Classwork Series and Exercises {English Language – JSS3}: Modal Forms of Verbs

English Language JSS3 Second Term

Week 3

Contents:

Grammar: Modal Forms of Verbs

Vocabulary Development : Computer Words

Grammar: Modal Forms of Verbs

Modal verbs are used as helping verbs: they go with other verbs to change the meaning in some way. Modal verbs are one kind of auxiliary verb. They add information about probability, ability, permission and obligation. The modal verbs and the primary verbs (be, do and have) are called auxiliary verbs. The difference between these two groups of verbs is that we can use modal verbs as auxiliary verbs only. In other words, we cannot use modal verbs on their own, as they are not complete by themselves. We have to use them with other verbs, which must be in the simple present tense. A modal verb (also modal, modal auxiliary verb, modal auxiliary) is a type of auxiliary verb that is used to indicate modality – that is, likelihood, ability, permission, and obligation. Examples include the English verbs can/could, may/might, must, will/would, and shall/should.

Modal verbs do not change their forms when used with other verbs such as to show number. They have no –s form for the third person singular, no –ing form or past participle form.

Example: I can go. She can go. They can go

The modal verb can  expresses the idea of ability.
Edna can ride a bicycle

The modal verbs will/will not (won’t) can be used to express future occurrences –
The bus will come soon, I am sure.
I won’t be long

We can also use modal verbs to express the idea of willingness (or unwillingness)
E.g. When offering Tola a lift, Ray could have said, ‘ if you want to go to the market, I’ll give you a lift on my bike’.

Using the Modal verb would

We use will to express the future tense, willingness, request, probability,order and habitual action

Example:

• We will be at the birthday party tomorrow. (Future)
• I will volunteer as an educator in the peer group mentoring program. (Willingness)
• Will you take my dog out for a walk? (Request)
• She will be very angry if you take part of her meat. (Probability/Expectation)
• Will you not talk to me while I am watching television! (Order/command)

Would and will are frequently confused. We use would when talking about the past:
He said he would mend my bike

We also use would instead of will when there is uncertainty:
That boy would do anything for money!

Practise the following dialogue –

Tina: That boy is so greedy that he would do anything for money

Jeff: Yes. He said he would mend Ray’s puncture

Tina: I wouldn’t trust him to mend my bicycle

Jeff: Oh, I would. He’s quite good at that sort of thing

Tina: Well, I wouldn’t let him near mine!

We often use would when we are offering and replying to invitations and suggestions of various kinds.
Bola: Would you like a cup of tea?
May: Thanks, I’d love one.
Taylor: No thanks, No just at the moment.

Femi: Would you like to go to the cinema this evening
Juliet: Thanks. I would love to.

Test:

Read this dialogue between Odili and Edna.

Odili: (1) ___ you like a lift to the hospital?
a. Do
b. Will
c. Shall
d. Would
e. Don’t
Edna: That’s very kind of you, but I (2)___ need a lift right now
a. don’t
b. won’t
c. would
d. wouldn’t
e. shall

Odili: Are you sure? I can take you (3)___.
a. readily
b. reluctantly
c. enthusiastically
d. willingly
e. unwillingly

Edna: Really? I (4)___ want to put you to any trouble
a. would
b. wouldn’t
c. shan’t
d. won’t
e. will not

Odili: No trouble at all. This way please!

Edna: Where is your car?

Odili: Car? No, I haven’t got a car. I’ve got a bicycle.

Edna: A bicycle??? I (5) ___ go on a bicycle!
a. will
b. won’t
c. wouldn’t
d. would not
e. would

Odili: Why not? It’s quite safe

Edna: No, thank you, I (6) ___ rather walk
a. will
b. do
c. shall
d. won’t
e. would

Using Can and Could

We use can to express ability, possibility, permission and request.

• The dog can ran faster than the cat can. (Ability)
• You can get into trouble for stealing. (Possibility)
• Can I walk on the Lawn? (Permission)
• Can you not sing at all? I can’t stand it. (Request)

We use could to express request, possibility, ability, permission and suggestion.

• Could you feed my dog, please? (Polite request – a more polite form of can)
• You had better not stand under the tree. You could be bitten by a snake. (Possibility)
• My brother could speak six languages including French. (Ability)
• Could I bring my dog along? (Permission)
• You could warn him to leave you alone, or you could report to the police. (Suggestion)

Using may and might

We use may to express possibility, permission, and wish.

• A gas leakage may have caused the explosion. (Possibility)
• May I have another place of noodles? (Permission)
• May you live long. (Wish)

We use might to express possibility, permission, suggestion, and annoyance.

• I might have stepped on the banana skin and fallen if I had not noticed it. (Possibility)
• Might I ask why you two are not speaking to each other? (Permission)
• You might like to have a look at my two new books. (Suggestion)
• You might at least try to look like you were enjoying the soup. (Annoyance)

Vocabulary Development : Computer Words

A computer is a machine which calculates, stores, processes and retrieves data (information) of various types. If linked to a telephone with a device called modem, it can also revolutionalise the ability to send and receive messages not just in Africa but across the world.

Some computer parts: 

monitor
keyboard
computer disc
slot for a CD/DVD drive
printer
mouse
mouse-mat
modem
scanner

Computer Commands

There is one other little word that you need to know – cursor. A cursor is a little mark on the screen. You can move the cursor around to wherever you want by moving the mouse.

For example, if you move the mouse to the top left hand corner of the mouse-mat, the cursor moves to the top left and corner of the screen. when you are using the computer for writing, the cursor marks the place where the next letter you type will appear.

The mouse also has a little button on top which you can press or ‘click’. You can move the cursor to ‘click’ on certain commands, such as ‘Open a new document’, ‘Print’, etc

For example, if you move the cursor up to  the command FILE, and click, a ‘pop-down menu’ appears. This ‘menu’ lists the things you can do such as the following:

New

Open a new file you can write in

Open

Open an old file already created

Close

Close the file you are working on

Save

If you do not ‘save’ the work you have done, the machine will ‘forget’ it, and you will lose it.

Skill Focus

Some Computers Uses

1. Word Processing

You can use a computer as a kind of typewriter. Everything you write can be saved, and stored inside the computer on the hard disc, and you can print it out or alter it as often as you like. You can write essays, or letters, or even books. This book was written on a computer.

2. Spread-sheets

You can do accounts on a computer. You can keep a record of purchases, sales, profits, losses, debts etc and the computer will even do all your calculations for you. This is ideal for business use, large or small; some people even do their personal computer.

3. Data-bases

You can list, and easily retrieve, a mass of information on specially designed  ‘data-base’ programs. For example, you can list your shop or warehouse stock, names and addresses, books and publishers – the possibilities are endless.

4.Engagement diaries

You can use your computer to keep a list of your engagements, meetings, sports fixtures

5. Games

You can play games on a computer. Be careful! These games can became addictive!

6. Learning programs

Many programs have now been designed to help people learn, some of which are now in use in Nigeria, in a wide variety of different school subjects

7. Communications

You can attach a computer to a telephone line and send or receive faxes. You can also send or receive ’email’ messages  from all over the world – at the cost of a local telephone call!

8. Research

You can find out information about e very subject under the sun, 24 hours a day, seven days a week by using search engines such as Google, Altavista and websites such as Wikipedia.

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