Easy Word | Luyện ngữ pháp

Luyện ngữ pháp - Destination C1 and C2 ((Unit 9: Grammar - Modals and semi-modals))

Form - Ability

• The nine main medals (will, would, can, could, may, might, shall, should, must) have only one form (ie they do not change tense or person) and are followed by a simple or continuous bare infinitive (eg could + do, be doing, have done, have been doing). They can also be followed by a bare infinitive in the passive (eg could + be done, have been done). • Semi-modals have similar meanings to modals. They include: need (to), ought to, had better and have (got) to. • Some semi-modals, such as had better, do not change tense or person. Others, such as have (got) to, do. • Some semi-modals can be used in combination with medals, producing phrases such as might have to
Ability
Real ability	Current or general ability	can, can't	You can't* really speak seven languages fluently, can you?*
	Past ability	could, couldn't	There's no way you could read* when you were two!*
	Decisions made now about future ability	can, can't, could, couldn't	I can get* you a paper when I go to the shop, if you like.*
	Future ability	will/won't be able to	One day, maybe, all adults will be able to read* and write.*
Hypothetical ability	Current or general	could, couldn't	I couldn't go* on a quiz show. I'd be too scared!*
	Future hypothetical ability	could, couldn't	I could go* with them to the cinema tomorrow but I won't because I've already seen the film.*
	Past hypothetical ability	could have, couldn't have	They could have asked* the Prime Minister much more searching questions. I wonder why they didn't.*

Watch out!
• The full negative form of medals is written as two words, eg could not. The exception is cannot, which is one word. • Can and could cannot be used as infinitives. We can use to be able to instead. ✓ I'd love to be able to* come with you to the cinema tomorrow but I just can't.* • We don't usually use could for past ability on one occasion. We use was/were able to, managed or succeeded, etc. ✓ Luckily, she was able to* finish the article in time.* However, with verbs such as see, hear, feel, etc we can use could for past ability on one occasion. ✓ I could see* that she was tired.*

Watch out!

• The full negative form of medals is written as two words, eg could not. The exception is cannot, which is one word.
• Can and could cannot be used as infinitives. We can use to be able to instead.
✓ I'd love to be able to come with you to the cinema tomorrow but I just can't.

• We don't usually use could for past ability on one occasion. We use was/were able to, managed or succeeded, etc.
✓ Luckily, she was able to finish the article in time.
However, with verbs such as see, hear, feel, etc we can use could for past ability on one occasion.
✓ I could see that she was tired.

Ability

Các task khác trong bài học