III. DESCRIPTIVE/INTERPRETIVE FUNCTION OF MODALS: DESCRIPTIONS FROM THE SPEAKER'S POINT OF VIEW (OPINION)
3. Introduction to Modals of Probability (Predictions or Certainty)
3.4 Using Modals of Probability in the Present, Past and Future
3.4.1 Probability in the Present: Modal + Verb BE + Modifier
Modals of probability in the present take the following form:
modal + verb BE + modifier
Weaker Probability
• Could be: It could be raining on the other side of the city. I see dark clouds there.
• Might be: The animal that is outside of our tent might be a bear. It is making heavy breathing sounds.
Medium Probability
• Should be: They should be here already. They left an hour ago.
Strong Probability
• Must be/has to be:
◦ She must be tired after working twelve hours today. (tired=participle)
◦ He has to be excited about his job.
• Must not be (mustn't be for speaking): He must not be feeling well. He seems to have very low energy today.
• Can't be: That can't be the right package. It should be much bigger.
• Will be: They will be back from Brazil on Thursday.
Exercise 1: The following paragraph uses modals of probability in the present.
Part A: Write the present modals of probability in the following paragraph (could be, might be, should be, will be, must be, can't be, may be, must have).
A: I wonder why Abel hasn't sent out his graduation invitations yet.
B: Well, I heard that he had to cut back his class load last semester because he needed a job. It might be that he will not graduate this spring. I heard that he needed to get a job to pay for his classes.
A: That might be true, but he didn't need that many credits to finish his degree. He also told me that he will be finished soon. It may be that he is just so busy that he didn't have time to send out the invitations yet.
B: Yes, but he should be finished with his classes already. Besides, the graduation is next week.
A: Well, it can't be that he is not inviting us. After all, we are good friends with him.
B: He does have a very poor memory. I wonder how he got through university. He has also been very busy lately. I can't think of any other reason for not sending them. He must have forgotten to send them. I'll call him to see if we are invited.
Exercise 1B: Now, in the space after the modal form, indicate whether the modal has weak, medium, or strong probability.
w = weak, m = medium, s = strong. Nhập câu trả lời vào ô trống.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with a modal form using the different probabilities for a certain level of probability (weak, medium, strong).
Use the context of the sentence to decide whether a weak, medium, or strong modal should be used for that situation.
weak: could be, might be
medium: should be
strong: must be/must not be, has to be, can't be, will be
1. It might be (1) that he will not graduate this spring.
2. He also told me that he will be finished (2) soon.
3. It could be (3) that maybe he is just so busy that he didn't have time to send out the invitations yet.
4. Yes, but he should be finished (4) with his classes already.
5. Well, it can't be (5) that he is not inviting us.
6. He must have forgotten (6) to send them.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with a modal form using the different probabilities for a certain level of probability (weak, medium, strong).
7. I have heard different things from different people, but I think that Darko sick.
8. Is that the person we were supposed to meet here? He told us that he is quite short, with dark eyes, a beard, and long hair. This person has dark eyes, a beard, and long hair, but he is quite tall. It be him.
9. She here by now. Her train was supposed to arrive at 1:30 p.m.
10. The time that they told us to be here the right time. We have already waited 30 minutes for them.
11. At the airport . . .
A: That the taxi that we called. It seems like the driver is looking for someone, but there are other people waiting here.
B: True, but we called a taxi 30 minutes ago, and these other people just arrived at the waiting area for the taxi. That our taxi.
12. You exhausted. How long were you driving to get here? Wasn't it fifteen hours?
13. Oh, my package has arrived. It the new coat that I ordered last week.
14. Oh no! I missed my bus, and my appointment starts in 15 minutes. I had better call the doctor's office and tell them that I late.
Exercise 3: Finish the sentence or write another sentence to make predictions about the following using the different probabilities that are indicated.
Nhập câu trả lời vào ô trống.
15. My phone isn't working. (must be)
Trả lời:
16. My friend hasn't texted me for three days. (might be)
Trả lời:
17. The bus is late. (should be)
Trả lời:
18. It is supposed to snow tomorrow. (will be)
Trả lời:
19. No one has called about the table I have for sale. (must not be)
Trả lời:
20. The weather forecast said that (should be)
Trả lời:
21. Write your own sentences using the following modals:
a. (could be)
b. (must not be)
c. (will be)
| 
Bình luận