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ld;tt1M~1t;1;• ---------------- • To make deductions about something happening now
we use: modal verb + be + verb+ing
a was/were going to, was/were He must be talking to some guests in the other room.
TIP • We don't use can or mustn't to make deductions:
supposed to 10A p79
It could be him. not It can be him. He can't be a millionaire.
• We use was/were going to to talk about plans we made in not /=le mustn't be a miNionaire.
the past which didn't happen, or won't happen in the future.
Look at these sentences. l;1ijl"U1hJI·• ----------------
We were going to visit the Bradleys later that year, but we
didn't go for some reason. a
{They planned to visit the Bradleys, but they didn't.) Asking for, giving and refusing
We were going to spend our anniversary in the cottage permission 100 p84
in Wales where we had our honeymoon, but it was
ASKING FOR PERMISSION
already booked.
(They planned to spend their anniversary in the cottage in Can I (make myself some bre·akfast)?
Wales, but now they aren't going to go there.) May I (use your washing machi ne)?
Do you mind if I (borrow a jumper)?
• We use was/were supposed to to talk about things we
Is it OK if I (use your laptop to upload some photos)?
agreed to do, or other people expected us to do, but we
Would you mind if I {borrowed your car some ti me thi s we·ek)?
didn't do. Look at these sentences. Do you think I could (use your landline to call my parents)?
Tom was supposed to book the cottage months ago,
• After Can I ... ?, May I ... ? and Do you think I could ... ? we
but he forgot.
use the infinitive: May I use your phone?
(Tom agreed to book the cottage, but he didn't book it.)
I was supposed to call you back, wasn't I? Sorry, Leo, • After Do you mind if I ... ? and Is it OK if I ... ? we use the
I was out all day. Present Simple: Do you mind if I watch TV? Is it OK if I
(Leo expected his mother to call him back, but she didn't.) borrow your bike?
• After was/were going to and was/were supposed to we use • After Would you mind if I ... ? we use the Past Simple:
the infinitive: It was going to be a surprise party. Would you mind if I used your motorbike this weekend?
I was supposed to call you back. GIVING PERMISSION
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TIP • We often use was/were going to or was/were supposed to • We usually give permission by saying : Yes, of course.;
to apologise for not doing something. We usually give a reason: Sure, go ahead.; Help yourself., etc.
Sorry, I was going to call you back last night, but I didn't get • Do you mind if I ... ? and Would you mind if I .. . ? mean 'Is it
home until late. a problem if I do this? '. To give permission for these phrases,
we usually say: No, not at all. (=It's not a problem for me if
D Modal verbs (2): making deductions you do this.) Compare these conversations.
108 p81 1 A Can I make myself a sandwich?
B Yes, of course.
• We often use the modal verbs must, might, could, may and
can't to make deductions in the present. 2 A Do you mind if I make myself a sandwich?
B No, not at all.
• We use must to talk about something that we believe is true:
He must be talking to some guests in the other room. He REFUSING PERMISSION
must know that speech by now. • We don't usually say no to refuse permission because it
• We use could, may or might to talk about something that isn't polite.
we think is possibly true: He might be in the bathroom. • To refuse permission politely, we often say Sorry, ... or
He may want to be on his own for a bit. He could be picking Actually, ... then we give a reason: Actually, I was just going
people up from the station. It could be the guy that moved to put some washing in. Sorry, it's only insured for Rebecca
to New York. and myself.
• We use can't to talk about something that we believe isn't
TIPS• We can also ask permission for other people to do
true: That can't be her real hair colour. He can't be having
things: Can John stay for dinner? Is it OK if Luis uses your
a cigarette.
computer?
• When we know something is definitely true, or is definitely not
• Would you mind if I ... ? is a very polite way to ask for
true, we don't use a modal verb: He's practising his speech
permission. We often use this phrase if we don't know the other
in front of the mirror. No, that isn't Derek Bradley.
person very well or if we have a big favour to ask: Would you
• To make deductions about states we use: mind if I stayed for a few days?
modal verb + infinitive
• We can also use Could I ... ? or Is it all right if I ... ? to ask for
He must know that speech by now.
permission: Could I borrow your pen? Is it all right if I sit here?
•
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