Meeting 1 Modal For Expressing Ability 1

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MEETING 1
MODAL FOR EXPRESSING ABILITY, ASKING PERMISSION
AND POLITE QUESTIONS( WOULD YOU MIND)
A. OBJECTIVES :
At the end of the lesson students are expected to be able to:

1. Use the correct modal verb for expressing ability.
2. Complete the sentences for asking permission.
3. Identify the correct verb.
B. MATERIAL DESCRIPTION :
Objective 1
Modal verb for asking ability
When we talk about ability, we mean two things:
First, we mean general ability. This is something that once you have learned you can do
any time you want, like being able to read or swim or speak a language .
The other kind of ability is specific ability. This mean something that you can or can't do
in one particular situation. For example, being able to lift something heavy, or find
somewhere you are looking for.
Present:
can / can't (for both general and specific ability)
 I can play the piano.

 She can speak English.
 He can't drive – he's too tired.
 We can't come now.
Past:
could / couldn't (for general ability)
 I could read when I was four.

 She could speak French when she was a child, but now she has forgotten it.
 He couldn't dance at all until he took lessons.
 My grandfather couldn't swim.
was able to / couldn't (for specific ability)
 When the computer crashed yesterday, I was able to fix it.(not 'I could fix it')
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 She was able to pass the exam, even though she hadn't studied much.(not 'she could
pass')
 He called us because he couldn't find the house.
 I couldn't open the window.
could + have + past participle (an ability someone had in the past, but didn't use)
 I could have played the piano well but I didn't practise enough.
 We could have come earlier.
 She could have studied law, but she preferred to become a secretary.
Future:
will / won't be able to (general ability)
 At the end of the course, you will be able to make your own website.
 He won't be able to speak Japanese in a week! It will take months.
can / can't (specific ability)
 I can help you tomorrow

 I can't come to the part
Objective 2
Modal verbs can be used to give or ask for permission
.
The lesson below shows you how to use these types of modal verbs.
These modal verbs show permission:
 May
 Can
 Could
May
May is a polite modal verb used to ask for permission. Here
are some examples:
 May I use a calculator on the test?

 May I have another piece of cake?
The polite answers using may are as follows:
 Yes, you may.

 No, you may not.
Could
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Could is also used to ask for permission. It is less formal than

using may. Here are some examples with could:
 Could I have some more juice?

 Could I bring a friend to the party?
Can
Can is the least formal of the modal verbs used to ask
permission. Here are some examples with can:
 Can I play music?

 Can I wear shorts?
The examples above are all with "I". This is because it is most common to ask permission for
yourself. However, it is possible to ask permission for another person:
 May she bring a friend?

 Could he try again?
 Can they sleep here?
The examples are also all questions. These are very common.
But you can also give permission. Here are some examples:
 You may sleep on the sofa.

 You can wear my jacket
Objective 3
Modal for asking polite question ( Would you Mind )
1st Usage: If + somebody + did + something
Note: When we talk about the Present or the Past, we use Past tense following
the subject.
Would you mind If I used your phone now?
Would you mind If I borrowed your car tonight?
Attention!
We may sometimes get confused by the subject. So pay attention to these two sentences.
Would you mind If I opened the window? (Shall I open the window)
Would you mind If you opened the window? (Can you please open the window)
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Note: In the first one the person himself wants to do something and asks for the other's
permission. However in the second one the person requests something from the other one
to do.
2nd Usage: When we don't mention the subject we may just use Verb + ing
Would you mind taking this book back for me?

Would you mind sending that mail for me?
3rd Usage: Somebody's + Verb + ing
Would you mind John's staying here with us?

Would you mind My sister's coming with us to the picnic?
Attention when responding to "would you mind":
Positive Response:
No, not at all.
Of course not. No, go on please.
Negative response:
Yes, I would.
D. References
Books
Frank Marcela, Modern English a practical reference guide, Englewood Clifts, New Jersey,
1993
Azar, Betty Schramper .1992 .Fundamentals of English Grammar Second.ed
Link and Sites
Learn English Grammar Online ,[Website],2016, www.myenglishpages.com/site_Php_files,

(accessed 8 September 2016)
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At the end of the lesson students are expected to be able to:

When we talk about ability, we mean two things:

 I can play the piano.

 I could read when I was four.

was able to / couldn't (for specific ability)

can / can't (specific ability)

 I can help you tomorrow

 May I use a calculator on the test?

The polite answers using may are as follows:

 Yes, you may.

Could is also used to ask for permission. It is less formal than

 Could I have some more juice?

 Can I play music?

 May she bring a friend?

 You may sleep on the sofa.

1st Usage: If + somebody + did + something

Would you mind If I used your phone now?

Would you mind If I borrowed your car tonight?

Would you mind taking this book back for me?

3rd Usage: Somebody's + Verb + ing

Would you mind John's staying here with us?

Attention when responding to "would you mind":

Link and Sites

Learn English Grammar Online ,[Website],2016, www.myenglishpages.com/site_Php_files,

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