Should

January 27, 2014 by Bret Tutor

Should

There are various uses of the modal auxiliary verb should. Here are the main uses of the modal verb should:

Talk about probability, mild obligations, and expectations
In conditionals when replacing would
To replace the subjunctive structure
When giving advice or make a recommendation

Structure Of Should

The sentence structure for using should is:
subject + should + main verb

Do not use to with the main verb when using should. It is always the bare infinitive so this sentence is incorrect “I should to help my mom”. The sentence “I should help my mom” is correct. Also, should is never conjugated.

	subject	auxiliary verb	main verb
+	We	should	leave.
–	She	should not	dance.
	He	shouldn’t	sing.
?	Should(auxiliary verb)	we(subject)	eat?

It’s important to keep in mind that there is only one form of should. As mentioned above, the main verb is always the bare infinitive. Also, while the negative should not can be shortened to shouldn’t, but there is no short form of should.

Opinions and Advice

Should is frequently used when giving advice or offering opinions. You are not telling the person that they have to do what you are saying or that they must do what you are saying. Here are a few examples:

You should pay more attention to what the teacher says.
You should try those shoes on.
You should try some pasta! It’s delicious!
What should I read today?
We should have a dance party.
There should be more books like that.

Obligations, Duty, and Correctness

Another use of should is to indicate obligation or duty. It is also used to correct someone or to criticize them for their actions or habits.

You should be helping your mother. (obligation)
I should arrive at work on time. (duty)
Billy shouldn’t have said that to her. (correctness)
We should take your brother with you. (obligation)
Tim should fix the work truck. (duty)
She shouldn’t try to tell me what to do. (correctness)

Probability and Expectations

Should can also be used to show when we think something is probable or likely to happen. We expect it based on things we know from the past or due to instincts.

The plane should be landing soon.
It shouldn’t be so difficult to accomplish.
They should have arrived by now.

Should With Conditionals

It is also acceptable to use should instead of would. This is used for the first person singular and first person plural for some conditionals.

If I run laps, I should lose weight.
If she studied more, she should pass her test.
We should be ok, if you can stop by to help us.

Should To Replace Subjunctive

There is a special verb form called the subjunctive that we can use while talking about things that somebody wants, hopes, or imagines will happen. This is more common with British English speakers, and not with English speakers from the US.
Look at the American English example below:

My mother insists that I come home for the holidays.

Here is the same sentence, but as a British English speaker would probably say it:

My mother insists that I should come home for the holidays.

Subjunctive – American English	Using should – British English
My teacher insisted that Jane do extra credit.	My teacher insisted that Jane should do extra credit.
We recommend that you ask her.	We recommend that you should ask her.
It is imperative that this is taken care of today.	It is imperative that this should be taken care of today.

Should Disagreement Not Understanding

We use why should if there is something that we don’t understand or that agree with.

Why should speeding be illegal?
Why should I have to work late again?

Should Anger And Irritation

If you are becoming irritated, annoyed or angry you can use why should. How should is also used but typically the response is why should. Here are a few examples:

Why should I have to listen to her?
Why should I go to school when I am sick?
How should she know what to do when you never explained it to her?
How should I have known that the car would break down?

[slickquiz id=42]

Modals of Obligation and Prohibition

January 21, 2014 by Bret Tutor

Modals of Obligation and Prohibition

Have To

When we are talking about obligations we usually use the words have to. This is how we indicate that you have a duty or obligation based on work, family, rules or laws and other factors. Here are a few examples of have to used for obligation:

I have to pay my bills.
I had to go to my mother’s house to see her.
I had to work overtime this week.
I will have to pick up my brother after school.

Have To Structure

It is common for English learners to think of have to as a modal auxiliary verb. However, it is not a modal verb, or even an auxiliary verb. Keep in mind that have to is a main verb used in the infinitive. It has been added to this lesson to help clear up any confusion. Here is the structure:
subject + auxiliary verb + have + infinitive (with to)

Here are some examples of have to:

	subject	auxiliary verb	main verb have	infinitive (with to)
+	He		has	to sing	the song.
–	I	do not	have	to visit	today.
?	Did (auxiliary verb)	she (subject)	have	to go	home?

Have To Usage

When you use the phrase have to, usually it is because there is an external power forcing the obligation. This external power could be many things such as the law, school rules, social etiquette, etc.. Here are examples of how to use have to:

In football, you have to wear a helmet.
In this game, you have to roll the dice.
He has to stop at the stop sign.

Did you notice something similar in the examples above? The obligation was never the subject’s opinion or idea. Instead, the obligation is from an outside source. Here are more examples of have to:

	subject	auxiliary verb	main verb have	infinitive
past simple	She		had	to cook	last week.
present simple	We		have	to study	now.
future simple	I	will	have	to drive	next week.
present continuous	He	is	having	to wait	until 5pm.
present perfect	We	have	had	to walk	to class.
modal (will)	They	will	have	to work	today.

Must

When something is essential or absolutely necessary, we use the term must. This is an obligation that cannot be avoided. Here are a few examples of must:

I must fix the leak in the roof before the next rain storm.
She must take her dog to the veterinarian.
He must stop drinking or he might die.

Must Structure

Must is a modal auxiliary verb and is followed by a main verb. Here is the structure:
subject + must + main verb
Here are a few examples:

subject	auxiliary must	main verb
I	must	leave	now.
You	must	stop	her.
We	must	eat	soon.

How To Use Must

When we use the word must instead of have to, it is because we are expressing a personal obligation. It is not due to a law, your school or work, as a few examples. The speaker feels that it is necessary for them to do to perform the task.

He feels that he must get a better job.
We must sell our house.
I must fix the car.

In the examples above the obligation is the opinion or idea of the person speaking. It is not an obligation imposed from the outside. It is possible to use must for a real, externally forced obligation, but generally we use have to instead.

I have to stop working so much.
I must stop working so much.

In many cases people interchange must and have to. It can be confusing so just remember these other rules for using must and have to:

We can use must to talk about the present or future.

We must leave now. (present)
You must go to the park next week. (future)

Must can never be used to talk about the past. If you want to talk about the past, use had to.

I had to take my mom to the doctor.
She knew that she had to lose weight.

Must Not

Must not is used when something is not allowed or permitted. This is used in cases where there are rules or laws in society, which make it similar to uses for have to. The difference is there is not a negative for have to.

We must not drive over the speed limit.
She knows that she must not steal candy.

If have to was used for the examples above they would look like these:

We have to drive under the speed limit.
She knows that she has to pay for the candy.

Must Not(Mustn’t) Structure

Must is an auxiliary verb that is followed by a main verb. Here is the structure:
subject + must not + main verb
The main verb is the base verb (infinitive without “to”).

subject	auxiliary must + not	main verb
I	mustn’t	fight	her.
You	mustn’t	leave	tonight.
Doctors	must not	make	mistakes.

Like all auxiliary verbs, must cannot be followed by to. So, we say “You mustn’t arrive late” rather than “You mustn’t to arrive late.”

Must Not Usage

Must not is used when talking about things that are not allowed. They are prohibited and forbidden due to either real laws, regulations or personal obligations. If it is the opinion of the speaker it is considered subjective. If it is due to an external factor such as a rule, law or regulation, it is objective.
Here are a few examples of must not:

Teachers mustn’t spank children. (objective)
You mustn’t eat so much sugar. (subjective)
You must not loiter here. (objective)
She must not stay up so late. (subjective)

We can use must not to talk about the present or the future:

You must not drive over the speed limit. (present)
I must not go there next week. (future)

Must not cannot be used to talk about the past if talking about permission, obligations or similar uses. There are different words to do that. Here are a few examples:

She could not play in the game.
I was not allowed to stay out late.

Must not is still used to talk about things in the past but in a different way. It is used to talk about something that did not happen or occur. It is the negative form of must have used to talk about events in the past. Here are a few examples:

She must not have walked the dog.
I must not have turned off the lights.

[slickquiz id=40]

Would

January 21, 2014 by Bret Tutor

Would

What would you like written on this billboard?
Would is a modal auxiliary verb that we use mainly when talking about the past, talking about the future in the past, or used in conditionals. Those are the main uses of would. Would is also used when expressing desires, opinions, hope, or making polite requests.

Would – The Structure

The structure for using the modal verb would is:

subject + would + main verb

Do not use to with the main verb when using would. It is always the bare infinitive so this sentence is incorrect “I would to eat pizza”. The sentence “I would like to eat pizza” is correct. Also, would is never conjugated.

	subject	auxiliary verb	main verb
+	We	would	want	more time.
	We	would	buy	one of them.
–	She	would not	like	it here.
	She	would not	want	for that.
?	Would(auxiliary verb)	you(subject)	open	the window?

Would – Usage

We use would as a type of past tense of will or going to. It is common to use this form when using reported speech. Here are a few examples of the modal verb would:

He said he would be right back. (“I will be right back.”)
The weatherman said it would be warm out. (“It will be warm out.”)
Didn’t you study? I told you there would be a test! (“There is going to be a test.”)

Use would not when talking about refusals in the past:

The dog would not go outside in the rain.
She would not quit staying up late!
He simply would not go with us to the movies.

Use would when talking about things that you did in the past on many occasions, or as a habit.

Every weekday I would study at the library.
Every year we would visit our grandparents.
He would text her in the middle of the night.

Would – Future in the Past

Would is used to express something that has not happened yet at the time we are talking about.

He kissed her cheek, not realizing the difference that would make with her future.
She forgot it on the floor, unaware that she would slip on it later.

Would – Conditionals and Advice

Would can be used to give advice.

I would not do that if I were you.
I really would not recommend that.

It is also used in the second and third conditionals.

If she didn’t study she would not have passed the test.
If I were rich, I would buy a house.

Would – Desire or inclination

I would love some ice cream.
Would you like to go to the movies with me?
She would love a good slice of pie.

Would – Polite Requests and Questions

Would you pick that up, please? (more polite than: Pick that up, please.)
Would you join me? ( more polite than: Can you join me? )
Would you recognize him? ( more polite than: Do you recognize him?)

Would – Opinion or Hope

I would think that there is no problem.
I would say the second option is better.
I suppose I would agree with you.
I would expect nothing less from you.
I would imagine that they will buy a new one.

Would – Wish

I wish you would stop that. (I hope you stop. I really want you to stop.)
I am sure he wishes I would leave him alone.

Would – Presumption or Expectation

That would be the postman. I will get it.
What was that noise last night? That would have been your mom coming home.

Would – Uncertainty

He would appear to be helping his sister. (less certain than: he appears to be helping his sister.)
It would seem that he is not coming over. (less certain than: It seems that he is coming over.)

[slickquiz id=41]

Modals of Ability & Permission – Can, Could Be Able

December 14, 2013 by Bret Tutor

Modals of Ability & Permission – Can, Could Be Able

Modals of Ability & Permission

We use the word can to talk about abilities and possibilities. We also use it make requests, or to ask for and give permission. Can is an auxiliary verb.

The sentence structure for using can is:
subject + can + main verb

Do not use to with the main verb when using can. It is always the bare infinitive so this sentence is incorrect “I can to go with you”. The sentence “I can go with you” is correct. Also, can is never conjugated.

	subject	auxiliary verb	main verb
+	He	can	read	books.
–	She	cannot	play	golf.
		can’t
?	Can(auxiliary verb)	you(subject)	come	play?

Remember that:

There is only one form of can.
The main verb is always the bare infinitive, without to.

Uses of Can

Can Used For Possibilities or Abilities

We use ”can” to talk about things we are able to do, or things that are possible:

He can dance.
I can drive you there.
I cannot see the text. (I can’t see the text.)
Can you help me?

We use can when discussing future ability. For example:

Can you drive me to work tomorrow? (future)
I can visit you next week. (future)

Can Used For Requests

We also use can informally to ask someone to do something. We are not asking if they have the capability to do something. For example:

Can you pass me the sugar?
Can you turn that down please?
Can you please stop fidgeting?
Can you stop yelling?

Can Used For Granting or Asking Permission

Sometimes we use can in place of “may” to ask or give permission informally:

Can I drive your car?
You can go out and play now.

Could is also an auxiliary verb. We use could to make requests and talk about past abilities or possibilities.

Structure of Could

The sentence structure for using the modal verb could is:
subject + could + main verb

When we use could the main verb is always the bare infinitive form, just like with can.

	subject	auxiliary verb	main verb
+	My husband	could	fish.
–	My grandfather	could not	read.
		couldn’t
?	Could(auxiliary verb)	your parents(subject)	read?

Remember that:

The main verb is always the bare infinitive form, without to.
There is only one form of could.

The sentence “my father could to fish” is incorrect while “my father could fish” is correct.

Use of Could

Could Used For Past Possibility or Ability

We also use could when referring to past possibilities. Here are a few examples of could for past possibilities:

I could read when I was three.
My father could juggle.
We could not find the dog. (We couldn’t find the dog.)
Could you understand what he was saying?

Could and couldn’t are used to refer to general abilities as well. If we are referring to a specific occasion, we use be able to and couldn’t. For example:

	Past General	Specific Occasion
+	My daughter could swim.	We were able to open the windows yesterday.
–	My father couldn’t swim.	We couldn’t open the windows the day before because it was too cold.

Could Used For Requests

There are many times we use could when asking someone for something politely or formally:

Could you help me find this shirt in a larger size?
Could you please pass the salt and pepper?

Remember that even though we mentioned be able to, it is NOT a modal verb. We only mention it because it is sometimes used instead of can or could when talking about ability.

Structure of Be Able To

The structure of be able to is: subject + be + able + infinitive

	subject	be main verb	able adjective	infinitive
+	She	is	able	to read.
–	He	is not	able	to remember.
		isn’t
?	Are(be main verb)	you(subject)	able	to play.

Be able to can be used in past, present and future tenses. For example:

I was able to see my father yesterday.
I will be able to come over tomorrow.

Be able to also has an infinitive form. Here are a few examples of be able to in the infinitive form:

Someday, I would like to be able to go to Spain.
He has to work hard to be able to get a raise.

Be Able To Used For Ability

We can also use the term be able to when discussing abilities. It can be used in place of the word can or could especially when we want to illustrate other tenses or the infinitive form.

I have been able to drive for several years now. (present perfect)
You will be able to drive when you are old enough. (future simple)
I would like to be able to see the Great Pyramids someday. (infinitive)

[slickquiz id=43]