3. How to Use Modals

How to Use 'Let' and 'Make'LetSubject + let + object + bare infinitive (infinitive without 'to')

'Let' can mean 'allow' or 'give permission': David's motherlethim use her car. Our bossletus leave early.We can also use 'let' to mean 'allow' in the sense of 'make something possible': This student cardletsyou book discount flights. You can buy a pass whichletsyou visit all the art galleries more cheaply.Let's + infinitiveis often used to make a suggestion: Let'sgo to the cinema tonight. Let'sget some coffee.(Although 'let's' is a contraction of 'let us', we don't use 'let us' in this situation). We don't use 'let' in the passive.MakeSubject + make + object + bare infinitive (infinitive without 'to')

'Make' can mean 'force someone to do something that he or she doesn't want to do': His mothermadehim clean his room. The teachermadeus study very hard.It can also be used to mean 'cause someone to do something' (the thing can be good or bad): That filmmademe cry. My brother oftenmakesme laugh.If we use 'make' in the passive, we use the infinitive with 'to' instead of the bare infinitive: She wasmade towork on Saturday, even though she hated working at weekends.We can also use subject + make + object + adjective. This means 'cause the object to be the adjective' (the adjective can be good or bad): Her storymademe really happy. The traffic jammadeus late.Choosing 'let' or 'make'Remember, we use 'let' when we mean 'allow'. It's usually something the person wants to do: My bossletme leave early (I wanted to leave early, and the boss gave me permission).We use 'make' when we mean 'force' or 'cause'. It's often something the person doesn't want to do: My bossmademe stay late (I didn't want to stay, but I had to).When 'make' means 'cause' it can be something good or bad: My brothermademe laughLaughing is a good thing, BUT laughing isn't something I wanted to do that my brother gave me permission for. Instead it's something that he caused.

We can only use 'make + object + adjective'. We can't use 'let' in this way.

Modal Verbs And Their Meaning

What are modal verbs?Modals (also calledmodal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs,modal auxiliaries) are special verbs which behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like "work, play, visit..." They are used to indicate modality. They give additional information about thefunctionof the main verb that follows it. They have a great variety ofcommunicative functions.Use of modal verbs:Modal verbs are used to express functions such as:1. Permission2. Ability3. Obligation4. Prohibition5. Lack of necessity6. Advice7. possibility8. probabilityRememberModal verbs are followed by an infinitive without "to"Examples: Youmust stopwhen the traffic lights turn red Youshould seeto the doctor There are a lot of tomatoes in the fridge. Youneed not buyany.Exception: You oughttogo to the doctorA list of modalsHere is a list of modals:Modal VerbMeaningExpressingExample

mustto have to100 % obligationI must stop when the traffic lights turn red.

to be very probablelogical conclusion (deduction)He must be very tired after such enormous work

must notnot to be allowed toprohibitionYou must not smoke in the hospital.

canto be able toabilityI can swim

to be allowed topermissionCan I use your phone please?

it is possiblepossibilitySmoking can cause cancer !

couldto be able toability in the pastWhen I was younger I could stay up all night and not get tired..

to be allowed tomore polite permissionExcuse me, could I just say something?

it is possiblepossibilityIt could rain tomorrow!

mayto be allowed topermissionMay I use your phone please?

it is possible, probablepossibility, probabilityIt may rain tomorrow!

mightto be allowed tomore polite permissionMight I use your phone please?

it is possible, probableweak possibility, probabilityI might come and visit you in America next year, if I can save enough money.

neednecessarynecessityNeed I say more?

need notnot necessarylack of necessity/absence of obligationI need not buy any tomatoes. There are plenty in the fridge.

should/ought toused to say or ask what is the correct or best thing to do50 % obligationI should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache.

to suggest an action or to show that it is necessaryadviceYou should / ought to revise your lessons

to be very probablelogical conclusion (deduction)He should / ought to be very tired after such enormous work

had betterto suggest an action or to show that it is necessaryadviceYou 'd better revise your lessons

Exercise on modals.

Grammar Exercise - Modals

Do the exercise on modal verbs and click on the button to check your answers(Before doing the exercises you may want to read the lesson on modal verbs )

Choose the right modal verb

1. There is plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. You-------------------- buy any.2. It's a hospital. You ------------------- smoke.3. He had been working for more than 11 hours. He --------------- be tired after such hard work. He----------------------- prefer to get some rest.4. I ----------------------- speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Morocco. But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I ---------------------------- just say a few things in the language.5. The teacher said we---------------------- read this book for our own pleasure as it is optional. But we------------------------- read it if we don't want to.6. ------------------------you stand on your head for more than a minute? No, I ----- .7. If you want to learn to speak English fluently, you ----------------- to work hard.8. Take an umbrella. It ----------------- rain later.9. You leave small objects lying around . Such objects -------------- be swallowed by children.10. People ----------------------- walk on grass.11. Drivers----------------------------- stop when the traffic lights are red.12. ----------------------- I ask a question? Yes, of course.13. You ----------------------- take your umbrella. It is not raining.14. -----------------you speak Italian? No, I ----------------------- .

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-modals.php

Final del formularioGrammar Exercise - Modals

Do the exercise onmodal verbsand click on the button to check your answers(Before doing the exercises you may want to read the lesson onmodal verbs)

Choose the right modal verb1. There is plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. Youneedn't buy any.2. It's a hospital. Youmustn'tsmoke.3. He had been working for more than 11 hours. Hemustbe tired after such haed work. Hemayprefer to get some rest.4. Icouldspeak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Morocco. But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, Icanjust say a few things in the language.5. The teacher said wecan read this book for our own pleasure as it is optional. But wecanread it if we don't want to.6. Canyou stand on your head for more than a minute? No, Ican't.7. If you want to learn to speak English fluently, youneedto work hard. .8. Take an umbrella. Itmightrain later.9. Youshouldn'tleave small objects lying around . Such objectsmaybe swallowed by children.10. Peoplemustn'twalk on grass.11. Driversmuststop when the traffic lights are red.12. MayI ask a question? Yes, of course.13. Youneedn'ttake your umbrella. It is not raining.14. Canyou speak Italian? No, Ican't.Principio del formulario