Wildlife in the River Mersey is being threatened by oil slicks stretching for thirty miles after 150 tonnes of crude oil escaped from a UK pipeline under the river on Saturday.
The spill has been declared a major disaster and emergency services have been called in to help clean up the beaches. It is feared that thousands of migrating birds could find their normal food supplies devastated by the pollution, but the full impact of the leak will not be known until later in the year.
The clean-up has been hampered because the texture of the oil cannot easily be broken down by detergents. Instead, the emergency services had to wait until the oil was washed ashore at low tide and then dig up the contaminated sand.
The oil company will expect to be fined around one million pounds. According to the local council: "The company have such enormous resources that they could pay any fine, even a fine of several million pounds, without being unduly affected".
24. Read the text and analyse the tasks a, b, c, d.
a) Which of these are positive qualities and which are negative? Use a dictionary if necessary.
Generous, overgenerous, mean, miserly, careful, extravagant, stingy, thrifty, spendthrift.
Which words would you apply to yourself?
Is there a Mean Streak in You?
Meanness is one of human nature's less attractive traits. But few people are completely, totally mean. KEITH WATER-HOUSE, a journalist, explains why he's thrifty.
I am thrifty, you are careful; he is mean. I am generous, you are extravagant, he seems to have money to burn. More probably we are each a bit of all these categories. I know I am. I am a very generous present-giver. I love buying presents — but I hate buying wrapping paper. I hoard scraps from one year to the next. I even recycle the wrappings my own presents came in.
The same applies to stationery. I have never written on both sides of a sheet of paper in my life. I squander writing paper as if it grew on trees, and I cannot go into a stationer's without buying up most of their envelopes in five different sizes. On the other hand, I will not buy paperclips, rubber bands or ballpoint pens. I presume that sufficient numbers of these will appear of their own accord.
Some of my best friends are mean about string. They carefully unravel and save every scrap that comes into their possession. I don't know why, since hardly anyone uses string these days and certainly no one has a need for 150 metres of it, which is what one lady I know has accumulated.
There are also people who are obsessively careful with money. They are the sort who get off the bus a stop early to avoid paying a higher fare, or roam supermarkets looking for special offers and coupon discounts. This is fine, as long as these economies are not inflicted upon others. There is nothing quite so tiresome as someone with an obsession about switching off lights, or saving the last scrap of food.
It is when thrift affects one's social life that it becomes meanness. The famous American multimillionaire J. Paul Getty gave away billions but is remembered for the pay phone he installed for the use of his guests. A psychiatrist friend of mine maintains that mean people are insecure. But then he says that about overgenerous people too. Mean people fear that their
money will run out on them; overgenerous ones that their friends will.
b) Read the first two paragraphs of the article again and find
examples of the author's own generosity, extravagance and meanness.
c) Read the last three paragraphs give examples of what the au-
thor thinks is:
- a pointless economy
- an obsessive economy when travelling
- an obsessive economy when shopping
- a tiresome economy in the house
- a surprising gesture of thrift by a rich person.
d) In pairs or groups discuss what you understand by the fol-
lowing proverbs and sayings about money. Do you have similar ones in your language?
1. Money is the root of all evil.
2. There are some things money can't buy.
3. Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
4. Money talks.
5. Lend your money and lose a friend.
6. Time is money.
Choose one which you agree or disagree strongly with. Think of at least two examples to justify your opinion and then try to speak about it for a minute. Give your reactions to other people's opinions.
25. "Local produce" is about some of the things which are made or grown in Britain. Read it and find out if Britain has more natural produce or manufactured produce.
Local produce
Scotland: It is thought that the most important single in-
fluence on the taste of Scotch is probably the
Scottish water. This is why distilleries are often situated in narrow valleys near a stream. It is one of the few industries in Britain which will be encouraged to grow in the future.
Staffordshire: Pottery is made in this region, and the beautifully decorated Wedgewood, Minton and Spode china is collected by people all over the world. When the canals were built in the eighteenth century, the raw materials, such as clay, were brought to the region from the west of the country and china was exported all over the world.
South Wales: Until a few years ago, coal was still mined here, but during the 1970s and 80s the industry was being increasingly affected by the use of alternative sources of power, such as nuclear electricity, and mining was stopped completely in the 1990s.
Hereford: This is the home of the world's largest cider
factory. Apples are brought from the surrounding orchards, processed by the factory and distributed all over the country.
Glasgow: Britain's third largest city, Glasgow, is famous
for its shipbuilding. It was known above all as a port, but in the nineteenth century, the river was widened so that ships could be built on its banks. But the industry has been affected by strong foreign competition and the number is being reduced.
Yorkshire: Sheep have been bred on the Yorkshire moors for their wool for centuries, and the streams
have provided water for the mills, and preparing the wool.
Sheffield: Steel and cutlery were first manufactured in
Sheffield because it was near to the raw materials and resources which are needed for the industry: forests, streams and iron ore.
a) Does your country produce the same things as Britain? If so,
write down where they are produced. If not, from which countries are they imported?
b) Work in pairs. Is there a particular food or drink or a product
which your town, region or country is famous for? Make notes about it. Think about:
how long it has been made or grown there
when it was first made or grown
how it's made or grown
how it is processed
who it is bought or used by
what changes will be made in the future
c) Go round the group and find out about other people's local
produce, and take notes.
d) Use the notes you took in 2 and the passage in Vocabulary
and reading to write a description of some of local products of people in your country.
Modal Verbs
1. These are modal auxiliary verbs: can / could / may / might / shall / should / will / would / ought to / must / be to / have to.
Modal verbs do not name any actions made by a person, but denote the person's attitude towards the surrounding world. They are used with great frequency and with a wide range of meanings. They express ideas such as willingness and ability, permission and refusal, obligation and prohibition, necessity, promise and intention. Almost all modal verbs can express degrees of certainty, probability, or possibility.
2. They have several characteristics in common
There is no -s in the third person.
He can swim. She must go.
There is no do/does in the question and in the negative (the exception is have to) May I ask a question? You won't believe this.
They are followed by an infinitive without "to". The exception is ought to, have to, be to.
It might rain. Could you help?
They can be used with the Indefinite Infinitive which denotes a habitual action in the present, with the Continuous Infinitive to denote an action in progress, with
the Perfect Infinitive to refer an action to th
with the Perfect Continuous Infinitive to denot St and
action which lasted a period of time. a ^ast
He must be at home now.
She may be sleeping, I'm not sure.
She must have been crazy to marry him.
You should have been driving more careful
Remember the following set phrases with can?
1. She can't help crying.
- Она не может не плакать.
Не couldn't help admiring the city.
- Он не мог не восхищаться городом. 2- I can't but ask about it.
- Мне ничего другого не остаётся, как спросить об этом. They couldn't but refuse him.
- Им ничего не оставалось, как отказать ему.
Practice
• Analyse the form of the modal verb. Say in which meaning it is used. Translate the sentences into Russian.
1 Could you swim when a child and can you swim now?
2 She can't come tomorrow because they are going to visit Florence.
3. The island can be reached on foot or by motorcar.
4. I simply couldn't refuse. They would have been hurt.
5. The boy said, "I feel sick. Can I have some more lemonade?"
6. "Your servant, sir", said Mr Omer. "What can I do for you?"
7. - Can I borrow youi dictionary for today's test? - Of course, you can.
8. What a lot of records you've got. Could we listen to something?
9. I was wondering if you could lend me some money for a few days.
10. You can't write the examination test in pencil. ] 1. You can't cross the street here.
12. I could enjoy myself quite well if I had a holiday now.
13. Nick could have sung this song at the party yesterday if he had been asked.
14. If a friend of mine were suffering from flu I could fetch some medicine for him.
15. He was not old, he couldn't have been more than forty.
16. Could this old woman be Louise? She can't have changed like that.
17. Can she have been waiting for us all this time?
2. Choose the correct form of the verbs.
\. Why did you walk all the way from the station. You could phone/could have phoned for a lift.
2. I loved staying with my grandparents when I was a child. They let me read all the books in the house and told me I could/was able to go to bed as late as I wanted.
3. This carpet was priced at £ 500, but I could/was able to get a discount because of this little mark in the corner.
4. I couldn 't have found/haven't been able to find my diary for days. It's terribly inconvenient.
5. As soon as she opened the door I could/was able to see from her face that something terrible had happened.
6. I've no idea where my brother is living now. He can/could be at the North Pole for all I know.
7. It's difficult to understand how explorers survive the conditions they encounter in the Antarctic. I'm sure I can't/ couldn 't.
8. Why did I listen to you? I can be/could have been at home by now instead of sitting here in the cold.
9. The day started off musty, but by the time we had reached the mountain the sun had appeared and we could/were able to climb it quite quickly.
3. Use can in the correct form followed by the appropriate infinitive.
1.... you (call) a little later? I'm afraid I'll be busy till seven.
2.... it (be) a joke?
3. You... (not see) him at the meeting. He was ill.
4.... we (to cover) fifteen kilometres? The village is not yet seen.
5. He... (not forget) your address; he's visited you several times.
6. If you had let us know, we... (send) our car for you.
7. I should be very much obliged to you if you... (lend) me your dictionary for a couple of days.
8. I don't believe her, she... (fail) to recognize me.
9. He said he... (manage) the task by himself.
10. Why didn't you ask me? I... (do) it for you.
4, Complete the sentences with the correct form of can, could
or be able.
a)
Model: He's very fit for his age. He... (run) very fast.
He's very fit for his age. He can run very fast.
I'd like... (work) with you one day.
I'd like to be able to work with you one day.
1. He... (not climb) up to the top: he was too scared.
2. If they hadn't phoned for an ambulance, he... (die).
3. I love... (spend) all morning in bed at the weekends.
4. We... (go) to that concert tomorrow if the tickets haven't been sold out.
5. I think you should go in the spring: it... (be) very crowded there in the summer.
6. I... (not) understand what he says: he speaks too quickly.
7. Do you know where Nick's glasses are? He... (not see) very much without them.
8.... (speak) another language fluently is a great advantage when you are looking for a job.
9. Jonathan... (not say) anything until he was about three years old.
10. We... (not phone her up) because her phone had broken, but fortunately we... (get) a message to her.
11. Amy's exam results weren't very good. She... (do) better.
12. I... (not sleep) very well for the last four nights. It's been too hot.
13. She tried to think of other things but she... (not put) that awful memory out of her mind.
14. You should... (go out) when you want to.
15.... you (come) to the party on Saturday?
16. I... (ride) this bike soon: I just need more time to practise.
17. He doesn't do very much when he's here. He... (be) more helpful.
18. I... (play) tennis really well a few years ago, but not anymore.
b) Complete these sentences beginning with the word in brackets and using a suitable form of be able to.
Model: I... finish it by Friday, (should)
I should be able to finish it by Friday.
1. I can't come round to night but I... phone you. (might)
2. Interpreters... translate without thinking, (have to)
3. She has tried very hard but so far she... find a job. (hasn't)
4. To become a lifesaver, you... swim, (need)
5. I'm not sure whether I... finish on time, (shall)
6. I... speak Italian quite fluently, (used)
7. My brother is an invalid. He hates... do things for himself, (not)
5. Express strong doubt about the statements made in the following negative sentences. Model:
1. He didn't notice you.
a) Can (could) he have failed to notice you? Неужели он не заметил тебя?
b) He can't (couldn't) have failed to notice you. He мог он не заметить тебя.
2. He does not like it here.
a) Can (could) he dislike it here?
b) He can't (couldn't) dislike it here.
3. We did not see him do it.
a) Can (could) nobody have seen him do it?
b) Nobody can (could) have seen him do it.
4. He did not get you letter.
Can (could) he have never got my letter?
1) You did not understand me.
2) She did not like the play.
3) They do not trust him.
4) They did not find him there.
5) People don't want to go there.
6) She did not notice the mistake.
7) They did not receive the telegram in time.
8) They don't realize the full significance of the event.
9) He did not see you.
10) She did not lose sight of them in the crowd.
6. Translate into English.
1. Неужели вы его не увидели?
2. Не мог он этого не заметить.
3. Неужели они об этом не узнали?
4. Неужели они проиграли?
5. Неужели он верит этому?
6. Неужели он не верит этому?
7. Неужели было так холодно?
8. Неужели вы нашли мою книгу?
9. Не мог он этого сказать.
10. Не может быть, чтобы он не одобрял вашего решения.
11. Не может взрослый человек любить такие книги.
12. Не может быть, чтобы она вам об этом рассказала.
13. Не может быт,, чтобы она вам об этом не рассказала.
14. Не может быть, чтобы он опоздал.
15. Не может быть, чтобы я не правильно вас понял.
16. Жаль, что погода была плохая, я могла бы погулять в парке.
17. Мне жаль, что погода плохая, я могла бы показать вам такие красивые места в парке.
18. Погода была хорошая, и мы могли гулять в парке каждое утро.
19. Погода очень хорошая, и мы могли бы пойти г\-лять без пальто.
20. Здесь нельзя переходить улицу.
21. Можете взять мою книгу с собой.
22. Мне жаль, что его нет дома. Он бы мог помочь вам.
23. Мне жаль, что его не было дома. Он бы мог помочь вам.
24. Он мог решать такие задачи, когда ему было 10 лет.
25. Он смог бы решить такую задачу, когда ему было 10 лет.
26. Мог бы он научить меня произносить этот звук?
27. Он мог научить её произносить этот звук правильно только потому, что она очень старалась.
28. Никто не смог бы научить её произносить этот звук правильно, потому что она не хотела учиться.
29. Что же вы мне не сказали тогда? Я мог бы купить вам эту книгу в Лондоне.
30. Карандашом писать нельзя.
31. Вы бы не могли ещё немножко подождать?
32. Разве мог кто-нибудь подумать, что эта команда займёт первое место?
7. Paraphrase the following sentences using can/could in the required meaning.
1. You are allowed to take up to 20 kilograms without paying extra when travelling by air.
2. I'm convinced that it is possible for all peoples in the world to live in peace and friendship.
3. Do you know how to drive a car?
4. Is it possible that we have been asleep for more than 3 hours?
5. The teacher said that he allowed the children to go home.
6. The doctor said that the patient was not permitted to leave the hospital as he needed a longer course of medical treatment.
1. Will you be so kind as to tell me the way to the nearest post-office?
8. Would she be able to become a skilled engineer?
9. I wonder how she managed to learn to speak so many foreign languages.
10. It's hardly like that she has been completely cured.
11. It's unbelievable that she has failed to get in touch with him.
12. I'm so glad you were able to get here in time and help the man.
13. Is it possible to have my prescription made up here? - No, we aren't open yet.
8. a) Answer these questions about personal qualities.
| Can you... | always tell people what you really think? relax with people you don't know? usually get what you want? keep calm in stressful situations? keep your temper under control? laugh at yourself? always see both sides of an argument? ignore criticism easily? express your feelings easily? |
b) Work in pairs. Tell each other what you can or can't do. Are you similar or different? Expand your answers. I can't always tell people what I think. Can you? No, I can't....
c) Match the descriptions in a) with compound adjectives from the list below. There may be more than one possibility. outspoken short-tempered middle-aged good-humoured thick-skinned fair-minded easy-going outgoing cool-headed strong-willed soft-hearted self-assured well-behaved hard-working old-fashioned short-sighted left-handed world-famous
d) Make up sentences that describe each compound adjective. Someone who can always tell people what they really think
is outspoken.
9. a) Complete the account of the climb with could/couldn 't wherever possible - otherwise use was/were able to:
Stephen and Julie were spending a few days camping with some friends in Showdonia. On a climb, there was a difficult section. Stephen has long arms, and... climb this easily, but Julie is not so tall and... reach the hold. In the end, she... reach it by standing on her friend's shoulders. "Never mind", he said. "I... get up this bit the first time I tried". The rest of the climb was easier, and they... reach the top by 12 o'clock. It was warm and sunny, and they... see the whole of Snowdonia.
b) Think of something similar that once happened to you. Tell it to the class. Use could/couldn't I was able to or managed to.
10. a) Find Russian variants of the following proverbs:
1. What is done, cannot be undone.
2. Love cannot be forced.
3. Change of habit cannot alter nature.
4. Can leopard change its spots?
5. Old friends cannot be sacrificed for new ones.
6. You can take a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink.
7. Success is the ladder that cannot be climbed with your hands in the pockets.
8. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
9. A man can do no more than he can.
10. What can't be cured must be endured.
b) Use one of the proverbs you like the most in the situations of your own.
11. a) Work in pairs. Compare your lives now with your lives when you were ten years old by discussing the following points. Then write sentences about each point.
• two things you can do now
/ can travel alone on a bus and I can speak English quite
well.
When I was ten I couldn 't do either of those things.
two things you still can't do
two things you can do perfectly
two things you can do a bit
one instrument you can play
the instrument you still can't play
two friends you can trust completely
one person you can't trust at all
b) Think of 2 or 3 specific occasions in the past when you were or weren't able to do smth., you wanted or needed to do. Say what happened.
Usually I can't relax with people I don't know well, but
when I met Philip, he was so friendly that I was able to get
on very well with him immediately.
12. a) Read the title of the story and try to guess what it could be about "Buried Treasure ".
b) Read the story. Were your ideas correct? One day, while they were playing in the sand near their home in New Zealand, nine-year-old Patrick and two friends
found a giant egg. It was over a hundred times bigger than a chicken's egg. "Can we keep it?" Patrick asked. "Of course you can", said his father. Patrick's friend added, "I once found some old coins and I was allowed to keep them". The children wanted to know all about their egg, so they wrote a letter to a scientific laboratory. This is what they said: "Could you please help us to find out about our egg? Can we bring it to show you? Could you please do some tests and tell us what's inside it? Are children allowed to visit your laboratory? If they are, could we please come soon?"
Patrick and his friends were allowed to take their egg for laboratory tests. The tests showed that it was an egg of the extinct elephant bird and that it was at least two thousand years old. What a surprise! "We will be allowed to keep it. Won't we, Dad?" Patrick asked.
The children and their egg soon became famous. They appeared on television and someone offered them 75,000 dollars for it. They began to plan how they would spend the money. But it was all too good to be true. One day, a government letter arrived which said:
"The egg is public property. You are not allowed to keep things which belong to the state. We are sorry but you will have to give the egg to us. We will pay you some money, but only a small amount".
"They can't have it!" said Patrick. "If we can't have it, nobody can". Patrick was very angry. He buried the egg in the sand again and he still refuses to tell anyone where it is.
c) Read aloud the sentences with modal verbs and state their meaning.
d) Retell the text as Patrick. Add any additional information you can imagine. Remember to use modal verbs.
Practice
1. Analyse the form of the modal verb may/might. Say in which meaning it is used. Translate the sentences into Russian.
1. Children may borrow books from the library.
2. He said he might get to work by bus.
3. Let's meet at 5 if the time is convenient to everybody. We may get there on foot.
4. I have got two English novels in the original. So you may take one of them.
5. Mother said you might take some apples.
6. - May I smoke, doctor?
- No, you may not. You'd better stop doing it. It may ruin your health.
7. Mother, may I have a glass of light beer?
8. May I see him in the hospital on Tuesday?
9. He asked me if he might rest for an hour.
10. May I spend the week-end with you?
11. Jim, you may not have a swim today, it's rather chilly.
12. You might remember people are sleeping upstairs.
13. You might have asked me if I had an objection.
14. You might have come half an hour ago.
15. The child is very weak. You might be more attentive to him.
16. If he had arrived an hour earlier, he might have had a good night's rest.
17. We may never be married.
18. He may have written the letter, but the signature is certainly not his.
19. He told the doctor he might have been running a high temperature for some days.
2. Use may in the correct form followed by the appropriate infinitive.
1.... I (to ask) you to explain the rule once more?
2. She asked me if she... (to switch off) the radio.
3. I'm afraid it... not (to stop) raining by the evening.
4. We wish your journey (to be) successful.
5. My neighbour lent me her opera-glasses that I... fully (to enjoy) the ballet.
6. No matter how bad the weather... (to be) she never missed her everyday stroll after dinner.
7. Don't be angry with her. She... (to do) it by mistake.
8. If nothing prevents them, they... (to arrive) ahead of time.
9. It... (to be taken) for a joke if his face had not been so serious.
10. You should not feel offended; they... not (to notice) you.
11. Tell him he... (to warn) me and not (to put) me in such an awkward position.
12. He... (to have) to walk a long distance, he looks tired.
13. There is no regular ferry there. You... (to have) to hire a boat.
3. Express ironical requests based on the following sentences. Use the perfect infinitive to refer the situation to the past and in this way express reproach. Model: a) You do not remember your child's birthday.
You might remember your child's birthday!
b) You did not switch off the lights before leaving.
You might have switched off the lights before leaving.
1. You do not wear your new suit to the office.
2. You did not sew the buttons on, Alice.
3. You did not even notice how well she played. You do not pay enough attention to your child.
4. Do come and help me choose it.
5. You did not try hard enough.
6. You did not get up a little earlier and help me to clean up after the party.
7. You never let me know when something like this happens.
8. You didn't give a detailed account.
9. You didn't meet her at the station.
4. Paraphrase the following sentences so as to use the modal
verb may/night.
Model: a) Maybe he'll get a new job.
He might get a new job / He may get a new job.
b) Do you think I could have one of these cakes?
May I have one of these cakes?
1. Visitors are not allowed to stay in the hospital after ten p m.
2. Do you think I could have one of these sandwiches.
3. He has had a busy day and perhaps he is tired now.
4. Mum says that she allows me to go on a package tour with my friends to the Swiss Alps.
5. I think the car is in the station car park.
6. Is it alright if I use your phone?
7. Guests are allowed to v/ear casual dress.
8. Perhaps, she'll move to London.
9. There's a possibility that the show will be cancelled.
10. I think that Andrew will collect the money.
11. It's very cold here. \ou're shivering all over. You are permitted to put on Mary's coat.
12. Maybe, Peter won't come to the cinema tomorrow.
13. Possibly, it'll rain this afternoon.
5. Paraphrase the following sentences using the modal verbs can or may in the correct form.
\. I don't believe that he has done the work carelessly.
2. Perhaps, you changed at the wrong station, that's why it took you so long to get here.
3. I think he will be able to substitute for you in case you shouldn't come.
4. Is it not in your power to change the time-table?
5. Most probably he did not see you, otherwise he would have come up to you.
6. Perhaps, I shall have to take him to hospital; it is possible that he has broken his arm.
7. Why blame her? Maybe she did not know it was so urgent.
8. It is impossible that she has wrongly interpreted your words.
9. I suppose they were unable to get in touch with you.
10. Would you mind my.smoking here?
6. Fill in the blanks with may, might, can or could.
1. I... be away from home tomorrow.
2. He... have been hurt.
3. They... have said something of the kind, buy I hardly believe it.
4. If she... not call on me, she... have called me up at least. 5 You... walk miles in this district without seeing a house.
5. - How do you do it, if I... ask?
- Simply phonetics. I... place any man within six miles. 7. The letters... have been written in this very house, g.... you hear what he is saying.
9. Buy this dictionary. You... want it one day.
10. I... not imagine her teaching children, she used to be so impatient; but who knows, time changes people; she... have become quite different.
11. It was a very popular song at the time, you... hear it everywhere.
12. Something was wrong with the receiver, I... not hear you well.
13. I was so angry, I... have thrown my boots at him.
14. You never... tell, everything... turn out quite all right.
7. a) Think of situations round the following proverbs. Use the modal verb may/might in the meaning of supposition implying doubt, uncertainty.
1. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
2. As like as two peas.
3. Better late than never.
b) Find Russian variants of the fallowings proverbs and use them in the situations of your own:
1. A bird may be known by its song.
2. You might have heard a pin drop.
8. a) Fill in the correct word from the following: allow/permit, permission, may, might, can, could. Indicate where two words are possible.
Ben wanted to ask his teacher for... to leave school early on Friday afternoon, but he didn't really expect that she would... him to do so. He explained about some dental appointment, which he could possibly miss, but somehow, she didn't seem to believe him!
"Miss Jones,... I leave school at 3.30 on Friday, please1? You see, I have this dental appointment and...".
Miss Jones replied that he... go ten minutes earlier, but not half an hour earlier! She knew that if she... Ben go earlier, the other pupils would expecf to be... to leave earlier, too, and she couldn't possibly... this become a regular occurrence!
"I'm sorry, Ben, but I really can't... you to go at 3.30. However, you... go at ten minutes to four, just this once, and I'll give you some extra homework to do in the dentist's waiting-room!"
b) Work in pairs. Role-play the conversation between Ben and Miss Joves.
c) Retell the conversation first as Miss Jones, then as Ben.
9. a) Insert the correct word, expressing possibility. Use each
form only once.
can may have had possible
could might have possibly
may might be perhaps
may have might
Sue was expecting Peter to take the afternoon off in order to do some urgent work on the house. But he hasn't arrived. Sue and her sister are discussing what may have happened to him.
Sue: I wonder where Peter's got to. He said he'd be
here in time for lunch. I'm rather worried. Elizabeth: Don't worry! He... still come. Sue: I doubt it. It's past 2 o'clock. But I do think he...
rung me up! Elizabeth: He... done, and we didn't hear the phone? Or...
his boss couldn't give him time off, after all. Sue: Yes, that's.... I suppose.
Elizabeth: Or the car's broken down again on the way home,
! Sue: Yes, he said that he thought it... well do so if he
drove too fast.
Elizabeth: Oh, dear! If he's stuck on that lonely stretch of
country road he won't be home until midnight!
You... wait an hour for another car to pass Sue: Or he... an accident! Do you think I should call
phone the police? Elizabeth: Gracious, no! Don't fuss! He... be on his way
right now!
(Ten minutes later, the phone rings.) Peter: Sorry, Sue, but I can't get away from the office.
An urgent piece of work. I shall be pretty late, I
expect. It... 8 or 9 before I get home. I hope you
weren't starting to worry. Sue: Gracious, no! Of course not!
b) "Work in groups of three. Role-play the conversation.
c) Retell the conversation as: Sue, Elizabeth, Peter. Use any additional information you want. Remember to use modal verbs and words listed above.
10. Translate into English.
1. Право же, вы могли бы сделать это для меня. 2. Мне что-то нездоровится. Я, возможно, заболела. Можно мне немножко отдохнуть? - Конечно же. Ты могла бы это сделать давно. 3. Скажи ему, что он мог бы быть более внимательным к своим старым друзьям. 4. Вы не могли бы дать мне его адрес? 5. Она могла уже приехать. Не может быть, чтобы она уже приехала. Неужели она уже приехала? 6. Похоже, что будет дождь, но, кто знает, может быть завтра будет хорошая погода. 7. Я думаю, что вы сможете уговорить его, если попытаетесь. 8. Я думаю, что вы смогли бы уговорить его, если бы попытались. 9. Почему Питера нет на занятиях? - Он попал в больницу с приступом аппендицита. Его, возможно, уже прооперировали. 10. Ты мог бы сразу сказать, что не хочешь идти в театр. Я бы не покупал билет. 11. Можно мне здесь подождать? - Да, конечно. 12. Ты мог бы остаться дома хотя бы один вечер в неделю. Мама была очень огорчена.
11. Read the following jokes and act them out. Then transform them into reported speech.
1.
- May I ask you why you are late, Tom?
- Certainly, you may, madam. If I hadn't washed my neck and ears, I might have come in time. But honestly, it won't happen again.
2.
She could not read the thermometer, but she took her husband's temperature with it and gave a call to the doctor. "Dear, Doctor, please come at once. My husband's temperature is 63. He may die!" The doctor replied, "Dear Madam, I may come, but I can do nothing. Why have you rung to me? You might have sent for the fire brigade".
3.
A young lady who was fond of Shakespeare visited Strat-ford-on-Avon and liked everything she saw there.
When she reached the railway station, she looked round and exclaimed, "Oh, I think I like it most of all. Here the great master may have come to take the train to London, just as I am doing".
4.
Friend: Why are you so said and gloomy?
Writer: I met a fellow today who had never heard of Shakespeare.
Friend: Well, there's nothing to worry about.
Writer: Of course not, but it made me fear that some day I, too, may be unknown.
5.
In a tramcar sitting opposite me was a lady with a small child. The little boy was crying bitterly. In vain tried the mother to calm the youngster, and at last the gentleman sitting next to her said angrily, "Oh, how that child cries! He may be wanting something. Why don't you let it have what it wants?" "I would if I could", replied the mother quietly, "but he warts your funny hat".
/2 Act out the conversation in pairs.
peter: You see, Jack, we are thinking of going to the seaside
in the summer. Have you made your holiday plans yet?
If not, you may join us. Jack: Well, that's very kind of you. When are you thinking of
going? Peter: Oh, we might leave some time in August. At the end of
it, I think.
Jack: Do you know how much it's going to coast? Peter: I don't know for certain. It might be not very expensive,
if we live in a camping.
Jack: Oh, that'll be nice. Are all our friends going? Peter: I think, most of all us may be going. Not Dot, of course.
She is off to Italy again. She may have been staying
there for 2 weeks already. Jack: Has she gone by plane there? Peter: I don't know really. Somebody said she might have
gone there by sea. Well, will you go with us? Jack: Yes, with great pleasure. Peter: Fine.
13. Read the text and do the exercises that follow it. A Purse Full of Pounds
Jack is on his way to the sports centre to meet some friends. He's feeling miserable because he hasn't got any money. It's his girlfriend's birthday next week. He may not be able to buy her a present and she could be very disappointed. She might even refuse to go out with him! He could ask a friend to lend him a few pounds, but he already owes money to all his friends.
When he arrives at the sports centre, he sees something pink near the entrance. It's a purse and it's full of money; Fifty pounds! Who could it belong to?
"A pink purse can't belong to a boy. It must belongJo a girl at the centre", Jack thinks.
Jack doesn't know what to do. He could pay his debts with the money and he could buy Debbie a present. There's no one in the street, but someone might be watching him.
Task:
a) Say the following sentences using may. Model: Perhaps the purse belongs to a girl at the centre. The purse may belong to a girl at the centre.
1. Perhaps the owner is looking for a purse.
2. Perhaps Jack knows the girl.
3. Perhaps someone will be watching Jack.
4. Perhaps he won't tell anyone about the purse.
5. Perhaps he won't try to find the owner.
6. Perhaps he will put the purse back where it was.
7. Perhaps he will find the owner.
8. Perhaps Jack will get a reward for finding the purse.
b) Retell the story as the story-teller, then as Jack.
c) What might you do if you found a purse full of money.
Practice
1. State in which meanings the modal verbs are used in these sentences. Translate them into Russian.
1. The question must be solved before we can do anything.
2. Why do people have to call London a city of great contrasts.
3. The traffic keeps to the left in Great Britain. So you have to be very careful when you try to cross the road.
4. The jubilee is to be celebrated sometime this summer.
5. I have been on leave since Monday. I really must consult the doctor today as I have cut the last two consultations.
6. On Monday morning I was to have given my impressions of my trip abroad but unfortunately I was taken ill.
7. You are not to cool your food by blowing at it. Just wait a bit, there is no hurry.
8. And remember, you must come in and see the baby any time you can.
9. The doctor said to Mr Walker, "You must keep off eating too much."
10. What is to be done under the circumstances? Where am I to go?
11. Mind you mustn't spend it all at once.
12. You are not to tell mother about it. It's our top secret.
13. I still hoped to get a letter from her, but it wasn't to be.
14. But she must have seen him.
15. Oh, Mae, think how she must be suffering.
16. Those people must be tired, look at their faces.
17. They must have misunderstood me that Whitehall is a hall, it's a street.
18. Helen must have failed to notice John or at least she pretended not to see him.
2. Explain the difference in meaning between the 2 sentences in the following pairs.
1. a) The plane was not to take off at night as the weather was too bad.
b) The plane was to have taken off at night, but the weather was too bad.
2. a) There was to be an interesting concert last night, but I felt unwell and had to stay at home.
b) There was to have been an interesting concert last night, but the singer fell ill and the concert had to be postponed.
3. a) The order came that we were not to leave the village before dawn.
b) We were not to have left the village before dawn, but by the time the order came we were two miles away from it.
3. Combine the modal verb to be (to) with the proper form of the infinitive in brackets.
1. I stood at the window, looking at them disappear, and my heart kept repeating "Good-bye, good-bye!" I was not (to see) them for nearly five years.
2. Nobody met me when I came. I was (to arrive) by the ten o'clock train, but I couldn't get a ticket for it.
3. Remember that we are (to be) at his place not later than eight.
4. Why are you so late? Didn't you get my letter saying that we were (to meet) at 4?
5. There was a violent storm that night and the Albatross which was (to arrive) at the port in the morning had to drop anchor near an island a hundred miles off the port.
4. Fill in the blanks with to be (to), to have (to) or must using the correct form of the infinitive.
1. I did not know who... (to be) my travelling companion.
2. According to the state plan, many new dwelling houses (to build) this year.
3. We... (to work) hard to achieve good results.
4. "I think we... (to drop) anchor in that bay until the storm quiets down", the captain said to his mate.
5. I... (to say) your behavior has been far from straightforward.
6. "Mabel has gone," Lanny said in a flat, impersonal voice. The old woman went back to her chair and sat down heavily. "It... (to be). Where did she go, son?"
7. "Have you been studying much law lately?" I asked to change the subject. "Oh, Master Copperfield," he said with an air of self-denial; "My reading... hardly (to call) study."
8. Sartorial. If I give in now I... (to give in) always.
9. Mrs Pearce. What... (to become) of the girl?... she (to pay) anything?
10. This is serious; you... (not to joke) about it.
11. Will you please, hold the line a minute, darling? I... (to change) the baby before I can speak to you.
12. If you go there in the morning, you... (not to wait).
13. We could not come, Henry... (to take) some out-of-town relations to the theatre.
14. It was only a small family affair, so we... (not to change).
15. I... (to tell) you it was not simple after all. We... (to tell) him all the details.
16. The day we... (to start) it rained worse than ever.
5. Translate the following negative sentences into English, using must, where possible, and probably and be likely in other cases.
1. Должно быть, он не сделал ошибки.
2. Должно быть, она не имела опыта.
3. Должно быть, он не дал ответа.
4. Должно быть, они не принимают мер.
5. Должно быть, она не обращает внимания на это.
6. Должно быть, денег за работу они не получают. |7. Должно быть, он ещё здесь.
8. Должно быть, идёт дождь.
J9. Вероятно, дождя завтра не будет.
|10. По-видимому, это не было сделано вовремя.
6. Translate into English using to have (to), to be (to) or must.
1. Я должен был приготовить эту работу к четвергу. (Два
варианта.) 2. Я должна была передать ему часы его отца. Но он так и
не пришёл.
3. Мне пришлось оставить всё и поехать в больницу.
4. Я должна прочесть эту книгу.
5. Она, должно быть, читает эту книгу.
6. а) Она, должно быть, писала сестре, когда мы её увидели.
б) Она, должно быть, написала сестре.
в) Она должна была написать сестре.
г) Она должна была написать сестре. Мы так договаривались с ней.
д) Она должна была написать сестре, но у неё не было достаточно времени, чтобы это сделать.
7. Не смей с ней играть.
8. Должно быть, он очень умён.
9. По-видимому, он спал и не слышал звонка.
10. Не надо держать книгу так близко к глазам.
11. Вам придётся поговорить с ней.
12. Вероятно, они уже ушли.
13. Оставайся здесь и не смей выходить из комнаты.
14. Кто должен отвечать первым?
7. Memorize the following proverbs and use them in short situations of your own. Find Russian equivalents.
1. If you want to eat the fruit, you must learn to climb the tree.
2. As you make your bed, so you must lie on it.
3. Old birds are not to be caught with chaff.
4. All truths are not to be told.
5. As you brew, so you must drink.
6. If things were to be done twice, all would be wise.
8. Imagine you are in the following situations. 1. Last year Nick visited England for the first time. As he was я first-year student it was difficult for him to communicate with English people because he didn't know the language well enough. He was struck by a lot of things there: by the newspapers, by the taxis, by the heavy traffic and the rule of driving on the left side of the road, by the fact that one can smoke inside the tube and can't do it inside the bus.
Task: act out a dialogue between Nick and his friend Jim. Try to use the following patterns in some of your sentences: You must work hard at your English to communicate with English people easily.
You must know the customs and traditions of the people there, etc. 2. One day you rang your friend up and nobody answered you It was ten in the morning, you were greatly surprised not to find
anybody at home. You thought your friend had fallen ill or he had an attack of appendicitis and had been taken to hospital. Task: act out a dialogue between his neighbour and you. Follow these patterns in your sentences:
He must have fallen ill. It must be an attack of appendicitis. He must be running a high temperature, etc.
3. You went to England with a group of students. You were greatly surprised to find the chief news and articles in the middle of the Times, you were pleasantly surprised by the parks, by London double deckers and a great number of sights.
Task: act out a dialogue between a taxi-driver and you. Try to follow these patterns in your sentences:
You must have never seen the English taxis. You must have failed to visit all our sights. You must be unaware of our newspapers, etc.
4. There was a heavy snowfall in town that brought the transport to a standstill. As a result, you had to walk all the way home after classes. You talk to your mother about the weather. You discuss with her what was going on in the streets, what kind of work was being done, what people had to do and why. Task: act out your conversation.
5. Jim was in despair. He didn't know what he was to do. He had promised his friend that he would go to see the cricket match as he didn't know he was to stay at home. He wondered if he was to ring his friend up. But his elder brother Fred in- formed him that the match which was to have taken place had been put off for some reason or other. Jim was relieved. Task: act out their conversation.
9. First act out the following conversations in pairs. Then re- port them.
I Thought He Was Married
Paul: Fred must be spending his evenings playing chess, I
think he must try to do something more useful. Bill: Well, chess isn't so bad, after all. It's an interesting game. Henry must be in a worse position. He usually stays at home cooking and washing up.
Paul: He must have failed to get married.
Bill: He is married. His wife is a modern woman. She believes in equality of men and women.
Paul: Oh, it must be she who is always sitting in a cafe and discussing the problems of equality with her friends.
Bill: She is.
Paul: She must be very intellectual.
Bill: She is.
Paul: And how do you usually spend your evening?
Bill: I usually sit in the pub drinking beer and discussing philosophy.
Paul: It must be your hobby.
Bill: It is.
Paul: Will you probably get married?
Bill: Yes, I will. I like children very much. I often read very good books while babysitting for Jim.
Moving to a New House
Nora: Harry, look at the way those men are carrying that China cupboard. You must tell them to be careful. I am sure they are going to break everything.
Harry: Perhaps, we'd better carry the breakable things down ourselves.
The man: You needn't worry, madam. We always have to be careful. We're used to it. We have to move things in and out of houses every day of the week. A man has got to know his job, hasn't he? Come on, Jim! Give me a hand.
Nora: How are they going to get the piano out? They'll have to turn it on its side or to take its legs off. Let's carry this long mirror down between us.
Harry: Right! I'll have to go downstairs backwards. Oh, look out!
Nora: Oh, my lovely mirror!
The man: There, now. You know, you have to be experienced to do a job like this.
Harry: Well, what a shame! The whole move's done with only one thing broken and we had to be the ones to break it!
The man: Come on, Jim! We shall have to hurry up with this piano. We've got to be away by dinner-time.
10. Read the following stories. Act them out.
Not to be bought
A wealthy lady of practically no education paid a visit to her daughter who was learning at a boarding-school. She begged the teacher to give her a full account of her daughter's progress in studying.
"Your daughter is a very good girl", said the teacher, "She is both diligent and obedient. She wants capacity but she is not to blame for it". "Naturally, she isn't!" exclaimed the mother. 1 "It's the teachers who are to blame for they have never mentioned capacity before. Well, her father can afford to buy his daughter any capacity she wants. She is to have one immediately without regard to cost".
