Many of my online students have asked me to teach the correct use of 'could' - so here are the first 3 meanings. I'll send the final 3 meanings next week.
Could (modal verb) Part 1 Could (modal verb) Part 2Meaning 1: 'Could' is the past simple of 'can'. We use it to talk about what someone or something was able or allowed to do.Examples: When I was at school, I could swim much better than I can swim now.The exam was so difficult that I couldn't finish it. His mother said he could play football after he had finished his homework.Meaning 2: Could is used as a more polite form of 'can' when asking for permission. Examples: Excuse me, could I just interrupt for a moment, please? (note: this is much more polite than 'Can I interrupt, please'.)Hello, could I speak to Fiona Price, please? (note: this is what we say on the telephone.)Meaning 3: Could is used as a more polite form of 'can' when making a request.Examples: Could you please lend me your car for the weekend?Do you think you could possibly lend me fifty pounds (ё50) until Monday? (note: this is a more indirect question, and is therefore more polite.)Could you close the window, please?This week's proverb:He who pays the piper calls the tune.Meaning: The person who provides the money for something controls how it is spent.
Meaning 4: Expresses possibility, especially slight or uncertain possibility.Examples: She could leave at any time.This new drug could be an important step in the fight against heart disease.Be careful with that boiling water you could scald yourself!Meaning 5: We sometimes use could for making a suggestion Examples: We could go for a picnic tomorrow, if you like.You could always ask Tom to help you I don t think he would mind. (note: this means ' one option is to ask Tom to help you'.)Meaning 6: We use could to say, especially angrily, what we think someone else should do. In this case, could is emphasised strongly.Examples: Well, you could try to be a little more polite to my mother!I invited you ages ago you could have let me know sooner that you weren t coming!This week's proverb:Blood is thicker than water. Meaning: Family relationships are stronger than relationships with other people.I hope you enjoy this word study and your DailyStep audio lessons. Please email me at hussein10@mail.ru if you have any questions or suggestions.
Best wishes,Hussein Askerov English teacher
www.english-lectures.blogspot.com
вторник, 19 января 2010 г.
GRAMMAR- MODAL VERBS
We use modals to give special meaning to verbs.
Here are the 2 main meanings of 'should':Should (modal verb)
PART 1
Meaning 1: Should is used to show when something is likely or expected
Examples: The report should be finished this afternoon. (This means 'I expect it to be finished this afternoon.')The journey should take a couple of hours at the most.
Meaning 2: We use should to give advice and to say what is the best thing to do.Examples: I should work harder on my English!You should go to the doctor if you feel sick.You shouldn t work so hard or you will always be tired.
Proverb:Time and tide wait for no man.
Meaning: Delaying a decision will not prevent events from taking place.
I hope you enjoy this free word study. If you have any questions about my online audio lessons, please let me know
Kind regards,
Hussein Askerov
English teacher www.english-lectures.blogspot.com
PART 2
Should (modal verb)
Meaning 1:
Should is used to show when something is likely or expected
Examples: The report should be finished this afternoon. (This means 'I expect it to be finished this afternoon.')The journey should take a couple of hours at the most.
Meaning 2: We use should to give advice and to say what is the best thing to do.
Examples: I should work harder on my English!You should go to the doctor if you feel sick.You shouldn t work so hard or you will always be tired.
Proverb:Time and tide wait for no man.
Should (modal verb)
Meaning 1: We use should when we want to say or ask what is the correct or best thing to do.
Examples: You should drive more slowly in this freezing weather.Do you think I should invite them to my party? Yes, I think you should. This television player never works as it should. Look at the picture it s terrible!I should have apologised to him after I was so rude. I ll call him later to say sorry.The baby is hungry he should have been fed hours ago.
Should I have closed the door after I left?
Yes, you should. (note: there are 2 other possible short answers here. 1. Yes, you should have. 2. Yes, you should have done.
The 2nd one is very informal.)
Meaning 2: We sometimes use should after I when we are giving advice. We also use would in the same way.
Examples: I shouldn t be concerned. It s not a serious problem. (note: this means I advise you not to be concerned .)If I were you, I should study English harder! (note: we can also use would here, but should sounds both a little stronger and slightly more formal.)
Meaning 3: We sometimes use should after why when we are asking the reason for something. Examples: Why should anyone want to be so cruel to an animal?Why shouldn t they go on holiday if they want to do so?
Proverb:One man's trash is another man's treasure.Meaning: What is useless to one person could be valuable to another.
Should (modal verb)
Meaning 4: We use should to express expectation, or to say that something will probably happen.Examples: My father should be here by now he usually arrives at this time.You should find the restaurant very easily with this map.Can you please finish this work by the end of the day? Yes, that shouldn t be a problem. (note: this means I don t expect that it will be a problem. )
Meaning 5: We use should after if , in case , and lest in formal English when we refer to an event that is possible in the future.Examples: If you should require any further information, please don t hesitate to contact me.Should you need any further assistance, I would be happy to help you. (note: the less formal version is If you need any further assistance... )If anyone should need to contact me, I will be reachable by mobile phone. (note: the less formal version is If anyone needs to contact me... )She took a map in case she should get lost. (note: the less formal version is ...in case she got lost.
Meaning 6: We use should after that and adjectives or nouns that show an opinion or feeling. Using should in these sentences emphasises the speaker s strength of feeling about the adjective.Examples: It strange that he should contact me after so many years. (note: you could also say it is strange that he contacted me... but using it s strange that he should contact me... emphasises how strange you think it is.)It s crazy that they should be so sad despite winning the lottery.
This week's proverb:A friend in need is a friend indeed.Meaning: A friend who helps when you are in trouble is a true friend.
Should (modal verb)
Meaning 7: We sometimes use should instead of would when the subject is I or We . This sounds quite formal or old-fashioned.Examples: I should like to see the menu again, please.We shouldn t expect them to fulfil their order before the New Year. (note: as We shouldn't expect... in this sentence could also have other meanings, I d advise you to say We wouldn t expect... in order to avoid confusion.)Meaning 8: We use should to express surprise in sentences that take the form of questions.Examples: I had just arrived home when who should call me but my old teacher!I was walking along the road when what should I find but a gold watch on the street!
Meaning 9: We say How should I know? to express irritation or exasperation when we want to say I cannot be expected to know. The stress is on the word I .Examples: "Where has David gone?" "How should I know? He never tells me anything these days. Do you know when the report will be finished? How should I know? I m still waiting for the figures from the sales department. (note: be careful when using this structure at work. Remember, using it expresses exasperation or irritation!)
This week's proverb:Variety is the spice of life.Meaning: Doing a lot of different things makes life more interesting.
I hope you enjoy this grammar study and your lessons. Please email me at hussein10@mail.ru if you have any questions or suggestions.
Best wishes,
Hussein ASKEROV
English teacher www.english-lectures.blogspot.com
We use modals to give special meaning to verbs.
Here are the 2 main meanings of 'should':Should (modal verb)
PART 1
Meaning 1: Should is used to show when something is likely or expected
Examples: The report should be finished this afternoon. (This means 'I expect it to be finished this afternoon.')The journey should take a couple of hours at the most.
Meaning 2: We use should to give advice and to say what is the best thing to do.Examples: I should work harder on my English!You should go to the doctor if you feel sick.You shouldn t work so hard or you will always be tired.
Proverb:Time and tide wait for no man.
Meaning: Delaying a decision will not prevent events from taking place.
I hope you enjoy this free word study. If you have any questions about my online audio lessons, please let me know
Kind regards,
Hussein Askerov
English teacher www.english-lectures.blogspot.com
PART 2
Should (modal verb)
Meaning 1:
Should is used to show when something is likely or expected
Examples: The report should be finished this afternoon. (This means 'I expect it to be finished this afternoon.')The journey should take a couple of hours at the most.
Meaning 2: We use should to give advice and to say what is the best thing to do.
Examples: I should work harder on my English!You should go to the doctor if you feel sick.You shouldn t work so hard or you will always be tired.
Proverb:Time and tide wait for no man.
Should (modal verb)
Meaning 1: We use should when we want to say or ask what is the correct or best thing to do.
Examples: You should drive more slowly in this freezing weather.Do you think I should invite them to my party? Yes, I think you should. This television player never works as it should. Look at the picture it s terrible!I should have apologised to him after I was so rude. I ll call him later to say sorry.The baby is hungry he should have been fed hours ago.
Should I have closed the door after I left?
Yes, you should. (note: there are 2 other possible short answers here. 1. Yes, you should have. 2. Yes, you should have done.
The 2nd one is very informal.)
Meaning 2: We sometimes use should after I when we are giving advice. We also use would in the same way.
Examples: I shouldn t be concerned. It s not a serious problem. (note: this means I advise you not to be concerned .)If I were you, I should study English harder! (note: we can also use would here, but should sounds both a little stronger and slightly more formal.)
Meaning 3: We sometimes use should after why when we are asking the reason for something. Examples: Why should anyone want to be so cruel to an animal?Why shouldn t they go on holiday if they want to do so?
Proverb:One man's trash is another man's treasure.Meaning: What is useless to one person could be valuable to another.
Should (modal verb)
Meaning 4: We use should to express expectation, or to say that something will probably happen.Examples: My father should be here by now he usually arrives at this time.You should find the restaurant very easily with this map.Can you please finish this work by the end of the day? Yes, that shouldn t be a problem. (note: this means I don t expect that it will be a problem. )
Meaning 5: We use should after if , in case , and lest in formal English when we refer to an event that is possible in the future.Examples: If you should require any further information, please don t hesitate to contact me.Should you need any further assistance, I would be happy to help you. (note: the less formal version is If you need any further assistance... )If anyone should need to contact me, I will be reachable by mobile phone. (note: the less formal version is If anyone needs to contact me... )She took a map in case she should get lost. (note: the less formal version is ...in case she got lost.
Meaning 6: We use should after that and adjectives or nouns that show an opinion or feeling. Using should in these sentences emphasises the speaker s strength of feeling about the adjective.Examples: It strange that he should contact me after so many years. (note: you could also say it is strange that he contacted me... but using it s strange that he should contact me... emphasises how strange you think it is.)It s crazy that they should be so sad despite winning the lottery.
This week's proverb:A friend in need is a friend indeed.Meaning: A friend who helps when you are in trouble is a true friend.
Should (modal verb)
Meaning 7: We sometimes use should instead of would when the subject is I or We . This sounds quite formal or old-fashioned.Examples: I should like to see the menu again, please.We shouldn t expect them to fulfil their order before the New Year. (note: as We shouldn't expect... in this sentence could also have other meanings, I d advise you to say We wouldn t expect... in order to avoid confusion.)Meaning 8: We use should to express surprise in sentences that take the form of questions.Examples: I had just arrived home when who should call me but my old teacher!I was walking along the road when what should I find but a gold watch on the street!
Meaning 9: We say How should I know? to express irritation or exasperation when we want to say I cannot be expected to know. The stress is on the word I .Examples: "Where has David gone?" "How should I know? He never tells me anything these days. Do you know when the report will be finished? How should I know? I m still waiting for the figures from the sales department. (note: be careful when using this structure at work. Remember, using it expresses exasperation or irritation!)
This week's proverb:Variety is the spice of life.Meaning: Doing a lot of different things makes life more interesting.
I hope you enjoy this grammar study and your lessons. Please email me at hussein10@mail.ru if you have any questions or suggestions.
Best wishes,
Hussein ASKEROV
English teacher www.english-lectures.blogspot.com
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