Grammar

Modals 1: ability, permission, advice

Introduction to modals
The modal verbs are:
• statement negative statement negative
can can't I cannot could couldn't I could not
may may not might mightn't I might not
will won't I will not would wouldn't I would not
shall shan't I shall not should shouldn't I should not

m
must mustn't/must not

All modal verbs: Semi-modals

• have only one form There are also some phrases that we use like medals:

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Vyou/he/she/iVwe/they may write an e-mail. • ought to (ought not to)

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• are followed by the bare infinitive • have to (don't have to)
You should call Stella. • need to (don't need to I needn't)
• do not have an infinitive Like medals, ought to doesn't change.

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Have to and need to change for person and tense like
normal verbs and have infinitives.

Q • We form questions with modal verbs like this:

\t9 ✓
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Can you understand what he's saying?
• We use medals with the passive voice like this:
✓ The address should be written clearly on the front of the envelope.
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(0 Ability
lts

Use Modal Example

Ability now or generally can Can you use a fax machine?
Ability in the past could Tom could read when he was two years old.
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Q
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We use be able to to form other tenses.

� ✓ It's useful to be able to order things by e-mail. (infinitive)
✓ Soon, I'll be able to speak Italian quite well. (future)
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✓ Have you been able to speak English for a long time? (present perfect)
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Permission
Use Modal Example
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Asking for permission can I could I may Can/ Could/ May I use the phone?
Giving permission can/may You can/ may send the fax when you like.

@ May is more polite than could and could is more polite than can.

CO Advice
Use Modal Example
Asking for and giving advice should Liam ought to/ should watch less TV.
ought to www.ieltsgiasu.com
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 Modals 1: ability, permission, advice Unit 19

A Underline the mistake in each sentence and write the correct words.

1 My older brother can to ride a motorbike, but I can't.

2 He'll has his dinner early today because he's going out.
3 Do you can come to my party?
4 You should to see a doctor about your foot.
5 I couldn't bought any bread because the baker's was closed.
6 You needn't to do the washing-up. I've already done it.
7 The school ought listen to pupils' opinions.

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8 People shouldn't to drop their rubbish in the street.

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� Look at the pictures and complete the sentences using can, could or the
correct form of be able to. You may have to use some negative forms.

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Amy really loves playing chess and she Amy has (4) ................................................ ride a bicycle
(1) ................................................ play very well. When since she was three. She wants to learn to drive
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she was a baby she (2) ................................................ when she grows up, though. When she's eighteen,
play chess. She thinks that when she's older, she hopes she'll (5) ................................................ do her
lts

she'll (3) ................................................ win the national driving test. She (6) ................................................ drive a
championships! car now though. It's against the law!
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[£] Write what they say using the word given.

1 Tony wants to borrow his friend's pencil. could
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'.�9.�.�1. J .1?!?!.!9�.Y��!..P�P:S:g .............................................................................................................. ?'

2 Alex wants to allow her friend to use her dictionary. can
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3 Julie wants permission from her teacher to leave the classroom. may
......... , ,, , ............... , , . ,,,, ..................................................................................................................................... ?'.
w

4 Lou wants to wear his brother's new trainers. can

········································································································································································ ?'
.
5 Terry wants to ask her boss for permission to take the day off work. could
.............................................................................,,, ........................................................................................ ?'
.
6 Diane wants to use her dad's car this weekend. can
········································································································································································ ?'
.
7 A teacher wants to give her students five extra minutes to finish the test. may

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 Unit 19 Grammar

Rewrite the sentences using should or ought to and the words in brackets.
You may have to use some negative forms.

1 'I need to earn more money.' (a, get, job, new, you)
'Y9:iJ..�h9.iJ}.4/9.iJgh-.�.W..&.�.L�..P-.f�..i9.l?.................................................................................................................. .'
2 'Brenda is angry about what I said.' (are, say, sorry, you, you)

3 'Tom doesn't understand his homework.' (about, ask, it, he, his, teacher)
'

4 'I'd like to learn to play the piano.' (having, lessons, start, you)

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5 'Tina is often tired at work.' (at, late, night, she, TV, watch)

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6 'I don't seem to have much energy at the moment.' (exercise, get, some, you)

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� Circle the correct word or phrase.
as
gi
lts

1 I've been having swimming lessons and now I can I could swim really well.
2 Please could / should I use your mobile phone? Mine doesn't have any power.
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3 Sam cou Id / ought to get a job instead of complaining about having no money.
4 Okay, yes - you can / should leave five minutes early today.
5 Do you think I must I should tell Michael the truth about what happened?
w

6 I can't / couldn't read until I was five years old.

7 I'm sorry, but you can't / couldn't leave your car there.
w

8 If you want to pass the exam, you can / ought to do some revision.
9 I know John lived in Tokyo, but I don't think he can I may speak Japanese.
w

10 Tracy can I could sing really well now that she's had a few lessons.

[I] Match to make sentences.

1 There's a lot of washing-up; I think we should A wait for their flight in the VIP area.
2 It's getting quite late and we ought B borrow some if you need it.
3 I don't have much money, but you can C to think about getting a taxi.
4 It's amazing that Andrew could D offer to do it.
5 Passengers travelling in first class may E walk when he was just six months 1
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 Grammar
Modals 2: obligation, probability, possibility
For general information about medals, see Unit 19.
Obligation
Use Modal Example
Present or future obligation must I mustn't All visitors must turn off their mobile phones.
have to You have to/need to press 'send'.
need to
No present or future obligation don't have to You don't have to/don't need to/needn't pay to send
don't need to an e-mail.

om
needn't
Past obligation had to Yesterday, Sam had to buy more stamps.
No past obligation didn't have to I learnt a little Italian, but everyone spoke English,
didn't need to so I didn't have to/didn't need to use it.

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Helpful hints
In spoken English, have to is more common than must. Must is often used in written notices and instructions.
✓ 'We have to pay the phone bill today,' Rita said.

su
✓ Passengers must turn off all mobile phones.

Q Mustn't and don't have to do not mean the same.

\t9
a
✓ You mustn't do that! ( = Don't do that!)
✓ You don't have to do that. ( = You can do that if you want to, but it's not necessary.}
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Probability and possibility
lts

Use Modal Example

Present strong probability must The phone is ringing - it must be Simon.
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can't This letter can't/couldn't be from Japan because it's

couldn't got a French stamp.
Present and future probability should We ought to/should hear from Cheryl this weekend.
ought to
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Present and future possibility could I'm not sure what language it is - it could/may/might
may be Polish.
might
w

Helpful hints
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We often use must, can't and couldn't for probability when we have some evidence for our opinion.
✓ I just rang Paul, but there's no answer. He must be out.

Q
\t!!7 To talk about possibility and probability about the past, we use a modal and the perfect infinitive.
See Unit 22.

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 Unit 20 Grammar

II] Choose the sentence (A, B or C) which means the same as the first sentence.

1 We have to pay the electricity bill before Friday. 5 Students mustn't run in school buildings.
A We can pay it if we want to. A They can run if they want to.
B We must pay it. B Students don't like running.
C We've already paid it. C Running isn't allowed.
2 You don't need to buy me a birthday present. 6 All passengers must fasten their seatbelts.
A You must buy me a birthday present. A They have to fasten their seatbelts now.
B It's not necessary to buy me a birthday present. B They don't have to fasten their seatbelts.
C You mustn't buy me a birthday present. C They can fasten their seatbelts.

m
3 I have to do some work on my project this 7 Mr Reed had to go to the police station to
evening. answer some questions.

co
A I haven't got time to do the work. A Mr Reed was able to go to the police static
B I've already done the work. B Mr Reed forgot to go to the police station.
C I need to do the work. C Mr Reed was obliged to go to the police
station.
4 Lenny didn't have to see the head teacher after

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all. 8 It's kind of you to offer to help, but you really
A It wasn't necessary for Lenny to see the don't need to.
head teacher. A I don't want you to help me.
B Lenny went to see the head teacher.
C Lenny is waiting to see the head teacher.
as B Your help isn't necessary.
C You won't be able to help me.

[fill
gi
Circle the correct word or phrase.

1 'Smoking isn't allowed in the airport.' 5 'You can contact us by either phone or e-mail.'
lts

You mustn't/ don't have to smoke in the You mustn't/ don't have to phone them.
airport.
6 'In my country, you can carry your passport
2 'It's not necessary to come to the train station with you if you want, but it's not necessary.'
.ie

to meet me.' In her country, you don't need to I mustn't

You have to/ don't have to meet her at the carry your passport with you.
train station. 7 'My grandfather was made to start work when
3 'We were forced to wait for over two hours in he was just fourteen years old.'
w

the rain!' He had to/ must start work when he was

They had to/ didn't need to wait for over just fourteen years old.
two hours in the rain.
w

8 'It's not necessary to book a hotel; you can

4 'The instructions tell you to write in pencil.' stay in our spare room.'
You must/ needn't write in pencil. You mustn't/ don't have to stay in a hotel.
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[fJ Complete using the correct form of have to. You may have to use some
negative forms.

1 Jade can't come out tonight. She ................................................ look after her little brother.
2 I didn't have enough money, so I ................................................ borrow some from Yuri.
3 It's raining really hard, but luckily we ................................................ go out this evening.
4 To start the laptop you ................................................ press the power button.
5 Robbie worked last weekend, but I ................................................ .
6 .......................... you .......................... go to piano lessons when you were younger? www.ieltsgiasu.com
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 Modals 2: obligation, probability, possibility Unit 20

Match the sentences with the explanations. You have to use some of the explanations
more than once.

1 'Someone is at the door. It must be Mrs Johnson from next door.'

2 'Lena might not know where the cinema is.'
3 'Dad should know what the capital of New Zealand is.'
4 'Greg can't be in the final! He's a terrible player!'
5 'The dog is wet. It must be raining outside.'
6 'We may go to the Canary Islands for Easter.'

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7 'Ken must like that film. He's seen it six times!'
8 'Barry ought to be able to cook Chinese food. He lived there for two years.'

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A I'm almost certain.
B It's probable.

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C Maybe/ Perhaps.

� Rewrite the sentences using the words given.

1 You're expecting David to ring. The phone rings. must

a su
gi
2 Anna is a better runner than Rula. You think Anna will probably win the race tomorrow.
should
lts

3 A letter arrives. It's possible that it's from your cousin, Janice. could

4 There's a knock at the door. Your mum says it might be Colin, but you know Colin is
.ie

on holiday. can't

5 You see someone wearing a costume. You think there's a strong probability that she's
w

going to a fancy-dress party. must

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6 Your sister is looking for her hairbrush. You think it's possible that it's in the living
room. might
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7 You're waiting for Harriet to arrive. You think she'll probably be there in half an
hour. should

8 You're talking about why James seems to be sad. You think it's possible he's in trouble
at school. could

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 -----=- ,_ Vocabulary Sending and receiving

� li•1 1ti ilftu&ii.J

1 11
see page 191 for definitions

accent (n) informal (adj) publish (v)

announcement (n) Internet (n) report (v, n)
broadcast (v, n) interrupt (v) request (v, n)
channel (n) link (v, n) ring (v)
clear (adj) media (n) signal (n)

m
click (v) mobile phone (n phr) swear (v)
contact (v, n) online (adj, adv) type (v)
file (n) pause (v, n) viewer (n)

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formal (adj) persuade (v) website (n)

-
image (n)
--�
pronounce (v)
�-
whisper (v, n)
- --

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D Phrasal verbs � iidi•i•MOMiihi11Hffi.#-, Ii
call back ring again on the phone by e-mail/phone/letter
come out be published
as on the Internet
cut off disconnect (phone, electricity, etc) on the news
fill in add information in the spaces on a form, etc on the phone
gi
hang up put the receiver down to end a phone call 1 1 on the radio
log off disconnect from the Internet/a website on TV
log on(to) connect to the Internet/a website
lts

print out make a paper copy of sth on a computer

.ie

'I
certain certainly, certainty inform informative, information
communicate communication predict prediction, (un)predictable
w

connect connection, disconnect secret secretly, secrecy

deliver
express
delivery speak
translate
spoke, spoken, speaker, speech

I
w

translation, translator
-
expression, expressive

D Word patterns
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verbs comment on
communicate with
talk (to sb) about
tell sb about
II
ll,
glance at translate (from sth) into
receive sth from write (to sb) about
reply to nouns information about
send sth to sb a letter (from sb) about
-
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 Sending and receiving Unit 21

Topic vocabulary
III Complete using a word formed from the letters given.

1 You can tell Martin is from Denmark by his 7 You need to .................................... the computers
..................................... NCECTA together and then you can send things directly
2 Did the .................................... say that our plane was from one to the other. N I K L
delayed or cancelled? E U NTNEC M ANO N 8 You shouldn't believe everything you read or hear
3 We've got relatives in Canada, but we don't have in the ..................................... D EA I M

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much .................................... with them. 9 According to the .................................... on the TV
TTACNCO news, the Prime Minister is coming to our town
soon. T o E P R R

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4 You need to save what you've written as a
.................................... and then send it to me by 10 You can't listen to the radio when you're on the
e-mail. E I L F underground because the .................................... isn't
strong enough. ANG s I L
5 The first .................................... that was sent by radio

u.
from New York to London was a picture of the 11 If you're a regular .................................... of our
American president. A I EG M programme, then you'll know that we often
interview ordinary people. I E V R E w
6 The .................................... started in the 1980s and

world. T N R T N E I E
as
now it connects millions of computers around the 12 I got the information from a .....................................
Hang on and I'll give you the address. I B E s w TE
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[[] Complete using the correct form of the verbs in the box.
lts

broadcast • click • interrupt • pause • publish • ring • swear • type

1 You have to ................................................ on the picture by pressing the left button on your mouse.
.ie

2 Writing and sending e-mails is a lot faster if you learn how to ................................................ properly.
3 I couldn't believe it when Greg ................................................ in front of the head teacher!
4 The man on the telephone ................................................ for a moment and then said, 'Tell no one!'
w

5 This programme was first ................................................ in 1967 and hasn't been shown on TV since then.
6 Please don't ................................................ me. Let me finish what I wanted to say.
7 Our school might ................................................ a weekly magazine to keep parents and students informed
w

about what's happening.

8 You should ................................................ Michael and let him know about the plan for this evening.
w

£] Circle the correct word or phrase.

1 What John said on the phone wasn't very clear / online so I asked him to repeat it.
2 Sandy waited until the teacher was looking the other way. 'Meet me after school,' he
whispered / requested quietly in my ear.
3 How do you persuade I pronounce your name?
4 You should use formal / informal language when you're writing to someone you don't know
personally.
5 Why do you keep on switching channels / mobile phones? I'm trying to watchwww.ieltsgiasu.com
this film!
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 Unit 21
---- -------------------------------
Vocabulary

Phrasal verbs
[QJl Complete using the correct form of the phrasal verbs in the box.

call back • come out • cut off • fill in • hang up • log off • log on(to) • print out

1 I've got an e-mail from Mick! Wait a second and I'll .......................... it .......................... so you don't
have to read it on the screen.
2 I was talking to Matt on the phone when the train went into a tunnel and we were .......................... .

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3 You just have to .......................... this form and we'll send the money for you.
4 My favourite magazine, Teen Scene, .......................... every Friday.

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5 Len was talking on the phone, but when I entered the room he .......................... .
6 I can't .......................... because I can't remember my password.
7 I'm afraid Mr Brown isn't here. Could you .......................... in an hour?
8 Tom surfed the Internet for hours and .......................... at three in the morning!

u.
Prepositional phrases as
I!] Write one word in each gap.
gi
travels fast
lts

These days, there's no excuse for not knowing what's happening in the world. (1) ......................... .
TV and on (2) .......................... radio, news programmes keep us up to date with all the important
events. We read about problems on the other side of the world (3) .......................... the Internet as
soon as they happen, and we see live pictures (4) .......................... the news 24 hours a day.
.ie

Even personal news travels fast today. Whether we keep in touch (5) .......................... phone or
e-mail, we're never more than a few seconds away from friends and family. The days when the
only means of communication was (6) .......................... letter are gone forever. So, the next time
w

you're (7) .......................... the phone, just remember how things have changed.
w

Word formation
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II] Complete by changing the form of the word in capitals.

1 My ................................................ is that one day all phone calls will be free. PREDICT
2 Politicians often have a ................................................ with them when they go to other countries.
TRANSLATE
3 I would hate to give a ................................................ in front of hundreds of people! SPEAK
4 Who knows what means of ................................................ will be invented in the future? COMMUNICATE
5 There's something wrong with my ................................................ to the Internet, so I can't send and
receive e-mails. CONNECT
6 The mobile phone has ................................................ made life a lot easier. CERTAIN
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 Sending and receiving Unit 21

Use the word given in capitals at the end of each line to form a word that fits
in the gap in the same line.

The Secret Nessaae

I was walking down the street when a woman appeared in front of me. 'Please! You must help
me!' she cried. I could tell from her (1) ......................................that she was frightened. She EXPRESS
(2) ...................................... English with a Russian accent. She put a piece of paper into my hand. SPEAK
'This contains important (3) ....................................... I can't say any more, but there will be a INFORM

m
(4) ......................................tonight.' She started to leave. 'Contact the person in the message. DELIVER
But do it (5) ......................................! No one must know!' I looked at the message but didn't SECRET
understand. When I looked up, she was gone. That was how my adventures began ...

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Word patterns

u.
[BJ Write one word in each gap.
as
1 I didn't read the newspaper properly. I just glanced .......................... it, really.
2 I've got an e-mail in Spanish. Could you translate it .......................... English for me?
gi
3 My grandma says people don't talk .......................... each other like they used to.
4 You should receive a letter .......................... our company in the next few days.
lts

5 Press this button to reply ..........................the e-mail.

6 I got a letter from Alex ..........................her new job. It sounds interesting.

OJ Complete
.ie

each second sentence using the word given, so that it has a similar
meaning to the first sentence. Write between two and five words.

1 Did Olivia say anything about your website? comment

w

Did Olivia .......................................................................... your website?

2 Carl described his new mobile phone to me. told
Carl .......................................................................... his new mobile phone.
w

3 This website describes the history of communication. information

This website has ..........................................................................the history of communication.
w

4 Remind me to send Nigel a letter about our plans. write

Remind me to ..........................................................................our plans.
5 Some chimpanzees use sign language to talk to people. communicate
Some chimpanzees ..........................................................................people through sign language.
6 Could you tell Gail about the party by e-mail? send
Could you .......................................................................... Gail about the party?

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