. can B. would C. must D. has to
6. Excuse me, I just lost my wallet. ……… you lend me your phone for a moment?
A. may B. must C. could D. shall
7. I’m extremely thirsty during my fasting. I ……. drink a gallon of juice.
A. may B. must
127 C. should
D. could
8. To memorize the entire Qur'an you ……….. have strong commitment.
A. will B. may C. can D. must
9. The government issued a new regulation that we
……… wear a mask to prevent disease transmission.
A. must B. have to C. will D. can
10. I know Bill really well, and he is a good guy. It ……..
be him who committed the crime.
A. may B. can’t C. should D. won’t PART B
Decide whether the following sentences are correct or incorrect.
1. We ought finish this assignment before the due date.
……….
2. The meal should arrive in no time. We use Gojek to deliver it.
……….
3. It will rain tomorrow. The chance is 50%.
……….
4. We should wait for another minute.
……….
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5. Would you mind turning off the TV?.
……….
PART C
Choose the correct modals from two modal verbs based on a magazine article.
As we get older and when we think about our past we sometimes ponder the things that we should/can have done. And we also may/shall regret those things we did badly and the mistakes we made. In reality, we be able to/can always learn from our mistakes and hope to never make them again. For example, if I failed a test because of a lack of study, the next test I will/must hope to pass because of hard work.
Remember too that some regrets are not based in reality and we must/may waste time thinking that they are. Would/should I have really not have been involved in a car crash if I had been driving more slowly? After all, the other driver ought to/will have been concentrating and not playing with their radio. We have to/would be honest with ourselves and live in the now. The only things we used to/can control are the things happening now, in this moment.
(Souce: https://www.bellenglish.com/blog/story-modal-verbs/) L. ANSWER KEY
PART A 1. B
From the context of these sentences, we can infer that the second sentence is a request to help carry the bag, therefore the best answer is to use would.
129 2. A
One of the usages of would is for conditional sentences type III in chich would is used along with have+V3. The best option to complete the sentence is option A.
3. B
The clause with missing words indicates the decision made about only having the drinks, therefore the best expression to use is will in option B.
4. D
From the contextual clues, we know that the second sentence is a suggestion in the form of an interrogative sentence. The best option to use in suggestion is shall in D.
5. A
The second sentence in this item tells us about the possibility or probability of high temperature in Saudi Arabia and the best option ten would be can.
6. C
The second sentence in this item clearly indicates a request for lending a phone and the best option to complete the sentence is option C could.
7. D
The sentences indicate modal for unreal uses thus the best option to complete the sentence is the use of modal could.
Could can be used to express something unreal.
8. D
The missing expression in the sentence requires a modal to express necessity in order to achieve the goal mentioned in the beginning of sentence hence the best option to complete the sentence is the modal must for necessity.
9. B
The sentence clearly represents an external obligation as a consequence of the regulation therefore the best option would be have to.
130 10. B
These sentences show deduction made to indicate the impossibility. In other words, the speaker is certain that Bill is not the criminal. The best option is B can’t.
PART B
1. Incorrect.
To is missing after ought 2. Correct.
3. Incorrect.
Will is not used for less possibility. We use may, might or could as the modal verbs for the chance of 50% or less of possibility.
4. correct.
5. Correct PART C
As we get older and when we think about our past, we sometimes ponder the things that we should have done. And we also may regret those things we did badly and the mistakes we made. In reality, we can always learn from our mistakes and hope to never make them again. For example, if I failed a test because of a lack of study, the next test I will hope to pass because of hard work. Remember too that some regrets are not based in reality and we may waste time thinking that they are. Would I have really not have been involved in a car crash if I had been driving more slowly? After all, the other driver ought to have been concentrating and not playing with their radio. We have to be honest with ourselves and live in the now. The only things we can control are the things happening now, in this moment.
131 M. REFERENCES
Azar, Betty, and Stacy Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar with Essential Online Resources. 5th Edition.
Pearson Education ESL, 2016.
Hall, Diane, and Mark Foley. Advanced Grammar. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Ltd, 2002.
Parrott, Martin. Grammar for English Language Teachers. 2nd Edition. Cambridge, UK ; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
Watkins, M. Practise Your Modal Verbs. Harlow, Essex:
Longman, 1990.
“A Story with Modal Verbs.” Bell English. Last modified August 10, 2018. Accessed October 25, 2020.
https://www.bellenglish.com/blog/story-modal- verbs/.
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