Making Perfect Requests
Dear Lemlem
I checked again today to see if you had sent in your blog, but you must still be busy with your work. I am sure that many learners around the world would like to hear more about your project, so please keep us up to date.
Well, I see that my question about modal auxiliary verbs was obviously too easy for you! If anyone would like to read an explanation of their usage, please read the excellent comments sent in about yesterday’s entry! So you see, I make my students do all the hard work in the classroom! Modal auxiliaries are extremely common in conversation, the most frequently used being will, would, can and could. Monica is right when she says that British people use modals a lot, and they do make speech seem more polite. On the surface we are a very polite nation, we use indirect ways of asking questions, making requests and offering suggestions. But underneath the pristine manners andstiff-upper lip, we are really a nation of small-time moaners and groaners who complain about all kinds of things in private to our husbands and wives, our close colleagues and friends. We love to moan! But we never make a fuss in public!
To get back to modals, their main use is to convey different conditions. I can’t explain all of the rules here, but any good grammar book will contain a section on modal auxiliaries. Here is my mini-summary of their functions:
ability = can, could
possibility = may, might, could
permission = may, can
polite requests = may, might, could
obligation / duty = must, should
intention = will, would, shall
certainty / deduction = must
suggestions = should, would
Here is a task to keep you busy over the weekend. Choose a modal auxiliary for each gap. Use the present tense.
Some learners have sent in comments about the weather in their home countries. This ________ (1) be because they are taking part in the current global interest in climate change, which ________(2) have been brought about by global warming. On the other hand, the learners in question ________ (3) just be responding to the references to weather contained in one of the teacher blog entries this week. One thing is sure: global warming ________(4) be here to stay, so we ________ (5) take preventative action now. The growing consensus is that there __________ (6) be cooperation at an international level.
My next post will be on Monday evening.
Best wishes,
Samantha
Ps. Aaron, we have received your comments, please check the comments for the “Catching Up” and “Ellipsis” entries!
USEFUL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
Pristine (adjective)
Faultless, perfect.
stiff-upper lip (noun)
This means the famous English reserve, or reluctance to show strong emotions in public.
small-time (adjective)
Insignificant, trivial.
moaners and groaners (noun)
People who complain all the time.
make a fuss (verb)
This means to behave in a manner that attracts attention or is socially unacceptable.
consensus (noun)
A general agreement reached by a group or party of representatives.
I checked again today to see if you had sent in your blog, but you must still be busy with your work. I am sure that many learners around the world would like to hear more about your project, so please keep us up to date.
Well, I see that my question about modal auxiliary verbs was obviously too easy for you! If anyone would like to read an explanation of their usage, please read the excellent comments sent in about yesterday’s entry! So you see, I make my students do all the hard work in the classroom! Modal auxiliaries are extremely common in conversation, the most frequently used being will, would, can and could. Monica is right when she says that British people use modals a lot, and they do make speech seem more polite. On the surface we are a very polite nation, we use indirect ways of asking questions, making requests and offering suggestions. But underneath the pristine manners andstiff-upper lip, we are really a nation of small-time moaners and groaners who complain about all kinds of things in private to our husbands and wives, our close colleagues and friends. We love to moan! But we never make a fuss in public!
To get back to modals, their main use is to convey different conditions. I can’t explain all of the rules here, but any good grammar book will contain a section on modal auxiliaries. Here is my mini-summary of their functions:
ability = can, could
possibility = may, might, could
permission = may, can
polite requests = may, might, could
obligation / duty = must, should
intention = will, would, shall
certainty / deduction = must
suggestions = should, would
Here is a task to keep you busy over the weekend. Choose a modal auxiliary for each gap. Use the present tense.
Some learners have sent in comments about the weather in their home countries. This ________ (1) be because they are taking part in the current global interest in climate change, which ________(2) have been brought about by global warming. On the other hand, the learners in question ________ (3) just be responding to the references to weather contained in one of the teacher blog entries this week. One thing is sure: global warming ________(4) be here to stay, so we ________ (5) take preventative action now. The growing consensus is that there __________ (6) be cooperation at an international level.
My next post will be on Monday evening.
Best wishes,
Samantha
Ps. Aaron, we have received your comments, please check the comments for the “Catching Up” and “Ellipsis” entries!
USEFUL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
Pristine (adjective)
Faultless, perfect.
stiff-upper lip (noun)
This means the famous English reserve, or reluctance to show strong emotions in public.
small-time (adjective)
Insignificant, trivial.
moaners and groaners (noun)
People who complain all the time.
make a fuss (verb)
This means to behave in a manner that attracts attention or is socially unacceptable.
consensus (noun)
A general agreement reached by a group or party of representatives.
at 00:07
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