Objectives
- Master modal verbs (can, must, should, may, might)
- Express obligation, advice, possibility, ability
- Build the 4 conditionals
- Use modals in essays on social issues
- Avoid common mistakes
1. Modals
| Modal | Meaning | Example |
|---|
| can / could | Ability, permission | I can speak French and English. |
| must / have to | Strong obligation | You must respect the law. |
| should / ought to | Advice | You should read more. |
| may / might | Possibility | It might rain in Douala. |
| would | Conditional, polite | I would like to study Law. |
1.1 Modal + perfect (past speculation)
- « You should have studied harder. » (regret)
- « She must have left early. » (deduction)
2. Conditionals
- Zero (truth) : If + present, present. « If you heat water, it boils. »
- 1st (real future) : If + present, will + V. « If I pass, I will study Law. »
- 2nd (unreal present) : If + past simple, would + V. « If I were rich, I would build a school. »
- 3rd (unreal past) : If + past perfect, would have + V-ed. « If I had studied, I would have passed. »
Practice
Translate:
- « Si j'étais maire de Yaoundé, je créerais des emplois. » → « If I were mayor, I would create jobs. »
- « Vous devriez voter. » → « You should vote. »
- « Il a peut-être oublié. » → « He might have forgotten. »
OBC pitfalls :- Using 'would' in the IF-clause (wrong)
- Confusing must/should
- Forgetting 'to' after 'have' (have TO go)
Key points
- Must = obligation, Should = advice, Can = ability
- 2nd cond : were + would (hypothetical)
- 3rd cond : had + would have (regret)
