Lesson 2 Language and communication. Modal verbs: must, shall, should, will, would

Lesson 2

Language and communication.

Modal verbs: must, shall, should, will, would.

Read the text. Choose the best title.

1. Types of Syllables

2. Importance of Memo in Learning Languages

3. Language and Communication
Languages of Manitoba
Did you know there are over 100 languagesspoken in Manitoba? While English is the dominantlanguage of the province, the next most commonly heard languages are German, French, Tagalog, Ukrainian and Cree. Immigrants to the province bring their languages with them, enriching the linguistic make-up of Manitoba. When you listen to a language other than your native language, it often sounds as though it is spoken more quicklythan your own language. The words and music of the language sound foreign and unfamiliar. Somelanguages are spoken at a faster pace than others. For example, Spanish and Japanese sound as though they are spoken at breakneck speed.However, those who study languages say thatin fact, languages tend to convey information tolisteners at the same rate, even though the speed ofthe delivery of some languages sounds much faster than others. Scientists studied native languagespeakers of seven common languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarinand Spanish. They also studied a less commonlanguage, Vietnamese. One of the main things they discovered was that a language speed is determinedby how much meaning is packed into each syllable. The more information a language packs into a syllable, the fewer syllables have to be spoken in asecond to convey meaning. For example, the singlesyllable word “bliss” is full of meaning. On theother hand, the word “to” is not. A single syllable inthe midst of a longer word, such as the short “i” in merrily, has no independent meaning at all. Whenscientists listened to a minute of speech in all ofthe languages studied they found that each languageconveyed about the same amount of information inthat minute. They concluded that while Spaniards “sprint” and Chinese “stroll” when they speak, bothtell the same story in the same amount of time.In English, there’s growing concern that many people are speaking too quickly. Our fast-pacedlives mean we try to say more in less time. But is it working? Experts fear that fast speech meanslisteners comprehend less and less of what is said.As language learners, we need to remember that speaking fast is less important than speaking welland that one key to speaking well is listening well. In fact, eighty percent of what we learn comes fromlistening. That’s why we need to learn strategies tohelp us listen. We need to be prepared to politely ask speakers to slow down, repeat what they’ve said orclarify. Above all, we need lots and lots of practice!

(Source: www.gov.mb.ca/ctt/invest/busfacts/overviews/dlanguage.html)

 

Find the words in the text with the similar meaning.

1.    dangerous__________harmful

2.    decide_____________confession

3.    run _______________walk fast

4.    communicate_______conversation

5.    happiness___________joy

6.    make clear__________do it right

7.    walk _______________step aceeleration

8.    understand __________comprehension

9.    speed_______________expedition

     10.improve ______________________________

 

Modal verbs :must, shall, should, will, would

 

Must is the modal verb used to express obligation and necessity.

Affirmative I / you / he / she / it / we / they must

Negative I / you / he / she / it / we / they must not I / you / he / she / it / we / they mustn't

The fridge is empty. We must buy some food.

You mustn't tell anyone. It's a secret.

Interrogative

Must I / you / he / she / it / we / they ...?

Questions with must can be used in an emphatic way to express annoyance

Must they keep talking?

Must I really get up at five?

Q Must is used, in particular, to:

• express an obligation imposed by the speaker (You or felt personally as a duty (I must...).

You must tidy your room, it's a real mess.

I know I must tell the truth.

• give advice, strongly recommend  something .

You must read this book. It's such a gripping story.

You must visit the Louvre when you're in Paris.

• say that something is forbidden or strongly advise someone against doing something .

You mustn’t copy during the test.

You mustn't behave like that!

• make a logic assumption or deduction based on:

- present facts : m u s t + base form

It must be quite late. I can see it's getting dark .

They must be American. (I can tell by their accent)

 

Complete the sentences with must / mustn’t and the base form of the verbs in the box.

hold  walk     drive    cross   wear   wait

1 People ..................must drive.................. on the left in Brita in .

2 You ....................must ..walk.................................. the road at the zebra crossing .

3 You .............must .....cross........................................... on the grass .

4 People ...........must.......wait........................................... until the traffic lights are green before crossing .

5 Everybody .............must...wear............................................. a seat-belt when travelling by car.

6 You ............must......hold........................................... the steering wheel with only one hand.

 

Write recommendations or deductions using must or mustn’t.

1 Advise your friend to go and see the new bridge . It's fantastic !

You must go and see the new. bridge.. It's fantastic!.......................................................................

2 Make a deduction about a woman  outside a bank. She's in uniform and watching everyone.

She must be a. security, guard. because she's watching everyone  .............................

3 Advise your friend to go to the new street market.

You  .................................................................................................................................

4 Make a deduction about the time : lots of people are having lunch in the park …………………………………….

5 Advise someone not to park their car here - it's private……………………………..

6 Make a deduction about a man: he looks very much like the boy who is with him    …………………………

Modals: Shall /Should

Shall and should are modal verbs that are usually used to ask and give in structions , advice and suggestions .

Shall is used in questions with the pronouns of first person singular or plural:

Shall I / Shall we + base form of verb

It is used to:

• ask what needs doing, ask for instructions .

'Shall I take a bus?’ ‘Yes, a number 32.'

‘What shall I buy?’ ‘Get some cheese. '

• offer to do something that we think may be useful / helpful.

‘Are you cold? Shall I get you a pullover?' ‘No, thanks. I'm all right.'

‘Shall I close the door?' 'Yes, please do.'

• make suggestions .

'Where shall we go tonight?' 'Let's go to the pub.'

‘What time shall we meet? ’ ‘Let's meet at three o'clock.'

‘Shall we meet at the bus station?' ‘All right.'

In the previous examples , it is also possible to use should . This use is more common in spoken American English.

Should I take a bus ? /W h a t should I buy? / Should I close the door? / W here should we go tonight?

 

Should has got all forms .

 

Affirmative I / you / he / she / it / we / they / should I

Negative / you / he / she / it / we / they should not (shouldn't)

 

Interrogative Should I / you / he / she / it / we / they ...?

Negative questions Shouldn't I / you / he / she / it / we / they ...?

 

It is used to:

• give or ask for advice.

You should arrive earlier tomorrow if you want to get a better seat.

You shouldn't drink alcohol. It's bad for your health.

'Should I go for it?' ‘Yes, I think you should.'

• say what you believe is the right thing to do.

 

We should recycle glass and paper and we shouldn't waste water or electricity.

• make an assumption , i.e. say that something is probable based on the evidence.

He left a long time ago. He should be there by now.

Look at the map. It shouldn't be far.

 

Write questions using shall I ...?

1 Ask what time you should switch on the TV to watch the weather forecast.

what time shall  I switch on the TV to watch the weather forecast?..........

2 Ask what you should wear to go to the mountains .

3 Offer to help your friends shovel the snow.

4 Ask if you should close the window because it's cold and windy .

5 Offer to go to the supermarket to buy a product to defrost the car windows .

6 Ask where you should hang your wet coat.

 

Q Read the answers and write questions with shall. Use I or we and the words in the box.

Where  Which  How   Who

1.Which coat shall I wear  the  wooleп coat or the raincoat?..

Wear the  woolen coat not the rain coat.

2 (we)

You can get the bus home if it starts to rain.

You can ask Peter if you need to borrow an umbrella .

4 (w e ) ........................................................................................................

You can meet me outside the cinema .

5 (we)

You can have your party in the basement if it is too cold outside.

(I)..............................................................................................

Buy the red ones not the white ones.

(I)..............................................................................................

You can help Josh repair the window.

 

Modals: Would

W ill and would are modal verbs that are usually used to express willingness .Will is also used to express the future and would to express the conditional.

 

Affirmative I/ you / he / she / it / we / they will I / you / he / she / it / we / they / would

Negative I/ you / he / she / it / we / they w ill not (won't) I you / he / she / it / we / they would not (wouldn't)

 

Interrogative Will I/ you / he / she / it / we / they ...?   Would I / you / he / she / it / we / they ...?

Negative questions Won't 1 / you / he / she / it / we / they ...?   Wouldn't I / you / he / she / it / we / they ...?

 

 

 

Short answers

Yes, I / you / he / she / it / we / they will.

Yes, I/ you / he / she / it / we / they would.

No, I/ you / he / she / it / we / they won't.

No, I/ you / he / she / it / we / they wouldn't.

Will and Would(more formal) are used in questions in the second person to:

• invite someone to do something .

'W ill/W o u id y o u dance with me?' 'No, thanks.’

'Will you go to the cinema?' ‘Sure. We'd love to.'

• offer something (followed by have).

'Will you have some sweets?’ ‘Yes, please. / No, thanks.’

'What will you have with your tea? Biscuits or cake?

• make a request.

Will you read the instructions aloud, please?

Would you show me your passport, please?

W ill (present) and would (past) are also used to:

• express a firm intention nor promise .

'Will you marry me, darling?' 'Yes, I w ill!’

I will always be at your side.

• criticise people 's typical behaviour.

They will have their own way. They just won’t change their minds.

He just wouldn't listen to me.

Q Would is also used to express habits in the past. Its use is similar to that of used to.

When I lived in Galway, I would go for a swim in the ocean every day of the year, in any weather!

He would always arrive late for classes.

My classmate would always copy my homework.

 

Complete the questions with will followed by a verb in the box to invite your friends to do things with you.

visit   fly   go   come   watch   have

1Will.......... you .............go............ to the theatre with me, Steve?

2……will……… you .....................visit...........the art exhibition with me, Claire?

3 …Will………………….you .......watch.........................the football match at my house, Danny?

4- ........Will......................you ....have............................dinner at the Indian restaurant with us, Helen?

5…Will………………….. you ......come.......................to the fire work display with me and my cousins, Bill?

6 Will……………….... you .........fly.......................to Sardinia with my group of friends , Avril?

 

Write formal requests. Use Would...?

1show / ticket

Would you.show me your ticket, please?

2 give / credit card

3 wait in the queue

4 open / suitcase

5 fasten / seat-belt

6 sign / at the bottom of the form