UNIT 35: Modal verbs (động từ quyết thiếu)

Topic 21: Environment

 

1.   Grammar

Modal verbs express ability, permission, wishes etc. to do something. (động từ quyết thiếu thể hiện khả năng, sự cho phép, ước muốn...để làm gì đó)

• Examples:
• I can recycle these empty cans.
• This machine can pollute the environment.
• We shouldn’t cut down these trees.

1.   Ability (khả năng): Can, could and be able to (có thể)

• To say, that sth. is possible, that so. has an ability or opportunity (thể hiện rằng điều gì đó là có thể, hoặc ai đó có khả năng hoặc cơ hội)

The earthquake can/could/is able to destroy this region.

• In present simple, "is/am/are able to” is more formal and used with "to-infinitive” (“is/am/are able to” trang trọng hơn và được dùng với “to-infinitive“)

Exhaust fumes are able to cause cancer. (to-infinitive)

• In future tense use "can” or "will be able to” (trong thì tương lai dùng “can“ hoặc “will be able to“

In the future, people can use solar energy more efficiently.

In the future, people will be able to use solar energy more efficiently.

• in the past use "could” or "was / were able to” (trong thì quá khứ dùng „could“ hoặc “was/were able to“

Mandy could dance when she was young, and her sister was able to dance also.

2.         Permission (sự cho phép): Can, may, could and be allowed to

• "can, could and may” to ask for permission („can, could, may“ dùng để xin phép)

Examples:

• Can I use your computer?
• Could I use your computer?
• May I use your computer?

 

• "could” is more polite than "can” (“could“ lịch sự hơn “can“)
• "may” is formal, very polite and not used often (“may“ rất trang trọng, lịch sự nhưng không được dùng nhiều)

 

• "can, may” to give or refuse permission („can, may“ đồng ý hoặc từ chối sự cho phép)

Examples:

• You can wait here. You may not walk here.
• You can’t wait here. You may walk here.

3.  Possibility and certainty (khả năng và sự chắc chắn): May, might, could

• to say sth. is possible use "may, might and could” (để nói cái gì đó là có thể, sử dụng “may, might và could“

Examples:

• It may / might / could rain later.
• There may / might be a problem.
• You could win one million dollars.
• "must”, sth. is certainly true („must“ để nói cái gì chắc chắn đúng)

Examples:

• She must be out.
• He must be working at the moment.

4.  Necessity (sự cần thiết): Must, need to, have to

• "must” for obligations and wishes (“must” dùng cho sự bắt buộc và mong ước)

The doctor says: "You must take this medicine.” (obligation)

We must meet Claire, she’s so nice. (wish)

• "need to” for needs and when sth. is necessary (“need to” dùng cho nhu cầu hoặc cái gì đó là cần thiết)

I need to protect our earth.

I need to reduce the greenhouse effect.

• "have to” when other people want you to do sth. (“have to”  dùng khi người khác muốn bạn làm gì đó)

I have to take this medicine.

She has to keep silence.

•  Watch out!
• "must” only for present tense (“must” chỉ dùng cho thì hiện tại)

Examples: I must learn more grammar.

• Change “must” to “had to” for past simple (đổi “must” thành “had to” trong thì quá khứ)

Examples: She had to go to the doctor yesterday.

• "don’t have to” or "don’t need to” when sth. is not necessary (dùng “don’t have to”, “don’t need to” cho những thứ không cần thiết)

5.  Necessity (sự cần thiết): There is need to/no need to

There is no need to use throw-away products.

There was no need to buy eggs, because we have enough at home.

6.  Should, had better, be supposed to

• "should” to say what is the best or right thing to do (“should” dùng để nói cái gì là tốt nhất hoặc đúng nhất nên làm)

Examples:

• We shouldn’t use plastic bag.
• People in both developing country and develop country should use low-energy light bulb
•  "had better” is stronger than "should”, to say what is the best thing to do in a situation (“had   better” nhấn mạnh hơn “should”, nói cái gì là tốt nhất trong tình huống cụ thể)

Examples:

• We had better save non-renewable resources.
• You had better not use up fuel we have.
• "be supposed to” to say what is normal or the correct way of doing things (“be supposed to”  để nói những thứ thông thường hoặc cách làm đúng thứ gì)

Examples:

• You were supposed to be here at 8. (bạn nên ở đây lúc 8 giờ)
• You are not supposed to talk with each other while writing exams.(em không được phép nói chuyện với người khác trong khi làm bài thi)

II. Politeness in English

1. Polite requests

• "Can” and "could”

Could is more polite than can.

• Examples:
• Can you fry some noodles for lunch?
• Could you give me the sugar, please?
• "Do you mind” … ? and "Would you mind” ... ?

-With -ing form

- If you don’t mind, you say “not at all, of course not, no I wouldn’t mind, certainly not …”

-If you mind, you say “I’m sorry, I’m afraid …” (give the reasons, for example: I can’t open the door because I’m cold)

• Examples:
• Do you mind boiling the cabbage in this pot? - No, I don’t.
• Would you mind throwing away this rotten mango for me? - No problem.
• "Would you like to … ?

Would you like to cook with me? - Yes, I would like to.

Would you like to help me cooking? - Yes, of course.

• "Can/could/would you do me a favour?” -Yes of course. -Could you …?

The most polite and friendly way to ask people to do sth. for you.  

•  To ask for permission, or to ask someone for help, you use “may/do you mind/would you mind if …”

May I have some coffee? -Certainly, help yourself.

Do you mind if I turn on the radio?-No, go right ahead.

2. The imperative

• Telling other people what to do in informal speech (ok for friends, family … )
• Examples:
• Clean the vegetables.
• Please finish your rice portion.
• for being polite use: "I want you to … , you must … , could you … "

Examples:

• I want you to eat everything on your plate.
• You must eat everything.
• Could you eat until the end, please?

3. Asking for sth., ordering

• "Can I have … ?  "Could I have … ?

Can we have some water, please? - Yes, here you are.

Could I have a glass of hot chocolate, please? - Yes, of course.

• "Please”, "I would like … ” "I’ll have … ”

A large loaf of bred, please.

I would like a fruit salad with strawberries, mango, apple, banana and watermelon.

I’d like some orange juice.

I’ll have the grilled pork. (in a restaurant)

4.  Suggestions

• "Shall … ”, "Let’s (Let us)”

Shall we prepare the breakfast for tomorrow?

Let’s enjoy our meal.

• "Could”, "Why don’t … ?”

We could add some more salt in this soup.

Why don’t you mix your sauce with some herbs? - That’s a good idea.

• asking for suggestions and advice: "Shall / should” and "can”

Where shall / should I put the pan?

What can we eat for dessert?

5. Offers

• "will” and "can” to offer to do sth.

I’ll carry the meat for you.

I will wait for you.

She can stir the eggs for you.

• questions with "shall” and "can”

Shall I fill the milk in bottles?

Can I bring some fruits for you?

• "may"

May I help you?

May I do this for you?

• offering food and drinks: "Would you like … ?”

Would you like some fresh coconut juice? - Yes, please.

Would you like a piece of delicious cake? - No, thanks.

• in informal speech we can use the imperative

Have a cookie.

Please eat a slice of watermelon.

6. Invitations

• "Would you like … " with to-infinitive or noun

Would you like to have lunch with us? - Oh that’s very kind of you.

Would you like a coffee in my house? - Sorry, I am busy now.

• "will / won’t you … "

Will you join us for tea? - I would love to.

Won’t you join us for tea?

• in informal speech we can use the imperative

Come and have coffee with us.

Please sit down and eat with me.

7. Refusals

• No, thank you / thanks.
• Sorry, I can’t / I am busy / I don’t have time.
• "won’t" and "wouldn’t"

I won’t drink any more.

They said, they wouldn’t eat with us.

 

 

III. TOPIC 22 Environmental

The environment

Yesterday, a lot of people went along the main street, carrying banners with them. From our bedroom window, I could see them walking around and shouting some phrases from time to time.

"Mum, who are those people and what are they doing there?” I asked. 

"Those people are environmentalists and they want to protest against nuclear power stations and the increasing pollution of our environment. The purpose of the environmentalists is to protect our environment and our natural resources” she told me.

"Oh, what is a nuclear power station, Mummy?”

"A power station is a place where they produce electricity. We need electricity or energy every day. Without electricity all the light bulbs in the world would be switched off, like 2 days ago, when we had a power cut for 4 hours. We can make electricity for example by burning coal. This is the most common way to do it, but it emits lots of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air, which is very bad. Coal is a non-renewable energy resource, like petrol is as well. It means that we can use it up and it will be finished one day. So we have to be careful and conserve it.”

"What is carbon dioxide?”

"Carbon dioxide is a natural gas. It is very important for us, because plants change this gas into oxygen, which humans and animals need to breathe. But because of all the exhaust fumes from factories, car and motorbikes... there is too much of it in the atmosphere. Other reasons are too many open fires and forest fires, mainly in development countries.

"But why is this bad for the environment?”

"If there is too much carbon dioxide (and other gases that we call "greenhouse gases”), the sunlight on the earth can’t go out in the atmosphere anymore. Therefore the heat stays inside like in a greenhouse, that’s why you call it greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is one important reason (another one is the hole in the ozone layer) for the climate change on our planet: it is getting warmer and warmer everywhere. You call this global warming. It is also the reason for a lot of natural disasters, like bad storms. But it’s not the reason for Earthquakes and Tsunamis. 

"Mum, I think the environmentalists are right. But why do they protest here? It must be clear for everybody that we have to protect the environment or not?”

"No my dear, some people don’t care about our environment and some people don’t know so much about these problems and about protecting the environment. They always use their cars; don’t save energy and throw away their rubbish everywhere. Another problem is that we use too much packaging and too many plastic products and throwaway products. Through this, chemical and poisonous substances can get into the ground and our drinking water. So it’s possible that we eat and drink these toxic substances and we get sick. In some countries the people are too poor to take care about environmental issues and sometimes they don’t know how to do it. Humans can be a big threat for our nature and environment.  Because of mankind, there is the extinction (it means they die) of a lot of animals and we have more than several endangered species. We pollute the air, the ground and the water, we cut down the rain forest and destroy the natural balance.”

"I don’t like this. I want to do something. How can we help to protect the environment Mum?”

"We can be careful with the resources we use every day and reduce our use of them. We shouldn’t drive car so much, try to save energy by using low-energy light bulbs, switch the light off when you don’t need it and don’t use the TV, radio... so much.

Don’t use so much water and try to use less chemical substances, which could pollute the water. We can also grow organic food, which grows without any chemical substances. This will help to protect our health and our drinking water. Don’t throw away your rubbish everywhere and use a waste basket. We also shouldn’t use so many plastic bags when we go shopping and don’t buy plastic products and throwaway products.

"Thanks Mum, I will remember it in the future and try to protect the environment as much as I can.”

Questions:

1.Who is an environmentalist?

2.Where does our electricity come from?

3.What ways are there to produce electricity?

4.What is a non-renewable energy resource

5.What is carbon dioxide (CO2)?

6.Why do we need it?

7.Why is too much of it bad for us?

8.How do you call this process and what happens exactly?

9.What is the other reason for it?

10.What is the problem with plastic and throwaway products?

11.What are extinction and an endangered species?

12.What do we, humans, do with our environment?

13.What can you do to help protecting the environment?