Lessons 9 · 1 lessons · F. Rashidova, N. Tillayeva, Z. Karimova. Pupil’s Book (English), Grade 10, 1st edition. “O‘zbekiston” NMIU, Tashkent, 2017
9
Looking back... moving on... (A)
Textbook: pp. 42–45
GoalModal verbs: can / could / be able to, must / have to / need to, may / might – ability, obligation, permission, possibility; talking about your achievements.
Modal verbs are followed by the bare infinitive (no to), they take no -s and form questions and negatives by themselves. Can shows present ability or permission; could shows ability in the past: I could read at the age of five. For one particular success we use was able to: She was able to finish the project in time. Must is strong, often personal obligation; have to comes from outside rules: Students have to wear a uniform. Mustn’t forbids, but don’t have to means there is no obligation: You don’t have to come on Sunday (it is your choice). May / might express possibility: I might study engineering. For permission May I...? is the most formal and Can I...? is informal.
Worked examples
I couldn’t swim at six, but now I can swim two kilometres. Last summer I was able to pass the lifeguard test.
You mustn’t use your phone during the exam, but you don’t have to bring a calculator – the school provides one.
Class activity
“Achievement network”: students ask “Find someone who could ... when they were seven” questions and collect answers.
Practice
1
Complete: Yesterday the network was down, but the engineer ___ fix it in an hour. (could / was able to)
was able to
2
What is the difference: “You mustn’t park here” and “You don’t have to park here”?
Mustn’t means it is forbidden; don’t have to means it is not necessary (you may park if you want).
3
Write a sentence with might about your future.
For example: I might study abroad after school.
4
Why do we say “She was able to win” rather than “She could win” for one race that she won?
Could is for general ability in the past; was able to describes a specific success on one occasion.