The modal verb can and its equivalent
- ,
I can fly. Can you fly? I can't fly.
: could
: was able to / managed to
/ : couldn't
I could read when I was 4. (.)
I was able to read the notice, though it was dark. ( .)
I''ve been able to swim since I was 6.
He said that he has never been able to understand her.
I'm sure I''ll be able to pass the exam.
- ( )
Could you help me, please?
-
I could have helped you yesterday but you didn't ask me to.
-
Can he still be working on this book?
Can he have finished it?
Could can, .
He can't / couldn't still be sleeping.
He can't / couldn't have returned.
, can / could .
+
Indefinite infinitive - to do
Continuous - to be doing
Perfect Active - to have done
Perfect Continuous - to have been doing
Indefinite Passive - to be done
Perfect Passive - to have been done
Could + Simple Infinitive = , ...
Could + Perfect Infinitive = ,
She didn't understand this rule.
It can't be that she didn't understand this rule.
Can it be that she didn't understand this rule? - ?
She can't have misunderstood this rule?
Can she have misunderstood this rule?
She can't have failed to misunderstand this rule.
Can she have failed to understand this rule?
Could is also possible -
2. Must and its equivalents
1.
You must be careful when using medicine.
You mustn't cross the road here. You'll be run over.
Must not -
Need not -
- Must I go to the shop now?
- No, you needn't. There's plenty of food at home.
You needn't have worried so much. I could have coped with it myself.
Have to -
There was no bus and I had to hail a taxi.
Did you have to hail a taxi?
I didn't have to hail a taxi.
The boy had to be punished.
Did the boy have to be punished?
The boy didn't have to be punished.
Be to -
I was to take a taxi and wait for him near the office.
He was to have spoken at the meeting but he had felt ill. ( , )
-
If wouldn't master English, I'm to read a lot in the original.
- /
They were going to get married, but this was not to happen.
,
You must be kidding.
He must have returned.
Evidently / obviously / probably / apparently he wasn't at home ( )
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+
Want
You want to repeat
3. May and its equivalents
May / might
: May I call you tonight? He said he might call him any time.
: to be allowed / to be permitted
I'm not sure you'll be allowed to use the office safe.
,
He may / might be waiting for you in the corridor. ( )
He may / might come tomorrow ( )
He may / might have immigrated to Canada. ( )
3. ( might + . / . .)
You might visit me more often. -
You might have lent me some money yesterday. -
Might -
I may be a little old-fashioned, but I still know a couple of things about this life.
I may have come late, but at least I did my home assignment.
Try as I may, try as I might (..) -
4. Should and had better
Should
You should eat healthier food.
( )
You souldn`t have talked to her in such tone.
You shouldn`t spend your money on knick-knacks.
Why should I believe you! C ?
Why should I helped him? ?
What a coincidence that we should be travelling in the same compartment.
5. It is necessary, vital, important that + should
It is desirable that you should be present at this test.
We spoke in a whisper so that the baby shouldn`t wake up.
7. Lest
I chose my words very carefully lest he should take offence.
Had better do smth
You`d better stay at home
Had you better stay at home
5. Will, would, and used to
| Would | Used to |
| : He would come to me every evening. (, ) | . : He used to smoke = He doesn`t smoke now. He didn`t use to go in for sport = He goes in for sport now. |
| : He would travel to Norway every New Year | . (. ): This house used to belong to us. |
| . . : . (told him but he wouldn`t listen) | . . did ( past simp): I didn`t use to believe him |
6. Conditional sentences
Conditional type 1
- ,
- Present Simp
- Future Simp
- if unless
If don`t master grammar, you will never succeed as an interpreter.
Unless you are careful, you will get into an accident.
Conditional type 2
- ,
- Past Simp
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- Would + Inf
If I had more money I would travel a lot.
should:
Should I have more money I would travel a lot.
Conditional type 3
- ,
- Past Perf
- would + perf inf
If I had known that you needed my help, I would definitely have come.
had
Had I known what an idiot he was, I would never have married him.
4. Mixed type 2+3
If I were you I would have gone there yesterday.
If I hadn`t quarreled with my boss then, I would still be working at this office.
7. I wish / If only
-
:
1. I wish/if only + past simp ( )
I wish it were summer now. , ( )
2. I wish/if only + past perfect ( )
I wish I hadn`t told him about it , .
3. I wish + would + inf.
I wish you would come to us more often in future.
If only ,
8. I'd rather...
Would rather + Inf / Sub. Clause
