How to teach and learn a Grammar communicatively: Unit 1 Modals Theory and Practice

 Learning or Teaching a Communicative Grammar

Unit 1 Modals: Can/could, will/would, should

Learning or teaching modals is not just the meaning of the words but also the function. We should remember that the meaning and the functions of grammar, like “modal” sometimes have different meaning, the use of the modals "can, could, will or would". For the examples:

a. Modals: will/could, can/could/

1. Can/be able to =  ability

These modals express your ability to do something and you can substitute the expression ‘be able to’ for ‘can’ or ‘could’. 

• I can’t read this, I never learned Spanish.
•  I can speak english.  
• You can  swim  well     
• Susi can play badminton well.
• I couldn’t tell him because he was out of the office.
• I won’t be able to attend the meeting as I’ll be on vacation.

2. Can, could, would =  Offers

Can I…?  the meaning of "can" in this sentece is giving an offer, but  for a more polite offers,  we can use  Could you…? / Would you like…? Example:

• Can I help you carry your bags?
• Could you help the old woman 
• Would you like to join us for a drink?

3.Could/would = Requests 

    Can I…? / Could I…? / Can you…? / Would you…? / Could you…?

    For examples:

• Could I borrow your tablet for a moment?
• Could you dance with me  at Susi's bithday party?
• Would you explain the procedure to me, please?

3.  Could/would = Polite suggestions

      You could…/ we could… / I think we should…

• You could take a shuttle bus to the airport – it’s less expensive.
• I think we should postpone the meeting.

4. Can/May = Permission 

    Can I…? / May I…? / You can / you may

• Can I / May I leave the meeting early?
• Yes, you can.
• Can I borrow your phone?

b. Should = advice 

The modal ‘should’ is the most common for giving advice and recommendations. 

• You should talk to your manager if there’s a problem.
• You shouldn’t interrupt him while his making his presentation.

c.   Must, have to = Obligation 

     , The models of " must/have to can be used for obligation. However, ‘must’ cannot be conjugated 

     in the past and future, so it only has a present or near future meaning.

• You must pay your taxes before April 15th.
• You have to save the data before you close the application.

 “Must” in the past and the future

Must can't be used in the past and future situaion, but the form of past and future iare "had to and will have to" as instead of. Examples:

• I had to leave the meeting early because it was starting to snow.
• I will have to see him when he gets back.
• He has had to move three times in the past 6 months.

d. May, might, could, may not, might not, must, can’t =Possibility /speculation 

We use these modals to express the idea of possibility or to speculate about something that’s happening or has happened.

• We could have problems with the new strategy. (We don’t know for sure.)
• We might not obtain the contract. (It’s possible, but we aren’t sure.)
• There may be a strike next week. (There’s a possibility, but it’s not sure.)
• There’s a lot of noise in the next office. They must be having a party. (We suppose there’s a party.)
• There’s a charge of $70 000 for one computer on this invoice! It can’t be right! (We suppose there’s a mistake.)

e. may, might, must, can’t, couldn’t + have done, have been done or have been doing peculation 

    in the pas 

• She bought the shares when they were inexpensive and sold them at their highest value, so she must have made a lot of money. (We suppose she made money at that time.)
• I don’t know why Mr. Brandon wasn’t at the meeting. He might have been delayed in traffic. (We suppose he had a problem at that time.)
• You couldn’t have seen Ms. Jamison at the concert, because she was out of town at the time. (It wasn’t possible that you saw her at that time.)