Due date 3/7/2014
Choose 20 modals and use them in groups of related sentences. They do not need to comprise a paragraph or essay.
Note: In this list, verb = base form verb
Group 1 (Choose 6) should (not) + verb: ought to + verb: had better (not) + verb: would rather (not) + verb: can (not) + verb: have/ has to + verb: donŐt have to + verb: may (not) + verb: might (not) + verb: must (not) + verb: could (not) + verb: would (not) + verb: had to + verb: didnŐt have to + verb: |
Group 2 (Choose 6) should (not) + be + verb+ing: ought to + be + verb+ing: had better (not) + be + verb+ing: would rather (not) + be + verb+ing: can (not) + be + verb+ing: could (not) + be + verb+ing: have/ has to + be + verb+ing: had to + be + verb+ing: donŐt have to + be + verb+ing: may (not) + be + verb+ing: might (not) + be + verb+ing: must (not) + be + verb+ing: would (not) + be + verb+ing: didnŐt have to + be + verb+ing: |
Group 3 (Choose 4) should (not) have + pp: could (not) have + pp: might (not) have + pp: must (not) have + pp: would (not) have + pp: used to + verb: didnŐt use to + verb: BE supposed to + verb: |
Group 4 (Choose 4) should (not) have been + verb+ing: could (not) have + been + verb+ing: might (not) have + been + verb+ing: must (not) have + been + verb+ing: would (not) have + been + verb+ing: didnŐt have to be + verb+ing: BE supposed to be + verb+ing: |
Click the HTML Editor link and underline the complete verbs (modals + main verb).
Group
1)
Laura could
not
eat that dish (What dish? Specify )in at her
friend's house. She has allergy ofis allergic to
seafood. She may
eat only salads and deserts desserts
at the dinner.
Daniel
must pay
his credit cards on time. He has
to get a good score because his wife might need
to
apply for a new car loan.
Group
2)
They
can be going to campmight
be going camping in this
weekend, but first, Theythey might
not be forgettinghad better not forget to buy
camping supplies.
She
would rather be buying
a
new purse instead of a pair of shoes to use wear at
a/her
friend's wedding.
Group
3)
I didn't use to talk in on a mobile
phone when while I drivewas
driving.
This is confusing. Do you mean your old habit was NOT to
talk on a mobile phone while driving, but now you DO talk on a mobile phone
while driving?
People supposed to use
cell phone before driving to donŐt cause accident.
I don't understand this sentence. It is completely ungrammatical. I'll try to
guess. Do you mean the following?
People are not supposed to use a cell phone while
driving; otherwise they may cause an accident.
Group
4)
They must
have been making appointment with a
doctor last night because they did not feel well after eating spoiled food at
the restaurant.
I am not sure whether (a) you know what happened, or (b) you are making a guess about what happened.
a. They had to make an appointmentÉ
b.
They
must have made an appointmentÉ
The two modal choices are grammatically correct, but they have different meanings. (Yours is ungrammatical)
You apparently understand how to use some of the basic present-future modals, but you need to learn the other forms. Please review my video and audio lectures on using past modals and continuous modals.
6 modals are used
correctly.
1 error-free sentence
134 words
Vocabulary Profile:
% |
82.84 |
8.96 |
0.75 |
7.46 |
Group1
You should
finish your homework, and then you can watch
TV. You had
better keep a certain/good/4-foot distantdistance
form
from the TV, or your eyes might be develop
myopia.
Word forms
Action verb
Group2
She
should be arrivingarrive
around 7 oŐclock. She can must be being on
time. She must be takingcomplete/attempt her/a/the/that
test carefully. She might be passing taking this
test now.
BE is a stative verb. Do not use a stative verb in
a continuous. Only active verbs can be used in continuous
forms. Use
continuous only when it is necessary to emphasize the ongoing nature of an
action.
Take a test (attempt)
pass a test (not fail)
Vocabulary
Group3
You should
have remembered our wedding anniversary, so you could have bought
a present to me. However, you used to forgetforgot
that day, so you must not have changed that.
Group4
He
should not have been goinggone to
the theater tonight. He might notshould/ought
to have been doing his homework. She was supposed to
be going home quickly and must should/ought to have
been studying at home.
You used a few basic present-future modals correctly, but you need to learn the other forms.
It appears that you misunderstand the meaning of 'must have' and other past modals. Please review my lectures on past modals and continuous forms.
5 modals are used
correctly.
2
error-free sentences.
111 words
Vocabulary Profile:
% |
90.09 |
2.70 |
0.00 |
7.21 |
Group 1.
ItŐs going to rain outside. You should bring an umbrella just in
case it will rainrains. But
I think you had better stay at home, .you You can go to buy some bread
tomorrow. You have to finish your homework and clean your room. You must finish it before dinner, and
then you may do whatever you want.
Use present tense in the DC.
Comma splice
Group 2.
She should be eatingeat
your
her breakfast around 7 oŐclock. Otherwise,
sShe might not be catching catch bus
on time, and can be being late. She
must not be goingshould not go
to bed late and, instead, had better be
gettingget up earlier in morning, so she could
be goingcan get to school on
time.
BE is a stative verb.
NEVER use a stative verb in a continuous. Only active verbs can be used in
continuous forms. Use continuous only when it is necessary to emphasize the
ongoing nature of an action.
Group
3.
You should have remembered
your motherŐs birthday, so you could have
bought a present to her.
You used to forgetforgot
her birthday once last year, and you forgot it again this year. so
you must have done something to fix it. It
is obvious you have done nothing to change your habit.
'Used to' shows a past
habit. Doing something once is NOT a habit. It is simply one completed past
action.
Group 4.
He is going
to do take an
exam tomorrow, so he should not have been goinggone
out tonight. He might have been doingshould
have done his homework and finishing finished
it before midnight. It's 11:30. He
must have been drivingought
to drive home now. then Then he
could have been goingget to
bed around midnight.
Use continuous only when it is necessary to emphasize the ongoing nature of an action. Please review my video and audio lectures on using past modals and continuous forms.
8 modals are used
correctly.
4
error-free sentences.
185 words
Vocabulary Profile:
% |
91.35 |
7.03 |
0.00 |
1.62 |
Group 1
If
I want to pass my classes, I ought to study
every day. I have to study hard before
each test. I might study at the library
after class, and I know I should come go to
the tutoring center for help. When I have free time, I must not
just play games. From this
time onenow on/this time onward, I would
will devote more time to doing
my homework, and I must learn
how to allocate my time properly. I may not pass
all of my classes with an A, but I might have
a
better grades than last semester.
Come here Go there/away
Devote (time) to + n/pron/ger
If you have more than one class, you'll have more than one
grade.
Group
2
Ken
should
must be sleeping right now. He might be dreaming about a new
car. He could be sleeping right now because he had worked late last night. I
had better not be waking him up when he is sleeping.
Otherwise, he would be so upsetting. Because Ken doesnŐt have to be working
today, I will just leave the house without waking him up.
Ken should be sleeping right now. (He is not sleeping now.)
Ken must be sleeping right now. (I am pretty sure he is
sleeping.)
Group
3
I
should have bought a present
for my brotherŐs birthday but I didnŐt have much money. If I had a better
apartment, I would prepare have prepared a
surprised birthday party for him. If I had a
car, I would not ask have asked/have had to
ask my friends to take me shopping. If I had knownknew
how to bake, I might have baked him a little
cake. We used to be best friends, and
shared everything with one another. However, I still regret that I wasnŐt able
to celebrate his birthday.
If knew how to bake (but I don't know how to bake)
'Know' is a stative verb.
Group 4
My
brother must have been forgettingforgotten
to call me because I have been waiting for him for more than 2 two hours.
He could have been calling me
while I was in the library. Because the signal might have not been
as strong, I didnŐt receive any messages. He might have been studying
all night, and thatŐs why he has forgotten his appointment with me.
You should have identified the verbs with modals by underlining them.
You used most of the modals correctly.
15 modals used
correctly
17
error-free sentences.
308 words
Vocabulary Profile:
% |
92.53 |
4.22 |
0.97 |
2.27 |
Group 1
You shouldn't give out your credit card number or social security number if you are not sure who is contracting.
Senior citizens should be especially
careful of scams . Eighty percent of victims of scams
are 65or older . They often think that
they have to buy
something in order to win a prize and often send a lot money on useless items
.Or they think that their chances of winning might increase
if they buy the company product . But you don't have to buy
anything or send any money . In addition , the
company must tell
you your chances of winning.
This
paragraph is perfect, using modals very well. The only exception is in
mechanics: there should not be a space before a comma or a
period.
Group2
My daughter is been using the Internet
all day. sShe might be doing
her homework.
I know I should be studying
for my test on Monday and not watching TV . but
there isyet
my program is on .
You should
not be talking on your cell phone when while
you are driving. It could
be dangerous.
My sister is not answering
her cell phone. Sshe
must be sleeping
now. This is a run-on sentence. To
fix a run-on, separate the simple sentences with a period (or add a
comma and a coordinating conjunction.)
I can not sleep
because of noise coming from my
neighbor's apartment. she She might be
having
a party. Run-on
ESL students have to be practicing English
all the time.
Group3
I have
to call me my boyfriend.
he
He told me he may not have had
time to call me because he has sore muscles
score . Run-on. He should not
have exercised hard yesterday ,
he could have
gotten
sick, but
he used to dousually does
that every day . Comma splice.
To
fix a comma splice error, separate the simple sentences with a period (or add a
coordinating conjunction after the comma.)
His muscles are sore. He has sore muscles.
GROUPGroup
4
Mmy
sister got a speeding ticket ,she should not have been driving
over speed limit. comma splice
I missed my mom's call. Possessive.
I must have been taking
a shower when she called.
I could
have been learning English instead of ringing
hanging out with friends.
I might
have been sleeping when (Who?) came.
Possessive.
22 modals used
correctly
11 error-free
sentences.
286 words
Vocabulary Profile:
% |
88.81 |
4.20 |
1.75 |
5.24 |
Group1.
I attendedarrive
latelylate
to
thean importance
important meeting yesterday. I should have gone
to bed earlier last night, but I had
to study English. I used to attend
a
meetingmeetings on time but I wasnŐt able
to make it on time yesterday. My boss said that
we must not have beenbe
late to a technical meeting.
Group2.
I am going to exercise
in
at a gym so I may have
to leave my house now. Because I will want
to reduce my body
fat, I should exercise
for 1 one hour
every day. Also I had better drink less
drink
beer and donŐt have got toI should not
eat too much meat.
Group3.
The first impression is very importance important;
therefore, you should/ought to try
to do polite questions toask
customers politely. Could you
like to take below questions?
I don't know what this
question means.
ŇShall you offer
the product?Ó
I don't know what this question means.
ŇWould you like to send me requested latter?Ó
I
don't know what this question means.
ŇCan I change a meeting schedule?
Can/May we reschedule the meeting?
I could have talked
to my customer using it ??? when I was supposed to support a
technical issue. If you are able to talk politely to your friend you ought
tomay be able to make a good
relationship with him.
What does 'using it' mean? Do you mean using polite language?
Confusing: Do you mean 'you' or 'I'? 'customers' or 'friends'?
Besides polite language, you should also learn correct grammar and word choice. I recommend you listen to my video and audio lectures while reviewing the textbook. Get tutorial help on campus in the Academic Spport Center, Room S2-401, or online at Smarthinking. You may access Smarthinking from the Lessons area.
6 modals used correctly
2
error-free sentences.
173 words
Vocabulary Profile:
% |
90.17 |
5.20 |
2.31 |
2.31 |
You had better take care yourself.
She had to run around
the park to find her dog yesterday.
Lan could not stay home alone last
week.
Mai can't drive on the freeway.
You must go home
right now. Your mom is waiting .
Sue may take your
wallet with her to Las Vegas.
You should be being
a good father.
I was supposed to
be a good cook. What do you mean?
She should
have talked to her boy friend about his baby
These few sentences are not written according to the instructions (Groups 1-4). The sentences are unrelated. They do not demonstrate a clear understanding of the differences in meaning of the various modals. There are no compound, complex, or compound-complex sentences – only simple sentences.
6 modals used correctly
79 words
Vocabulary Profile:
% |
87.34 |
3.80 |
0.00 |
8.86 |
You
shouldnŐt eat those food
that is starting to rot because it could cause stomach stomach
problems/a stomachache. You had better take care of your own health. Or, or
you might end up in the hospital. I truly hope that you would will take
this/my
advice seriously because if you are sick, you may lose your
job. I would rather spend money on
fresh food than to eat rotten food to save money and
risk my health.
Food: noncoun noun (ncn)
She
must be have been doing
exercise when you called because her mom told me that she
needs to do some work out when I call at 8:30 am. She should be arriving at
our place around 11:00 am.
You ought to be studying for
your exam that you are going to take tomorrow. Then tonight, you would not be burningwill
not have to burn the middle midnight
oil. You could
also be helpinghelp
me with the house workhousework. You donŐt have to be waiting
outside for her.
I don't understand the relationship of these sentences. It is
difficult to imagine the context, the situation.
He
must have forgotten about me. When I walked close to him, he didnŐt
say hello to me.
We
used to sit next to each other in the school
library when we were at thein
elementary school.
We
were supposed to study not
eatingbut not eat / without eating in the
library, but we often brought food in to share.
I should have talked to him, but I was with
other colleagues.
How is the last sentence related to the others? Is it?
They (Who?)
must have been partying all
night. They could not have been
going out at allstayed home because the door
was lockedlights were all out, the
house was quiet, and their cars were gone. The parents should have been
callingcalled to check on them out. I would not have been letting let my
kid to go there.
This paragraph also needs greater unity and coherence.
14 modals used
correctly
9 error-free
sentences.
254 words
Vocabulary Profile:
% |
92.52 |
5.12 |
0.79 |
1.57 |
1. I have one week of vacation in a month, but I didnŐt
decidehaven't decided yet where I will go
because I have two places that I really want to go. What should I do?
2. Next week I have an important test. I had better study if I want to pas pass that
test.
Run-on sentence: To fix a run-on, separate the simple sentences with a period (or add a comma and a coordinating conjunction.)
3. Every time that I plan to go Las Vegas,
something happens. Now I can can't?
believe that
my friend who support was supposed to
go with me is moving to another country.
SVA, vocab
4. I lost my phone last mondayMonday,
so I was thinking to buyof buying
a new phone, but the phones are so expensive. Lucky meLuckily,
I found my phone, so I donŐt have to buy a new
one.
5. Last Sunday I went to Lake Tahoe to do go snowboarding,
but I could not do it because I hurt my arm with on the
car door.
6. I bought a lot of clothes and gifts for my family members
who are live in my country, so I had to send all those
presents as soon as I cancould.
7. To play volley ballVollelyball
is one of my favorite sports, and I
would rather be playing with my team than be doing
my homework.
To fix a comma splice error, separate the simple sentences with a period, or add a coordinating conjunction after the comma
8. I donŐt know what happened today with to my
car key today, but I could not be
openingopen the door, so I need had to
call the insureinsurance company.
9. One of my friends likes to
dance, and today I went his her place,
but couldnŐt find her. She might be have
been dancing in the studio.
10. My teacher told us. Weus
that we should be practicing more,
special
especially if we are beginners
because to playplaying the
guitar is hard.
Fragment
11. Even though we practiced every day for three hours, we can
notcannot finish be finishinglearning
the piece for our perfuming performance next
week.
12. My doctor said if I continue to eat fat fattening
food, I will have
serious problems with my health, so I have to be eatingeat
healthy food now.
13. Because I hurt my arm with on the
car door. I should not have gotten out of the
car. ??
This does not make sense. If you had not gotten out of the car, you would not have been able to go snowboarding! Maybe: I should have gotten out of the car more carefully, and I would not have injured my arm
14. Two weeks ago I had a test, and I fell failed
it because I could not have studieddid
not study for that test. I should have studied
for the test.
15. Next week I will have a dinner
with some of my friends, and one of them wants to
try a Bolivian food if I have a time to
cook. I might have cookedcook some
food from my country.
16. When I was teenager, I used to play basket ball,
but now I donŐt play any more.
17. The doctors didnŐt haven't
found yet a cure for AIDS yet, but they
might have beenbe doing
some experiments with some animals for foundto
find the a cure.
Comma splice (cs)
18. I have a lot of homework because I am taking three classes
this semester if I want o pass all this class I must
have
been finishingfinish all
of
my homework.
Can you fix the run-on?
19. I can cannot believe
the
that time goes so fast, and I have a lot of homework to do, I should have been doing homework
the other days instead of dancing and hanging out with my friends.
20. My sister is taking some classes, and next week she is
going to have a test, so she should have been studyingstudy
if she wants to pass those classes
10 modals used correctly
0 error-free sentences.
516 words
Vocabulary Profile:
% |
90.89 |
5.04 |
0.39 |
3.68 |
Group I
I should go to see my dentist because I want
to check my teeth. I would rather avoid it because
going there is not pleasant for me. I might postpone our
meetingmy appointment for theto
next week. I will have to take my insurance
card with me because I have just changed the insurance
companies/plans. Luckily, I do not have to drive because my
dentistŐs office is just behind my house.
Group 2
This year he (Who?)
might be going to his home country. He should be visiting his old parents and helping
them to sell a house. He would rather be going to the
beach, but his he does
need to see his parents. He does not have to be spending a
lot of (?) time with them but he ought to be helping them. He might be
visitingvisit his friends while he is there.
Group 3
John did not use to have pets when he was young. He should have gotten a cat because they do not
require too much attention. He would have had to feed it,
though. Then again, he could have bought an automatic feeder.
Group 4
John could have been attending college, but he
was too lazy to study. Because of that, he now
works at a factory. In fact, right now, he is now supposed to be working in a factorythere.
He should have been goinggone to
work this morning, but he slept
until noon. He could have been goinggone to
bed earlier this week, but he (another past activity) instead.
Each group of sentences has good content, especially groups
1-3. You should have identified the verbs with modals by underlining them.
16 modals used
correctly
14 error-free
sentences.
227 words
Vocabulary profile:
|
89.87 |
7.05 |
0.88 |
2.20 |
Group 1
Some tips for traveling: Before you leave, you can make an online hotel
reservation. You could ask a friend to take you to
airport. You may need to
take some cash in case the ATM doesnŐt work. You should check the
weather, so you can decide what kind of clothes you should take. You have to make sure
you have paid your cell phone bill unless
so that the provider will not shut
downcut off your service. The most important thing is you must have your passport with you.
You only need to take your passport if you travel outside of
the country.
Group 2
It is 9:00 am,
Tracy should be sitting in the class room
because our class begins 8:50 am. But she is not here. There must be
something happeningSomething must have
happened to her. She might be feeling badly.
She may be having encountered
a traffic problem. She could be arriving in
any minute. Now, I had better be listeninglisten
to the teacher.
Group 3
I should have called my
sister on her birthday. I used to send her a
gift on each birthday. She must have been very
upset because she was supposed to call me, but she didnŐt.
Group 4
I should have been studying last
night, but I didnŐtwasn't (studying). I could have been doingdone
better on the test, if I had studied.
I was supposed to be writing my essay yesterday, but
I went to shopping. I must have been
eatingeaten something wrong because I
had a stomach ache.
How is the last sentence related to the rest of the paragraph? Other than this, the sentences in each group are closely related.
15 modals used
correctly
12 error-free
sentences.
225 words
Vocabulary profile:
% |
90.22 |
5.78 |
0.00 |
4.00 |
Group 1
There are many rules what that I
have to know before come I go to
the Ac?? zoo. The
first thing is you I should
buy the a ticket
and the a parking
permit online before you I have
the plan to go there. If not, it may be more expensive than onlineat
the door. The second thing is you I canŐt
bring food and or drink
into the zoo. You I ought
to prepare some one- dollar
bills to buy some drinks and food at from
vending machines. The most important
thing is you I had
better not touch and or feed food the
animals. It might make the animals angry and sick. I hope they are
helpful if you have plans to go there.
Don't mix up the point of you. Either 'I' or 'you' but not both!
Group 2
Nancy might
be doing homework by 3 amat 3
pm. We shouldnŐt be cominggo
to her home to bother her because her class may be having the a test
tomorrow. We had better be callingcall
her later. Right now, we must be callingcall
to
Steven and coming go to
his house to cook some favorite food. She Nancy
can be joiningjoin us
later.
Use continuous only to emphasize ongoing actions.
Group 3
This semester, I may have takenam
taking a an online
class because I didnŐt don't have
enough time to come go to
school. I should have spentspend
more than 8 hours a week to study. I must have comego
to the school 2 two days
in all the whole semester
for the midterm and the final.
I am supposed to turned turn
in my homework on time every day. It is not
an
easy class everat all.
Please review my video and audio lectures on using past modals. This context is PRESENT, not PAST.
Group 4
I am busy right now. I have to be
preparingprepare the a presentation
for next week's class. I am supposed to be
sending my essay to my partner. I shouldnŐt have
been practicing???,
so I may not have been goingbe able to
with
you to the theater with you. I feel so sorry.
This context is PRESENT, not PAST
You apparently understand how to use the basic present-future modals, but you need to learn the other forms. Please review my video and audio lectures on using past modals.
8 modals used correctly
0 error-free sentence
with a modal.
277 words
Vocabulary profile:
% |
90.25 |
3.25 |
0.72 |
5.78 |
Group 1
There are some tips to
help you getting familiar with a
foreign language. You can listen
to the songs in that language. You donŐt
have to understand
every sentence. That could be
very hard for you
to do. You may
also want
to watch TV shows in that language,
which is one more thing I would rather do. It must be
difficult
to understand what are they talking about in the shows at first. But you had
better get
used to it.
The last sentence
sounds like a threat.
Group 2
He might be
arrivingarrive by 1:00pm. You had
better not
calling call him
at this moment because he has to
be driving carefully. The
trip shouldnŐt be lastinglast for more
than 3 hours. He must be looking
for somewhere forfor a place to have
lunch right now. You donŐt have to be standing stand
here
until he arrives.
There's no reason to
focus on ongoing action in most of this paragraph.
Group 3
You should have finished
the homework. You are
supposed to use
8 hours to do it every week. Amy couldnŐt
have done
it because she was has been out
of town these days. She might have
talked with
the teacher about her absence/about the assignments.
Group 4
My boyfriend might have been waiting
for me for more
than three hours when I finished class yesterday. The class was supposed to
be
lastinglast for just two and half hours.
The technician of the computer lab must
have been doing
something wrong so that all the PCs in the lab couldnŐt
run
well. I shouldnŐt wouldn't have
been wasting my time on waiting if I had my
laptop with me.
242 words
Each group contains related sentences, and overall the sentence structure is good.
16 modals used
correctly
14
error-free sentences.
Vocabulary profile:
% |
93.39 |
2.07 |
0.41 |
4.13 |