Basic Modal
Modal auxiliary verbs are used to moderate the main verb, that is to enhance or restrict the verb to a certain context.
The most common modal auxiliaries in English are:
can could
may should
might will
must would
Notice the usage of modals in the following sentences:
I pay my taxes.
General declaration of fact. Paying taxes is something I normally do.
I can pay my taxes.
Expresses ability. I have the means (funds) to pay.
I might pay my taxes.
Expresses possibility, but not certainty. Maybe I will pay; maybe I won't.
I will pay my taxes.
Expresses future intent. I resolve to do it at some later time.
I should pay my taxes.
Expresses mild obligation. It is required, and I expect to comply.
I could pay my taxes.
Expresses possibility. If I have nothing else to do with the money, I might pay taxes.
I would pay my taxes.
(In this case), expresses reservation. If I had the money (but I don't). . .
I must pay my taxes.
Expresses strong obligation. I am required and have to comply.
Modals are followed by only the base form of the verb and are not used alone unless there is a clear connection to a main verb.
He must to finish his homework. WRONG
He must finish his homework. RIGHT
Jack could heard the bell. WRONG
Jack could hear the bell. RIGHT
Penny will going to the movie. WRONG
Penny will go to the movie. RIGHT
There are many ways to make requests in English. The most common involves using the imperative and modals. See the examples below:
Using the Imperative
The imperative is the simple form of the verb. The subject of an imperative sentence is understood as "you" although it is usually not spoken.
Open the door. (You) open the door.
Will you help me? Yes, I will (help you).
Pick up your toys. (You) pick up your toys.
Please help me. (You) please help me.
The imperative is often used by persons of authority when speaking to subordinates, e.g. parent to child.
Using Modals
To show respect and politeness, most people use modal expressions when making requests. For example:
Will you...?
Would you...?
Would you please...?
Could you (please)...?
Could you possibly...?
Would you kindly...?
Would you mind (Ving )...?
Would you be so kind as to...?
Will you open the door for me?
Would you open the door for me?
Would you please open the door (for me)?
Could you (please)...? Could you (please) open the door?
Could you possibly open the door?
Would you kindly open the door?
Would you mind opening the door?
Would you be so kind as to open the door?
Common Problems with Modals
1. Using "to" unnecessarily:
Incorrect
They going to meet us at the theater.
He should to eat his dinner.
I had better to go now.
You must not to use that pencil.
Correct
They are going to meet us at the theater.
He should eat his dinner.
I had better go now.
You must not use that pencil.
2. Using anything but the base form after a modal:
John could heard the bell.
Penny will going to the movie.
John could hear the bell.
Penny will go to the movie.
3. Using double modals:
You should ought to speak English.
She might can help me.
You ought to speak English. /should speak
She might be able to help me.
4. Omitting "be" in certain modal expressions:
They going to meet us at the theater.
Jack supposed to take his medicine.
They are going to meet us at the theater.
Jack is supposed to take his medicine.
5. Using wrong word order in questions:
How I can help you?
Where I should go for the meeting?
How can I help you?
Where should I go for the meeting?
See also:
Grammar: Common Modal UsageVocabulary: Simple ModalsModal Verb Introduction (from Englishpage.com)
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THE PLURAL OF NOUNS
Most nouns form the plural by adding -s or -es.
boat / boats hat /hats house /houses river/rivers
A noun ending in -y preceded by a consonant makes the plural with -ies.
cry/cries
fly/flies
nappy/nappies
poppy/poppies
city/cities
lady/ ladies
baby/babies
There are some irregular formations for noun plurals. Some of the most common ones are listed below.
Examples of irregular plurals:
woman women
man men
child children
tooth teeth
foot feet
person people
leaf leaves
half halves
knife knives
wife wives
life lives
loaf loaves
potato potatoes
cactus cacti
focus foci
fungus fungi
nucleus nuclei
syllabus syllabi/syllabuses
analysis analyses
diagnosis diagnoses
oasis oases
thesis theses
crisis crises
phenomenon phenomena
criterion criteria
datum data
Some nouns have the same form in the singular and the plural.
sheep sheep
fish fish
species species
aircraft aircraft
Some nouns have a plural form but take a singular verb.
Examples:
news - The news is on at 6.30 p.m.
athletics - Athletics is good for young people.
linguistics - Linguistics is the study of language.
darts - Darts is a popular game in England.
billiards - Billiards is played all over the world.
Some nouns have a plural form and take a plural verb.
Examples:
trousers - My trousers are too tight.
jeans - Her jeans are black.
glasses - Those glasses are his.
others include:
savings, thanks, steps, stair, customs, congratulations, tropics, wages, spectacles, outskirts,
goods,
Os substantivos terminados em -o, -ch, -sh, -ss, -x e -z formam o plural acrescentando-se o sufixo -es:
hero/heroes
tomato/tomatoes
church/churches
watch/watches
brush/brushes
wish/wishes
glass/glasses
box/boxes
buzz/buzzes
topaz /topazes
Palavras estrangeiras ou formas abreviadas em -o fazem o plural em -s:
cello/cellos
dynamo/dynamos
ghetto/ghettos
kilo/kilos
libretto/librettos
magneto/magnetos
piano/pianos
photo/photos
portfolio/portifolios
radio/radios
solo/solos
soprano/sopranos
tango/tangos
virtuoso/virtuosos
Com substantivos compostos, pluralizamos o seu componente principal:
brother-in-law/brothers-in-law
errand-boy /errand-boys
godfather/godfathers
maidservant/maidservants
stepdaughter/stepdaughters
witsPor: www.edufind.com
TAG-QUESTION/QUESTION TAG
Tag é uma pergunta curta e rápida no final de uma frase para se pedir uma confirmação do que se disse antes.
Examples:
He is a doctor, isn't he? (Ele é um médico, não é?)
Quando a 1º Parte da frase for afirmativa, a segunda parte será negativa.
He isn't a doctor, is he? (Ele não é um médico, é?)
Quando a 1º Parte da frase for negativa, a segunda parte será afirmativa.
- Com verbos auxiliares:
Examples:It is hot today, isn't it?
Paul is a good boy, isn't he?
She was here, wasn't she?
They were friend, weren't they?
Mary has a car, hasn't she?
She can't run, can she?
They could work, couldn't they?
You should do this, shouldn't you?
-Com verbos não auxiliares:
Empregamos as formas verbais:do, does, don't, doesn't para o presente
did, didn't para o passado
Examples:You know England, don't you?
You don't live here, do you?
She doesn't speak English, does she?
You knew England, didn't you?
She didn't speak English, did she?
- Future and Conditional:
Examples:You will go, won't you?
Examples:You will go, won't you?
He won't come on time, will he?
She would come, wouldn't she?
He wouldn't go, would he?
- Para a 1º pessoa do singular I, a tag question tem uma forma irregular.
Ex.: I am your friend, aren't I?
Por: English Plus English
Comprehension
Once there was a boy who loved a girl very much. The girl's father, however, did not like the boy and did not want their love to grow. The boy wanted to write the girl a letter, but he was sure that the girl's father would read it first. At last he wrote this letter to the girl.The great love I said I have for you is gone, and I find my dislike for you increases every day. When I see you,I do not even like the way you look;the one thing I want to do is to look the other way. I never wanted tomarry you. Our last conversation was very dull and in no way hasmade me anxious to see you again.You think only for yourself.If we were married, I know that I would find life very difficult, and I would have nopleasure in living with you. I have a heart to give, but it is not a heartI want to give to you. No one is more demanding or selfish than you, and lessable to care for me and be of help to me.I sincerely want you to understand that I speak the truth. You will do me a favor if you consider this the end. Do not tryto answer this. Your letters are full of things that do not interest me. You have notrue concern for me. Good-bye! Believe me,I do not care for you. Please do not thinkI am still your loving friend.The girl's father read the letter. He was pleased, and then gave the letter to his daughter. The girl read the letter and was very happy. The boy still loved her!Do you know why she was pleased? She and the boy had a secret way of writing to each other. She read only the first line of the letter, and then the third line, and then the fifth line, and so on, to the end of the letter.
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This text was taken from the book 'The Love Letter' by Collier-Macmillan English Readers
Comprehension - The Love Letter1. Did you think this was a love letter when you read it for the first time?2. Is this letter about a married couple?3. Why did they have to find a way to avoid the girl's father?4. Is it true that her father got very upset when he read the letter? What was his reaction?5. Do you think their secret way of writing is a good one? Why?
Por: English Plus English
Esta semana eu aprendi algumas regrinhas bem legais de Inglês, daquelas que a gente vê no primário para nunca mais esquecer a exemplo da regra do “m” antes do “b” e “p”, no caso do português. Veja uma delas:
i before e, except after c
Este é um artifício de memorização que ajuda o estudante a escrever corretamente certas palavras em Inglês. Ele mostra que em palavras onde o i e o e aparecem juntas, a ordem das duas letras é a seguinte ie, quando são precedidas de c a ordem deve ser ei.
Complicado?
Então veja os exemplos:- ie em palavras como siege, friend- ei em palavras como ceiling, receive.
Agora vamos para as exceções:- ie depois do c: science, sufficient, agencies, financier- ei
não precedidas de c: their, foreign, being, neither, weird, vein, seize.
Não entendeu?
Não se preocupe, se você viveu até hoje sem conhecer esta regra deve ser porque ela não é tão importante assim. ;-)
KISSES AND GREAT HUGS JUST 4 MY PUPILSSSSS!!!!! =***** XXXXX
