2.2. CAN, COULD, MAY, WOULD
2.2.1. Study the following notes and examples.
May, like can, denotes possibility.
You may find his number in the telephone book. May, can and could are used to request permission. Can is used informally to request permission, especially if the speaker is talking to someone she/he knows fairly well. It is usually not considered as polite as may or could, which are equally polite. Would (you) is also used to express a polite request. The difference between Would (you) and Could (you) is slight.
Would you ~ Do you want to do this, please? Could you = Do you want to do this, please, and is it possible for you to do this? Would also expresses an offer.
Would you like an ice-cream? Can (could) you do me a favour?
Can (could) you tell me the way to the nearest post-office?
Can (could, may) I use your phone? Can (could, may) I borrow your dictionary?'- Yes, of course. (Certainly)
Can (may) I keep the dictionary till Monday?- No, you may not. (I am afraid not) Would you like a cup oj coffee? Would you pass me the salt, please?
2.2.2. Turn instructions into polite requests.
1. Give me your full name.
2. I can't hear you very well. Speak up.
3. Give me a little more time.
4. Tell me when you are ready.
5. Do the shopping on your way home.
6. Tell them that I called.
7. Give me some advice about buying a computer.
8. Wait here for just a minute.
9. Finish the work by yourself.
2.2.3. Complete the situation asking people to do something, asking for permission to do something or offering something.
1. The person in the next room has some music on very loud. How do you ask him politely to turn it down? (...?)
2. You are at a friend's. You want to make a phone call. (...?)
3. You need a clean sheet of paper. The student sitting next to you has got one. (...?)
4. Your neighbour is going out for a walk. You want to ask her to post a letter. (...?)
5. A friend of yours has dropped in for a chat. You offer her some tea or coffee. (...?)
6 You are carrying a tray. Ask someone to open the door for you. (...?)
7 Your teacher has just explained a new grammar rule. You want to ask her a question. (...?)
8 A friend from another city phones to tell you she will be coming to your town for two weeks next month. You want her to stay with you.
2.3. MUST, HAVE TO, TO BE TO
2.3.1. Study the following notes and examples.
Must and have to both express necessity or obligation. Must is usually stronger than have to and can indicate urgency. On the other hand, must is used to express necessity from the speaker's point of view while have to expresses necessity imposed by circumstances and is rendered into Russian as приходится, вынужден.
I must write to Ann. I haven't written to her for ages. Ann's eyes are not very good. She has to wear
glasses.
In negative sentences to have to denotes absence of necessity. It's my day off so I didn 't have to get up early.
To be to is used to express obligation resulting from an arrangement. (We are to discuss it next week).
You work too much. You must have a rest. You mustn't smoke here. It's a non-smoking compartment.
I had to take a taxi to be in time for the appointment. I didn't have to walk. A friend of mine gave me a lift. Did you have to change trains? You don't have to stay late. The work isn 't urgent. We are to sign the contract on Tuesday.
2.3.2. Complete the sentences with the modal verbs must have to or to be to in the correct form.
1. We ... leave yet. We've got plenty of time. 2. She seems to be in trouble. We ... help her. 3. Our luggage is very heavy. We ... take a porter. 4. When you come to London again, you ... come and see us. 5. The child hasn't recovered yet. It... stay in bed for another day. 6. They have a lot of work at the office so she ... work on Saturdays. 7. You ... tell it to anyone. It's a secret. 8. He is very rich so he ... earn his living. 9. Come on. We ... be late. 10. These old houses... be pulled down in a few months. 11. The conference ... open in a few days. 12. You really ... make less noise. I'm trying to concentrate. 13. My brother is a milkman. He ... get up very early. 14. The doctor says you ... take these tablets three times a day. 15. Mother is away so we ... look after ourselves. 16. The car broke down so we ... walk. 17. Soldiers ... disobey a superior officer. 18. How often you ... buy petrol for the car? 19.1... speak Italian very much since I came to Rome. Everyone keeps talking to me in English. 20. Your temperature is a little high. You ... stay in bed for the next few days. 21. When a fire broke everyone ... leave the building. 22. At present there is disagreement over how children ... be taught to be polite. 23. They ... announce the winners on April 12th. It's scheduled. 24. Т simply ... have a holiday', said Jean. Т haven't had one for three years'. 25. I'm getting fat. I really ... try to lose some weight, like the doctor said.
2.4. MUSTN'T AND NEEDN'T
2.4.1. Study the following examples.
The baby is asleep. You mustn 't shout.
You needn't say anything if you don't want to.
I can hear you quite well. You needn 't shout. Must I return the books today? - No, you needn't. You can do it tomorrow.
Must I return the books today? - Yes, you must. He has left the army and doesn 't need to wear a uniform any more.
Note: Must not is used to express prohibition (Do not do this!)- Need not + the simple form of a verb is used to express lack of necessity.
2.4.2. Complete the sentences with mustn't or needn't.
1. I've bought everything, so you ... go shopping. 2. She has recovered and ... stay in bed. 3. Tom gave me a letter to post. I... forget to post it. 4. Shall I turn on the light? - No, you .... It's still light in the room. 5. The work isn't urgent. You ... do it today. 6. Must he speak to the manager? - No, he.... The matter isn't very urgent. 7. The meeting is very important. We ... be late. 8. You ... take an umbrella. It isn't going to rain. 9. Look after the books, please. You ... lose them, 10.1... forget my keys or I won't get in. 11. You ... bring sandwiches. We can stop at a cafe. 12. You ... wear your best clothes. You can wear what you like. 13. You ... make any noise going into the house. It's very late and everybody's asleep. 14. My room is a mess, but I... clean it before I go out tonight. I can do it in the morning. 15. Bill is in the darkroom developing the negatives of the photos he took on his last trip to Pern. You ... open the door because the light will ruin the pictures. 16. You ... exert yourself. You're still not fully recovered from your surgery. 17. Thanks goodness we ... eat fish again tonight. Dad didn't catch any today. 18. He has retired. He ... work any more. 19. We ... check the figures again. I think they are right. 20. In this