English3.85 KB
Modal Verbs
- Express obligation and necessity in the past: had to, needed to
- Say that something happened, but it was not necessary: needn't have taken
- Say that something didn't happen because it wasn't necessary: didn't have to, didn't need to
- Say something was prohibited or not possible: wasn't allowed to, couldn't
- Criticize a past action or say that it was a mistake: should/ ought to, shouldn't have done
Modal Verbs in the Present
- Have to: Obligatory or necessary
- Don't have to: Not obligatory or necessary
- Must: Rules, obligations
- Mustn't: Prohibitions
- Need to: Obligatory or necessary
- Don't need to, needn't: Not obligatory or necessary
- Can't: Deny a permission
- Should, shouldn't, ought to, had better: Recommendations
Modal Verbs for Deduction
- Must: 90% true
- May, might, could, may not, mightn't: 50% true, 50% not true
- Can't: 90% false
Conditionals
- Zero Conditional: If + present simple, present simple
- First Conditional: If + present simple, will + infinitive
- Second Conditional: If + past simple, would + infinitive
- Third Conditional: If + past perfect (had + past participle), would have + past participle
- Mixed Conditional:
- If + past simple, would have + past participle
- If + past perfect, would + infinitive
Conditional Phrases
- Unless: If...not
- As long as, provided, providing that: If, only if
- In case: Because maybe
Wishes and Regrets
- I wish/If only + the past: Imaginary situations in the present. Wishes for the present to be different.
- I wish/If only + the past perfect: Past situations that we would like to be different, expressing regrets.
- I wish/If only + would + infinitive: Habitual behaviors used to criticize and express a desire for change in someone.
Reported Speech
- Say: Not used with an indirect object (add, admit, agree, announce, claim, complain, explain, promise)
- Tell: Used with an indirect object (remind, warn)
- Verb + infinitive: Agree, claim, offer, promise, refuse
- Verb + object + infinitive: Advise, ask, forbid, instruct, tell, order, invite, remind, warn, recommend
- Verb + gerund: Admit, advise, deny, regret, recommend, suggest
- Verb + preposition + gerund: Apologize for, insist on, object to, confess to
- Verb + object + preposition + gerund: Accuse somebody of, congratulate somebody on, criticize somebody for, warn somebody against
