Grammar in Context
Study the following sentences from both Text A and Text B, paying special attention to the modal auxiliaries would, must, might, can't, should.
1) If it were as easy to learn English as they say, I would have to look foranother job, because very few qualified teachers would be needed. (Para. 1, Text A)
2) But a large number of people must believe these ridiculous claims, or else the advertisements would not appear. (Para. 1, Text A)
3) If we were parrots or chimpanzees, these methods might be successful. A large number of theorists seem to think it is a pity we aren't, because it would make it easier to use their methods. (Para. 4, Text A)
4) I very tentatively suggested that, since she was a skillful rider and loved horses, she might like to read National Velvet. (Para. 5, Text B)
5) She tried it, and though she must have found it quite a bit harder than what she had been reading, she finished it and liked it very much. (Para. 5,Text B)
6) From a glimpse of the illustrations I thought I knew what the book was. I said to myself, "It can't be,” and went to take a closer look. (Para. 6,Text B)
7) Why should we insist that every child should read the same book and get the same scrap of “understanding” out of it? (Para. 7, Text B)
would, must, might, can't, should 的用法：
would:
1) 表示请求、建议等，比will更委婉：
Would you pass me the ball, please?
2) 表示意志、愿望和决心：
They asked him if he would go abroad.
3) would表示过去反复发生的动作或某种倾向。would表示过去习惯时比used to正式，且没有“现已无此习惯”的含义：
The wound would not heal.
4) 表示估计和猜想：
It would be about ten o'clock when she left home.
must
1) 表示必须、必要（说话人的主观看法）：
The play isn’t interesting, I reallymust go now.
2) 表示推测、可能性（只用于肯定的陈述句）：
You're Tom's good friend, so you must know what he likes best.
might
1) 表示请求和允许，比may语气更委婉，而不是过去式。否定回答时可用can’t或mustn't，表示“不可以，禁止”：
-- Might I take this book out of the room?
--No, you can't / mustn't.
2) 表示推测、可能性（不用于疑问句），它所表示的可能性比may小:
He might be very busy now.
can't
1) 表示对过去行为的怀疑或不肯定,
He can't have been to that town.
2) 表示“不可以，禁止”：
You can't take the book out of the room.
should
1) 表示“应该”:
I should help her because she is in trouble.
2) 表示劝告、建议和命令：
Should I open the window?
3) 表示客观推测：
He should be home by now.
Now, do the tasks on Pages 60-61 in your textbook.
