INTERMEDIATE GRAMMAR IN USE

English Modals (part 1)

By: Br. Yulius Nahak

A. Polite requests and questions​

1. Polite requests with Would you Mind​

​Asking permission

(a) Would you mind if I opened the window?

Notice: Would you mind if I is followed by the simple past.

​​Sometimes, in informal spoken English, the simple present is used.

​(b) Would you mind if I close the door?

(c) Mind if I close the door?

​Notice:

• Would you mind if I can be shortened to Mind if I, as in (c).

• The typical response is "no" or "unh-uh," meaning "no." "Yes" means Yes, I mind.

​Asking Someone to Do Something

​(d) Would you mind opening the window?

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Notice: Would you mind is followed by the -ing form of a verb (a gerund).

​The meaning: I don't want to cause you any trouble, but would you please open the window?

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​TYPICAL RESPONSES: No. I'd be happy to. Not at all. I'd be glad to.

INFORMAL: "Sure" and "OK" are common but not logical.

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B.    Expressing necessity​

Expressing Necessity: Must, Have To, Have Got To​

​Must, Have To

(a) All applicants must take an entrance exam.

(b) All applicants have to take an entrance exam

​​Must and have to both express necessities.

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​(c) I'm looking for Sue. I have to talk to her about our lunch date tomorrow. I can't meet her for lunch because I have to go to a business meeting at 1 :00. Meaning: I need to do this, and I need to do that.

Have to is used more frequently in speech and writing than must.

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​Must, Have To

(d) Cell phones must be in your backpacks during class.

(e) Johnny, you must stay away from the stove. It is very hot.

(f) Do you have to leave?

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​Must is typically stronger than have to and indicates urgency.

​Must is usually found in rules (used by adults when talking to young children, as in e.)

Have to is commonly used in questions (as in f).

​Have Got To

(g) I have got to go now. I have a class in ten minutes.

(h) I have to go now. I have a class in ten minutes.​

​(i) I have got to go ("I've gotta go") now.

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​Have got to also expresses the idea of necessity: (g) and (h) have the same meaning.

Have got to is informal and is used primarily in spoken English. The usual pronunciation of got to is "gotta."

A.    Making suggestions​

Making Suggestions: Let's, Why Don't, Shall I/We​

​(a) Let's go to a movie.

​(b) Let's not go to a movie.

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Let's means I have a suggestion for us. It is followed by the simple form of a verb.

​Negative form: let's +not+ simple verb

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​(c) Why don't we go to a movie?

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Why don't is used primarily in spoken English to make a friendly suggestion.

​(d) Shall I open the window? Is that OK with you?

(e) Shall we leave at two? Is that OK.

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When shall is used in making a suggestion and asking another person if she/he agrees. The use of shall+ I/we is relatively formal and infrequent in American English.

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​(f) Let's go, shall we?

(g) Let's go, OK?

​Sometimes, shall we? is used as a tag question. More informally, OK

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D.    Expressing expectations​

Expectation: Be Supposed To/Should​

​(a) The game is supposed to begin at 10:00.

(b) The committee is supposed to vote by secret ballot.

​Be supposed to often expresses expectations about scheduled events.

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(c) I am supposed to go to the meeting. My boss told me that he wants me to attend.

​Be supposed to also expresses expectations about behaviour.

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​(e) The mail should be here soon. Should can also express expectation.