Hello, my dear friends! Welcome to Series English!
My name is Antonia Romaker
and today we are going to talk about modal verbs.
Actually we are going to touch upon an unusual function
of modal verbs, when we talk about
different degrees of certainty.
For example when we are 100% sure that something is true,
we are positive,
or when we are not that sure that it is true,
so we think it's possible,
and number three, when we are 100% sure
that it is not true.
So here we are going to deal with several modal verbs,
including 'must', 'may' and 'can't.
They symbolize these three positions:
100% sure it's true,
possible or 100% sure it's not true.
Sp these are two extremes.
And 'may' is somewhere in the middle,
when you think that something is possible.
So let's get cracking and we are going to start with the first position,
when we are 100% sure
or 100% positive that something is true.
In this case we use the modal verb 'must'.
And most frequently after this verb we will see the verb 'be'
without the particle 'to' of course,
because these are modal verbs we are dealing with.
So let's take a look at a couple of examples.
Let's imagine a situation, there's a girl,
who fancies her colleague, she likes him a lot,
but she can't seem to express her feelings,
she's too shy.
And then a woman comes to this colleague.
They are together, they are chatting, smiling, laughing.
Ad this girl who fancies that man thinks:
'This must be his sister.'
Not his wife, not his girlfriend, no.
She wants to be sure that this is his sister.
Because she doesn't want him to be married or in a relationship.
She wants to be wit him.
So she makes herself feel sure that this it his sister,
She thinks or says to somebody:
This must be his sister, right?
Two more examples. You must be right.
Very simple. I am sure that you are right.
And I say: 'You must be right.'
It must be true.
Once again I am positive that something is true
an I say: 'It must be true.'
Now we continue and move on to the second position,
when we think that something is possible.
In this case we use 'may', 'might' or 'could'.
'Can' is also possible.
So actually we have four variants here
and they are all more or less the same.
This could be his sister.
Now do you see the difference?
'This must be his sister' and 'This could be his sister'
Actually she's not so sure now.
For examples she sees these two people kissing
on the cheek or probably not, hugging
and she's not that sure anymore,
so she says: 'This could be his sister'.
It still could be his sister.
So we can say 'This may be his sister',
'This might b his sister',
'This can be his sister'.
All variants are possible.
You my be right. Once again I am not that sure,
but I think it's possible. You may be right.
You might be right. You can be right.
You could b right.
This book might help you, try it.
So I suggest reading this book
but I can't be sure whether it's going to help you or not.
But I think it could, so I say:
This book might help you, try it.
And thirdly we are going to consider the situation,
when we are 100% sure that something is not true.
In this case, as I have already pointed out,
we are going to use the modal verb 'can'
in the negative firm, so - can't.
This can't be his sister.
So now she's sure that this girl is not his sister,
they are kissing, they are French-kissing.
So this can't be his sister.
I'm sure that she's not his sister
This can't be a very expensive dress.
It looks rather cheap.
Once again you are sure that the dress costs
not that much money.
So because it looks raggedy.
It doesn't look very well.
For example you can also say:
This dress can't be very expensive.
It looks rather cheap.
We are sure that something is not true.
Now we are going to look at two very interesting constructions
in which these modal verbs in these meanings
can be used. Let's take a look.
The first formula I wanted to take a look at
is when we deal with continuous action.
So when we think that something is true or not,
or something is possible and it is a continuous action.
So we use a modal verb -
must, may, might, could, can't -
then the verb 'be',
and the full verb with the ending -ing.
This part of the formula does look like present continuous formula, right?
And we are dealing with a continuous action in present.
Let's take a look at a couple of examples.
Frank must be having lunch now.
So for example I can't reach him.
And I conclude that he must b having lunch now.
So right now he is in process
of having lunch and I'm sure if that,
100% positive.
She might be driving at the moment.
I'm calling my friend and she doesn't pick up.
Why? Why doesn't she pick up?
Well, she might be driving at the moment.
She can't pick up.
I'm not sure but I think it's possible.
One of the variants.
They can't be sleeping, it's noon.
I'm sure that they are not sleeping,
because it's twelve o'clock.
It's time to wake up.
They can't be sleeping, it's noon.
So once again: a modal verb plus present continuous.
But notice that we use the verb 'be' in its initial form.
And we have a continuous action
and we express a degree of certainty.
The second formula is used when we talk about past events.
In the past.
Here we use a modal verb,
then the auxiliary verb 'have'
and the full verb with the ending -ed
or in its third form, if it's an irregular verb.
Does this formula ring any bell?
It looks like present perfect, right?
However the verb 'have' once again
is in its initial form.
So a modal verb plus a perfect infinitive - that's the formula.
And we use it to talk about things,
to talk about different degrees of certainty
abo... well, connected with some past events.
Mike must have left his keys in he car.
So he doesn't have his keys right now,
he can't find them.
And I'm almost sure that he left them in hi car
that's why I say 'Mike must have left his keys in the car'.
It happened before, in the past.
Now he doesn't have his keys.
They could have forgotten about the party.
Let's imagine a situation that we are at a party
and we are waiting for our friends, who don't show up.
We are surprised. What's wrong? And then we realize:
They could have forgotten about the party.
Probably they forgot about it
and that's why they didn't show up.
And now take a look at the examples I found in TV shows.
OK, that's basically it,
if you have any question, feel free to write to me,
write a comment, I will try to answer as soon as possible.
But that's it for today.
I hope that now you have a better understanding of this topic.
And I hope that you are going to continue studying English with me.
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And I hope to see you soon!
Happy English and Russian practice! Bye-bye!