1. Basic Level English Course
October 23rd
, 2010 (Part I)
Introduction to Modal Verbs: Ability
and Future

2.  To introduce the
modal system of verbs
in order to talk about
abilities and future
intentions
 Presentar el sistema
modal de verbos para
hablar de habilidades
e intenciones futuras

3.  Auxiliary/Helping Verbs
 Express Modality: Subjective attitudes of the
speaker
 Can: Ability
 Will: Future Intentions
 Structure:
 Subject + MODAL VERB + Base Form
 She can sing
 I will go

4.  Affirmative Sentences:
 I can play the guitar
 She can sing the blues
 Negative sentences:
 I can’t play the piano
 She can’t sing Rancheras
 Yes/No Questions:
 Can you play the piano? – Yes, I can/No, I can’t
 Can she sing the blues? – Yes, she can/No, she can’t
 WH-Questions:
 Where can I see you tomorrow? – We can meet at Jockey Plaza
 What can a chimpanzee do? – A chimp can use sign language

5.  A cat can climb, but it can’t swim
 A bird can fly, but it can’t talk
 A fish can swim, but it can’t walk
 An elephant can eat vegetables, but it can’t eat
meat
/K n/ǝ /Kænt/

6. I. Expresses the voluntary nature of the subject’s
(future) actions:
 The teacher will talk to his mother
 I will send you the information
I. Expresses a promise:
 Megan will be here tonight
 Nugkui won’t/will not miss class again
I. Expresses a future action decided at the
moment of speaking:
 I’ll call you later
 I will see you tonight

7. IV. Expressions often used with
“will”(Contracted form = ‘ll) are: “I guess” =
You creo, “I think” = Yo pienso,
“Maybe/Perhaps” = Talvez.
 I guess, I’ll go to the party with you
 I think, I’ll study for my exam
 Maybe, I’ll see you tonight

8.  Affirmative Sentences:
 I will talk to him later
 She’ll send me the information
 Negative sentences (Won’t = Will not):
 I won’t talk to her
 She won’t come to class today
 Yes/No Questions:
 Will you be here for class? – Yes, I will/No, I won’t
 Will she do the homework? – Yes, she will/No, she won’t
 WH-Questions:
 What will you do tonight? – I have no idea
 Who will watch the dog? – I guess, Brett will watch it

9. WILL BE GOING TO
SUBJECT + BE + GOING TO + BASE FORM
 Intentions, Promises,
Improvised Decisions
(Intenciones, promesas,
decisiones
improvisadas)
 I’ll call you later
 Maybe, I’ll go
 She’ll be here tonight
 Planned events for the
future (Eventos
planeados para el futuro
 I’m going to Egypt for my next
vacation
 She’s not going to be in Lima
next weekend
 Are you going to travel to Cuzco
for Christmas? – Yes, I am/No,
I’m not
 Who is going to teach this class
next year? – Brett will teach it

10.  The Lion is going to eat the kudu
 The zoo is going to buy another chimp
 A crocodile is not going to eat an elephant
 A cat is going to climb a tree
/g n /ǝ ǝ

11. AGREEMENT DISAGREEMENT
 A: I can speak French
 B: I can too/So can I
 A: I can’t speak German
 B: I can’t either/Neither
can I
 A: I can speak English
 B: I can’t
 I can’t speak Awajun
 B: I can

12.  Talk to a friend and explain to him what an
animal you know can do
 Háblale a un amigo(a) y explícale lo que un
animal que tú conoces puede hacer
Fred: Hey Inspector, Do you know what a
T-Rex can do?
Inspector Gadget: Nope, but I’m sure you know,
and you’ll tell me.
Fred: Okay. A T-Rex can run fast. It can kill almost
any other animal around. A T-Rex can run long
distances too. It can’t survive lack of food, and it
can’t survive meteorites either. A T-Rex can eat
meat, but it can’t eat vegetables.
inspector Gadget: Thanks! This is very instructive. Hey,
I’m going to go to the zoo next weekend. You want to come?
Fred: Sure.
Vocabulary:
Fast = rápido
Almost any other animal around = casi
cualquier otro animal alrededor
Long distances = largas distancias
Survive = sobrevivir
Lack of food = falta de alimentos
Meteorites = meteoritos
Very instructive = muy instructivo

13.  Discuss what an animal you know can do:/
 Conversen sobre lo que un animal que
conoces puede hacer:
You: Hey, Do you know what a dog can do?
Your friend: Not really, tell me…
You: Ok. A dog can…