A dog can bark loudly to alert its owner. It can run very fast to catch toys or sticks that are thrown. A dog can jump high to catch treats. It can sniff out scents to track animals. However, a dog cannot fly like birds or climb trees well like cats. A dog also cannot see in the dark as well as owls with their special eyes. While dogs are very loyal companions, they have limitations in their abilities compared to other animals.

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…