1
CAN FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE ABILITY
Affirmative Statements
SUBJECT
MODAL
play
You
He
She
It
Yes / No Questions
BASE FORM
OF VERB
MODAL
SUBJECT
soccer.
I
play
soccer?
bring
a salad?
you
can
lend
a hand.
Can
she
We
You
bring
They
a salad.
we
Information Questions
Negative Statements
SUBJECT
BASE FORM
OF VERB
MODAL + NOT
BASE FORM
OF VERB
play
You
He
She
It
cannot
We
cant
lend
WHWORD
soccer.
What
you
Where
You
bring
a salad.
They
www.oxfordseminars.com
SUBJECT
How
Who
a hand.
MODAL
can
he
they
BASE
FORM
OF VERB
play?
see
tomorrow?
TABLE 6.2
COULD FOR PAST ABILITY
Affirmative Statements
SUBJECT
MODAL
play
You
He
She
It
Yes / No Questions
BASE FORM
OF VERB
MODAL
years ago.
soccer when I
was younger?
play
could
speak
soccer when
you were
younger?
you
Spanish in
Grade 1.
Could
she
You
touch
They
drive
the
basketball
net last year.
MODAL + NOT
Information Questions
BASE FORM
OF VERB
play
You
He
She
It
could not
We
couldnt
speak
You
touch
in 1995?
we
Negative Statements
They
BASE FORM
OF VERB
We
SUBJECT
SUBJECT
WHWORD
years ago.
the
basketball
net last year.
www.oxfordseminars.com
SUBJECT
How
What
you
Who
Spanish in
Grade 1.
MODAL
BASE
FORM
OF VERB
play?
he
work with
Where
they
practice
Why
we
go there
could
last
month?
TABLE 6.3
BE ABLE TO FOR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE ABILITY
Yes / No Questions
Affirmative Statements
SUBJECT
We
BE ABLE TO
were able to
BASE FORM
OF VERB
leave
TIME
EXPRESSION
BE /
WILL
SUBJECT
Were
you
yesterday?
able to
Is
she
Will
they
leave
BASE FORM
OF VERB
arent able to
TIME
EXPRESSION
WHWORD
a week ago.
leave
tomorrow?
Information Questions
BE /
WILL
SUBJECT
were
When
They
today?
be able to
Negative Statements
BE + NOT + ABLE
TO
TIME
EXPRESSION
tomorrow.
will be able to
SUBJECT
BASE FORM
OF VERB
yesterday.
today.
are able to
ABLE TO
are
will
today.
in a month.
www.oxfordseminars.com
we
ABLE TO
able to
be able to
BASE
FORM
OF
VERB
TIME
EXPRESSION
yesterday?
leave
today?
tomorrow?
TABLE 6.4
MODALS OF FUTURE ABILITY
Affirmative Statements
SUBJECT
MODAL
might
may
could
will
You
He
We
BASE
FORM OF
VERB
Negative Statements
TIME
EXPRESSION
SUBJECT
I
You
depart
in two weeks.
She
They
MODAL + NOT
might not
may not
could not
will not
SUBJECT
BASE FORM OF
VERB
TIME
EXPRESSION
you
Will
he
BE
Am
depart
depart
TIME
EXPRESSION
next month.
Yes / No Questions
Future form with be going to
Yes/No Questions
Future form with will
WILL
BASE FORM
OF VERB
next week?
SUBJECT
GOING
TO
we
www.oxfordseminars.com
TIME
EXPRESSION
depart
tomorrow?
I
going to
Are
BASE
FORM OF
VERB
you
TABLE 6.5
MODALS OF REQUEST
YES/NO QUESTIONS
MODAL
SUBJECT
Can
Could
open
the door?
lend
me a pen?
you
Will
Would
SHORT ANSWERS
YES
Yes,
SUBJECT
I
MODAL
can.
could.
will.
NO
No,
www.oxfordseminars.com
SUBJECT
I
MODAL + NOT
cannot / cant.
could not / couldnt.
will not / wont.
TABLE 6.6
MODALS OF PERMISSION
AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENTS
SUBJECT
MODAL
can
could
You
have
a drink.
may
NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
SUBJECT
MODAL + NOT
cant
could not
You
have
a drink.
may not
YES/NO QUESTIONS
MODAL
Can
Could
May
SUBJECT
we
I
they
have
a drink?
INFORMATION QUESTIONS
WH- WORD
MODAL
SUBJECT
When
can
we
have
a drink?
Where
could
they
park
their car?
What
might
you
say
to that?
www.oxfordseminars.com
TABLE 6.7
WOULD LIKE, WOULD PREFER AND WOULD RATHER
AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENTS WOULD RATHER
BASE FORM OF
SUBJECT
WOULD RATHER
VERB
She
would rather
stop.
AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENTS
WOULD PREFER / WOULD LIKE
WOULD PREFER /
INFINITIVE OR
SUBJECT
WOULD LIKE
NOUN PHRASE
She
go.
Would
you
rather
stop?
Who
would
she
rather
see?
would like
some coffee.
to go.
YES/NO QUESTIONS
WOULD PREFER / WOULD LIKE
INFINITIVE OR
SUBJECT
PREFER
NOUN PHRASE
WOULD
Would
to stop.
NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
WOULD PREFER / WOULD LIKE
WOULD PREFER
SUBJECT
INFINITIVE
+ NOT
She
would prefer
you
to stop?
some coffee?
prefer
INFORMATION QUESTIONS
WOULD PREFER / WOULD LIKE
WHWORD
WOULD
Who
would
www.oxfordseminars.com
SUBJECT
she
PREFER
prefer
INFINITIVE
to see?
TABLE 6.8
MODALS OF PERMISSION
AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENTS
SUBJECT
MODAL
can
could
should
must
sell
She
We
my car.
her car.
our car.
NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
SUBJECT
MODAL + NOT
shouldnt
must not
might not
sell
She
We
my car.
her car.
our car.
YES/NO QUESTIONS
MODAL
Should
Can
Must
SUBJECT
I
she
we
sell
my car?
her car?
our car?
INFORMATION QUESTIONS
WH- WORD
MODAL
SUBJECT
When
should
we
sell
our car?
Where
must
they
put
their coats?
What
might
you
make
for dinner?
www.oxfordseminars.com
TABLE 6.9
MODALS OF ADVICE AND NECESSITY
AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENTS
SUBJECT
PHRASAL MODAL
bring
We
have to
ought to
had better
SUBJECT
bring
She
an umbrella.
NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
I
She
an umbrella.
We
DO / DOES
SUBJECT
Do
you
Does
she
Do
we
YES/NO QUESTIONS
PHRASAL
BASE FORM OF VERB
MODAL
have to
bring
sunscreen?
PHRASAL MODAL
INFORMATION QUESTIONS
WH- WORD
When
Where
What
DO / DOES
does
do
SUBJECT
he
it
leave?
have to
you
go?
finish?
www.oxfordseminars.com