Modal Verbs

Can you put this parcel on the table, please? May I ask you a question about this job, sir?

Would you mind sitting on that chair?

Could you pass the salt, please? Can my friend stay here too?

May I wait in the corridor outside?

SECTION 3 laking an offer to help (using will, would, shall, can, could) Study the dialogues below.

Rina

I want to take this bag with me.

Chhabi: I will (can) carry it for you.

Rina Oh, thanks.

Tarak: Imust leave now.

Puma Shall (Can) I get a taxi for you?

Tarak Yes, please.

Host: Would you like some more chicken?

Guest:

Yes, please. Thank you.

Pinaki: (to his friend's friend) Could I buy the tickets for you?

Friend's friend:

Will, shall and can are used, in informal English, to offer help to someone. Will and shall are

Thank you very much.

IR

d.

Commonly abbreviated to 'll (I'll, We'll, etc.). Will is used only in statements (e.g. I'll carry your bag), but shall and can are used in questions as well as statements (e.g. Shall I carry your bag? Can I carry your bag? or I shall carry your bag/l can carry your bag.) Could and would are used, in questions as well as statements, to offer help, in more form

situations. (e.g., Could I carry your bag? I could carry your bag./ Would you like me to carry your bag? I would be happy to carry your bag, etc.) Activity 7: Make offers to suit the following situations.

a.

Your friend accidentally drops his pen on the floor.

Modal Verbs

SECTION 9

Making a deduction (using must have/can't have) Look at the following example:

The old man has not had anything to eat for the last two days. He must be starving

Must is used here to make a deduction that is, to come to a logical conclusion on the basis of

the evidence which is he/she says is correct.

The use of must have and can't have shows that the speaker has made a deduction about

something that happened in the past. For example:

available. The use of must shows that the speaker is quite sure that what Can't is the negative counterpart of must. The use of can't, in this case, shows that the speaker is very sure about some negative conclusion which he/she has reached.

1

Ramesh has done very well in the examination. He must have worked really hard. The library was closed all day yesterday. You can't have been there yesterday. 2 Activity 24: Answer the questions in Column A, using must or can't, and choosing a suitable

reason from Column B. (One answer has been provided.)

A

1.

Is she ill?

B

1.

He has just got a job.

2. Are they awake?

3. Is he happy?

2.

3. They play tricks on everyone.

He charged more than the price.

4. Is he a Bengali?

She has gone swimming

Is the shop keeper honest?

Are these boys naughty?

5. She is too young. 6. Their bedroom lights are of

5.

6

Is she married?

7.

He speaks Telugu.

ME

GE

3-2

7. Example: 1. (She can't be ill. She has gone swimming.