Page 28 - IELTS Preparation Grammar and Vocab

3 Modals (1)

Grammar

Can/could
We'll get wealthy people from the mainland who can afford second homes. (= general ability)
Before the bridge was built we could only get to the island by ferry. (= general ability in the past)
May/could/might
Up to 700,000 people may experience delays. (= its possible this will happen)
Air passengers could be hit badly today. (= it's possible)
It might be a number of months before the sports centre is back in operation. (= it's possible this is true; less
certain than may or could)
Will/would
That will push up house prices. (= prediction about the future)
If schools highlighted the importance of physical exercise, this would have a major positive impact on children's
attitudes to sport. (= prediction about an imaginary situation)
Must
The cabin staff must accept the new working conditions. (= a rule or order)
This negative attitude to sport mustn't be allowed to continue. (= it's not allowed or not a good idea)
Don't need to / needn't / don't haw to
Parents don't need to / needn't be very interested in sport themselves. (= it's not necessarily true)
I'm sure I don't have to spell out the chaos being caused in the airline industry. (= it's not necessary)
Ought to/ should
Parents ought to / should give their children whatever encouragement they can. (= obligation and
recommendation)

la Can, could, be able to: ability
We can use be able to instead of can or could, particularly in more formal contexts:
The hotels on the island are able to accommodate hundreds of visitors. (more formal) or The hotels on the island
can accommodate ... (less formal)
We use be able to to talk about ability on a specific occasion in the past:
Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control fairly quickly (not Firefietters-eauld-6Fing ...)
We can use either could or be able to in negatives in the past:
They couldn't / weren't able to prevent the fire damaging the school's sports centre.
We usually prefer can or could with verbs of sense (e.g. feel, hear, see, smell, taste) and verbs of thinking
(e.g. believe, remember, understand):
I can't believe Mr Wade is being so confrontational.
We use be able to in perfect tenses, -ing forms, infinitives and after modal verbs:
We've now been able to contact him.
The film star hates not being able to leave her house.
They've got to be able to adapt to change.
Parents might be able to help.
We prefer can and could in passives:
The news can be read on our webs ite.
To talk about a future ability, we use will be able to:
Islanders won't be able to buy properties.

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