Universidad Autónoma Del Estado De Hidalgo Sistema De Universidad Virtual Inglés 5 (English 5) UNIDAD 1 SUGERENCIAS Y POSSIBILIDADES ( UNIT 1 SUGGESTIONS AND POSSIBILITIES ) “Possibilities” E.T.E. Karim Juárez Cortes Idea original y Diseño

Use of the language

PhrasesMustCanCouldMayMight

Phrases PhrasesExamples I bet … I bet the thief climbed down the rope. I bet my mother prepares this delicious dish. It’s likely… It’s likely ( that) you didn’t do the homework,. It’s likely (that) the thief opened the skylight. There’s a good chance … There’s a good chance that you like pizza. There’s a good chance that the thief climbed down the rope. I doubt … I doubt (that) he used a rope. I doubt you get a good score. It doesn’t seem possible… It doesn’t seem possible you pass the admission test. It doesn’t seem possible your father likes beers. It’s unlikely … It’s unlikely that you didn’t do the homework. It’s unlikely the thief climbed down the rope.

When you use phrases, after that you can use THAT. Examples: I bet you run faster than me. OR I bet that you run faster than me.

MUST We use ‘must’ to say that something is logically necessary, or that we suppose it is certain. Examples:  If classroom A is bigger than classroom B, and classroom B is bigger than classroom C, then classroom A must be bigger than classroom C.  Mary must have a problem – she keeps crying.  Susan must be broken – she sold her car yesterday.  There’s the doorbell. It must be Roger.

“CAN" expresses more certainty possibility. Examples:  It can be my mother, please answer the call.  You can work here. The negative is ‘cannot or can’t’, not must not.  No, it can’t be Roger. It’s too early. (NOT…it mustn’t be Roger…) ‘Can’ is used in questions.  There’s the phone. Who can it be? CAN

“Could” expresses weaker possibility. Examples:  You could go to the park with your cousin.  Maria could help you in this area.  We could take an extra course. COULD

‘May’ suggests that something is possible. Examples:  She may be at home. (perhaps a 50% chance)  According with the radio news. It may rain tomorrow.  We may find dangerous animals in the jungle. We use MAY + base form of the verb. MAY

MIGHT It is used to express that something is possible, now or in the future. Also it expresses a weaker possibility. Examples:  Monkeys might learn to be afraid of things.  We might find some insects in this garden.  The thief might open the skylight. We use MIGHT + base form of the verb.

References: Bibliography:  Bowen T. (2010). Open Mind 3 Teacher’s edition. Thailand: Macmillan.  Evans V. & Dooley J. ( 2000). Enterprise 1 Grammar. UK: Express Publishing.  Evans V. & Dooley J. ( 1999). Enterprise 3 Grammar. UK: Express Publishing.  Evans V. & Dooley J. (2004). Upstream Pre- Intermediate B1. USA: Express Publishing.  Swan, M. and Walter, C. (1997). How English Works A Grammar Practice Book. USA: Oxford University Press.