07 Modals: Possibilities & Suggestions
Vocabulary Fill in the blanks starving potluck chow mien license 1. You need a driver s to drive legally. 2. At a party, everyone brings food to share with people. 3. is Chinese-style fried noodles. 4. When you re, you want to do nothing but just eat.
Reading Dear Derek, How s everything going? It has been a long time since we last saw each other. I know you have been busy with your driving test. Have you passed the exam already? Actually, I might get a driver s license, too. I may travel in California next year, and I know it s going to be inconvenient without a car there. I, therefore, think I might need a license. Would it be possible for us to meet again then? I know you might not be able to write me back soon because you are really busy, but I still look forward to hearing from you. Take good care of yourself, Derek. Bye for now. Claire
Grammar Subject We She It Modal: Possibilities - statement Modal may (not) might (not) could (not) Verb have be snow a chance to see him tomorrow. pleased when she knows the result. tomorrow night. Modal Could Modal: Possibilities Yes/No question Subject Verb the team win the game?
Note Use may, might, and could to indicate that something will possibly happen in the future. may not and might not to indicate that something will possibly not happen in the future. could not to indicate that something will definitely not happen in the future. could to ask about the possibilities of the future. Example: 1. It may be sunny tomorrow morning. 2. We might not have the right to say anything. 3. Their concert couldn t last more than 3 hours. 4. Could it possibly happen?
Practice 1. You want to know if Debbie will possibly bring her boyfriend along. 2. You want to know whether the clients will possibly arrive early. 3. You want to know whether the typhoon will possibly hit the city tomorrow. 4. You want to know if Henry will possibly graduate this June. 5. You want to know if the manager will possibly be angry when she knows the truth.
Dialogue Irene: What are you going to do this weekend? Joy: I'm not sure. Do you have any suggestions? Irene: Why not join us? We re having a potluck party at Sam s. Joy: Sounds good, but I have no idea what I should bring. Irene: Joy: Maybe you could bring some chow mien. People love Chinese food. Great! I know there's a great Chinese café around here. Irene: Cool. Why don t we go to that café now? I m starving.
Grammar Modal: Suggestions Modal Verb Let s postpone Why not sign Why don t we order Maybe we could reschedule the weekly meeting. your name here? the cheapest one? the whole project.
Note Use let s, why not, why don t and maybe could to provide suggestions to someone. let s when you include yourself. why not when you don t need to address the target person. why don t and maybe could with a subject to bring out the target person. Example: 1. Let s find a nice hotel when we get there. 2. Why not sit down and have a discussion? 3. Why don t you revise the report before you submit it? 4.Maybe they could stay with Stacey in Paris.
Practice Terry: Cathy: Terry: Cathy: Terry: Cathy: Terry: Cathy: Terry: Cathy: The weather forecast says it s going to be sunny this weekend. do something. Sure. Do you have a plan? Umm not really, but my friends are going surfing. go with them? I love surfing, but I might not be able to go because I twisted my ankle yesterday. Oh, right. Maybe you still go with us and just sunbathe on the beach. That sounds good. When are they going? They are going to meet at 8 in front of the school. That early? I m afraid I cannot make it. we ask them to pick us up? That would be great. do it.
Evaluation Student Name Suggestion Rejection & Reason e.g. A: Let s go to the beach on Saturday morning. B: Sorry I can t. I might have an appointment with a client on Saturday morning.
Your Turn! Answer the questions Do you think you will go on a trip this year? I want to improve my English. What would you suggest? Will you have a new job in the next few years? Your friend needs a job. What would you suggest? Could anyone in your family get married soon? The whole class wants to go out after school. What would you suggest?
Summary Learning Objectives We use may, might, and could to indicate that something will probably happen in the future. We use may not and might not to indicate that something will probably not happen in the future. We use could not to indicate that something will definitely not happen in the future. We use let s, why not, why don t and maybe could to provide suggestions to someone. Vocabulary and phrases license, chow mien, potluck, starving, pleased, result, postpone, reschedule, discussion, revise, submit
Summary