- asking for and giving permission
Can is used to ask for and give permission:
Can I use your mobile phone? Sure, you can. Go ahead. / No, you c ant.
May and Could are also used to ask for permission, but not to refuse permission. They are more formal than can:
May I use your password? No, Im afraid you cant .
Could I come back later? No, I dont think thatll be possible.
If we want to talk about permission for a future action we use the verb allow or permit.
They wont allow/permit you to travel alone.
- making suggestions
You can use should or ought to to suggest what you think the right course of action is:
I think you should try a new strategy.
They ought to simplify administrative procedure.
I think you should upgrade your computer.
You might want to look at the new Compaq model.
Shall I look at what it might cost?
If you think it is possible to improve the situation and want to recommend a course of action you can use could.
We could reduce energy consumption by switching off PCs when they are not in use.
We could try to motivate staff by introducing a profit-sharing scheme.
Willingness, refusal, promises, threats, typical behavior
We use will or would to make a polite request or to ask someone if they are willing to assist:
Will you come this way?
Would you do me a favour?
Wil l you sign here, please?
Would you tell him that she phoned?
-insisting
will can mean to insist on doing something even it is inadvisable.
If you will smoke two packets a day, it is not surprising that you have got a persistent cough.
-refusing
If you want to say that you are unwilling to do something, you can use will or wont.
I will not tolerate your behavior any longer.
Other people or things can also show unwillingness:
The car wont start. He wont ever do what I tell him to do.
-promising
If you make a firm commitment to do something in the future you use will.
We will do everything in our power to satisfy your needs.
However, the promise may have a negative impact and is therefore interpreted as a threat:
Unless you comply we will be forced to initiate legal proceedings.
-routine behavior or general truths
Most days Ill get home at about 7.30 pm but quite often later.
Murphys law states that if something can go wrong it will go wrong.
Would is used to talk about actions that happened frequently in the past.
Our previous chairman would always begin the annual general meeting with a joke.
PRACTICE
1. Match the personal qualities with the abilities on the right.
If you you can
1. are computer literate work well on your own
2. are trilingual use different types of software
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3. are good at mental arithmetic solve problems rationally
4. are autonomous be a good leader
5. have a creative personality calculate quickly in your head
6. have a logical mind speak three languages
7. are decisive and people bring new ideas to projects
accept your authority
2. Complete the sentences using either could or managed to.
1. After a lot of discussion we..........strike a deal.
2. He was a brilliant linguist and...........speak over a dozen languages fluently.
3. I thought I was going to miss the plane but I.........get to the airport on time.
4. When I was younger I.........run several kilometers without feeling tired.
5. She.........find a good job despite her lack of formal qualifications.
6. When we lived near the beach we.......... go swimming every day.
7. She...........have left me a message how was I supposed to know?
3. React to these situations using could have.
1. Why didnt she ring me to tell she would be late.?
2. She had the facts and figures but left me in the dark.
3. It wasnt worth us taking a taxi, the station was within walking distance.
4. It took six days for the letter to arrive and we both have e-mail.
4. Complete these sentences so that they are true for your country. Use have to, dont have to, must not.
1. You...........carry a gun
2. You...............pay to use buses and trams.
3. You.............vote if you are over 18.
4. You........... drink alcohol at work.
5. You......... pay to drive on a motorway.
6. You..........declare income earned abroad.
7. You......... wear a seat belt when driving a car.
5. Complete these sentences so that they are true for your job situation. Use have to, dont have to, must not.
1. You.........take home company equipment.
2. You........wear a badge.
3. You.......wear a tie, if you are a man.
4. You........... wear jeans at work.
5. You...........clock in when you arrive.
6. You......wear a dress or suit, if you are a woman.
6. Rewrite these sentences using could or couldnt.
1. If we diversified we would be able to offer a wider range of products.
2. If I had stayed in the States I would have been able to get a better job.
3. In the 1980s it was possible to make a fortune as a golden boy.
4. She had an opportunity to do an MBA but decided it was too much work.
5. Thirty years ago you used to be able to buy cigarettes in packets of five.
6. Before privatization it wasnt possible to buy shares in British Telecom.
7. Read the following story and list the missed opportunities using could have.
As a young man Peter Metro was a gifted musician who once had a record in the top 20. But he decided to abandon music and study ocean engineering at Florida Atlantic University instead. After four years there he graduated and was offered a research post in the faculty. But by that time he had decided he wanted to see the world and spent a year traveling Europe. In Italy he happened to meet the film director Roberto Bellini who offered him a role in his latest film, but he turned it down because he had just accepted a job with a small firm specializing in the construction of racing catamarans. One day the famous skipper Chris Dickson asked him to sail with him during the Admirals Cup but Peter decided not to because he was too busy.
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8. Decide if the following are requests for permission, suggestions or offers.
1. Shall we go for lunch?
2. May I sit here?
3. Shall I give you a lift into town?
4. can I borrow the car this week?
5. Could I use your mobile phone?
6. You might like to check the exchange rate first.
7. Would you like us to send you a catalogue?
8. In my opinion you should sell your shares now.
9. Are you hot? Ill switch on the air conditioning if you like.
9. Complete the dialogue with these expressions: Do you need any help? Ill give you..... Shall I hold the door open? Would you like me...... We must get together......
A. Its been wonderful seeing you..........sometime.
B.Yes, thatd be very nice.
A............with your baggage?
B.No, thanks. I can manage.
A. Are you sure?.........for you.?
B.Yes, please.
A.................to call a taxi?
B. No, thanks. Ill walk. Its not far.
A.No, you cant possibly. Your cases are heavy.............a lift. It wont take me two minutes to get the car.
B. Well, thank you very much. Its really very kind of you.
A.Not at all. Its my pleasure.
10. Which of the following uses of will indicate willingness (W), refusal(R), promise(P), threat (T), or typical behavior(TB)? Write the appropriate letter in space provided.
1. Ill make sure John is informed............
2. Oil will float on water...............
3. She wont listen, shes so stubborn................
4. Patrick will keep on asking stupid questions...........
5. Ill take your calls for you while youre out.............
6. Either I get the job or Ill leave the company..............
7. Will you call him back when youve got a moment?........
8. Ive changed the battery but my mobile phone still wont work........
9. She will always be the first person to arrive on a Monday morning.........
10. If you dont sign the new contract well have to move you to another post.......
11. Would you point your name and company in the visitors book, please?.......
12. Before the use of computers we would have to record all our data on card index files.
11. Rewrite the sentences using will, wont, would.
1. Accidents inevitably happen.
2. I promise to do my best.
3. He refuses to accept her authority.
4. If you dont pay, legal action is certain to be taken.
5. A fanatic is someone who cant change his mind and refuses to change the subject.
6. If you insist on being rude how can you expect people to like you?
7. He used to smoke a large cigar before making an important decision.
8. The product with the better-known brand name inevitably sells better than the others.
UNIT X MULTI-WORD VERBS
Many English verbs consist of two parts: a base verb (bring, take, come,etc) and another (small word) (up, down, off, away....). The small word is either a preposition or an adverb particle In some cases the meaning of a two-part verb is simply a combination of the meanings of the two words. Examples are come in, run away, walk across, sit on......
In some cases the first word keeps its meaning, but the second has a special intensifying sense it means something like completely or thoroughly Examples are break up, tire out....
In other cases the two-part verb has quite a different meaning from the two separate parts: give up means surrender, blow up means explode......
Prepositional verbs
There are a very large number of combinations verb+ preposition. When the meaning is not clear from the separate parts (look after, fall on...) it should be found in the dictionary. Prepositions always have objects.(Please, look after the children. Ive fallen for you in a big way). IN English, the preposition does not always come before the object; in certain kinds of the sentences it can come at the end of the clause.
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What are you talking about?
Well have to look into the matter.
I m counting on your support.
Phrasal verbs
When a verb is used with an adverb particle, the combination is called a phrasal verb. There are a very large number of these in English.
The meaning of a phrasal verb is often very different from the meanings of the two words taken separately. In order to understand the meaning of a phrasal verb, you may have to refer to the dictionary. Phrasal verbs can be intransitive (not followed by a direct object) or transitive (followed by a direct object).
Intransitive phrasal verbs: break down, sit down, turn up(= arrive, appear)
Transitive:
Bring something up (= mention it)
Kick somebody out ( = expel him)
Put something off (= postpone it)
Pu t somebody up (= accommodate him)
Throw something away
Turn something down (= refuse it)
When a phrasal verb has a direct object the two parts of the verb can usually be separated: the adverb particle can be put before or after the object.
We ll have to put off the party/ put the party off.
Why dont you throw away that stupid hat/ throw that stupid hat away?
Could you put up my sister/ put my sister up?
However, when the object is a pronoun (he, us, this) the adverb particle can only go after the object.
Well have to put it off.
Phrasal prepositional verbs
There are a few verbs which consist of three parts: a base verb, an adverb particle, preposition(to get on with, to put up with, to check up on....). These look complicated, but in fact they are used in the same way as any other prepositional verb (for instance, to get on with follows the same rules as to go on with). Compare:
I get on well with him.
I often go to the theatre with him.
Hes difficult to put up with.
Hes difficult to work with.
Shes trying t o back out of our agreement.
The austerity measures came in for a lot of criticism.
Were not prepared to put up with her absenteeism any longer.
Many multi-word words are easy to understand:
What time do you get up? Could you turn down the volume?
In these examples the particles have an easily interpreted meaning. Others are not so easy:
They got up a petition to protest against the job cuts. (= organised)
She applied for the post but was turned down. (=refused)
It can help if you understand the meaning of the particle which combines with a verb.
Up
-increasing
We need to build up stocks in case theres a strike.
The economy is beginning to pick up again.
Shes opened a new bank account and wants to save up for a new car.
-advancing/ coming closer
Im trying to make up the time I lost when I was sick.
Its difficult to keep up with all the latest developments.
The car drew up beside us and the driver asked for directions.
-inventing
The advertising agency is trying to think up a brilliant new slogan.
Where did you dream up that crazy idea?
He forgot his notes so he had to make up his speech as he went along.
-completing
The final chapter sums up all the arguments.
There are a couple of points we need to clear up.
Theyve decided t o wind up their operations in Ireland and relocate.
-going wrong
Dont mix up the dossiers or well never find the documents we need.
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The office slipped up and the order was never sent.
The delay in the delivery of essential raw materials threatened to hold up production.
Down
-reducing
The economy is overheating and needs to slow down.
Weve started to explore ways of keeping down costs.
The government intends t o water down its commitment to a clean air policy.
-coming to an end
The shipyard is due to close down at the end of this year.
Mr.Smith has stepped down as vice-president.
Talks broke down before a deal could be reached.
-writing/recording
Ive put your name down on the list.
Could you please write down your name and address?
Make sure you note down every word she says.
-defeating
Eventually, he had to back down and apologize.
The army quickly put down the rebellion.
Another series of public sector strikes could bring the government down.
Over
-considering
Before I make any decision Ill need to talk it over with my boss.
Give me a couple of days to think it over.
Do you have a few minutes to look over what Ive written?
-changes
Eurotunnel will hand over 40% of its after-tax profits to the UK and French governments from 2050 onwards.
There has recently been a hostile attempt to take over our company.
Swiss banks yesterday gained a significant victory in their attempt to win over US public opinion.
Off
-beginning
The emerging market of digital pay-TV is finally about to take off.
Repsol, the energy conglomerate, is likely t o spark off a fat cat controversy over director pay packets that could total Pta74.6 million.
The report set off a wave of early selling in the Treasury market.
-stopping
The leader of the opposition said he was reluctant to break off talks with the government.
The crew of the damaged Mir space station were forced to call off a planned docking with a cargo ship after a computer failure.
Theyve decided to put off the meeting until next week.
-reducing
Sales should level off now after reaching 375,000 units last year.
The novelty of frequent travel trends to wear off pretty quickly.
Interest rates have been raised t o cool off inflationary pressures.
On
Continuing
Dont bother about me; just carry on with what youre doing.
The law suit dragged on and on for eight years.
Could you hold on for a few moments while I consult with my colleague?
