How to use modal verbs

How to use modal verbs

can

Can is used in three ways. It is used to show that something is possible:

"You can come to the party if you want."

Can is also used when making a request or when asking for permission:

"Can I leave the office early today?"

Use can to show an ability:

"I can speak English."

should / ought to

Give advice and talk about a duty using should and ought to.

"I think you should be more careful about what you eat."

"I ought to cut the grass while it's sunny."

must / have to

Must and have to are both strong words and have a similar meaning. This is the difference in use:

must

Must shows an obligation (something that we have no choice about). It usually refers to a personal obligation - something we decide.

"I must remember to call my sister tonight."

have to

Have to is also an obligation, but it is an obligation that comes from someone else, which we must follow.

"I have to return these books to the library. They are due back today."

must not (mustn't)

must not is also used for something that is prohibited (not allowed)

"I mustn't wear jeans to work."

Can you think of any example sentences? Write at least three sentences...Now!
Webgraphy:  http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/how-use-modal-verbs

What is Grammar?

What is Grammar?

Grammar is the system of a language. People sometimes describe grammar as the "rules" of a language; but in fact no language has rules*. If we use the word "rules", we suggest that somebody created the rules first and then spoke the language, like a new game. But languages did not start like that. Languages started by people making sounds which evolved into words, phrases and sentences. No commonly-spoken language is fixed. All languages change over time. What we call "grammar" is simply a reflection of a language at a particular time.

Webgraphy:http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/grammar-what.htm

how should we use the infinitive in grammar

How should we use the infinitive

FUNCTION

The most common uses of the infinitive are:
To indicate the purpose or intention of an action (where the 'to' has the same meaning as 'in order to' or 'so as to'):

• She's gone to collect her pay cheque.
• The three bears went into the forest to find firewood.

As the subject of the sentence:

• To be or not to be, that is the question.
• To know her is to love her.
  (Note: this is more common in written English than spoken)

With nouns or pronouns, to indicate what something can be used for, or what is to be done with it:

• Would you like something to drink?
• I haven't anything to wear.
• The children need a garden to play in.

After adjectives in these patterns:

• It is + adjective +to-infinitive
  It is good to talk
• It is + adjective + infinitive + for someone + to-infinitive.
  It is hard for elephants to see mice
• It is + adjective + infintive + of someone + to-infinitive.
  It is unkind of her to say that.

After an adjective + noun when a comment or judgement is being made:

• It was a stupid place to park the car.
• This is the right thing to do.
• It was an astonishing way to behave.

With too and enough in these patterns:
too much/many (+ noun) + to-infinitive

• There's too much sugar to put in this bowl.
• I had too many books to carry.

too + adjective + to-infinitive

• This soup is too hot to eat.
• She was too tired to work.

too + adverb + to-infinitive

• He arrived too late to see the actors.

enough (+ noun) + to-infinitive

• I've had enough (food) to eat.

adjective + enough + to-infinitive

• She's old enough to make up her own mind.

not enough (+noun) + to-infinitive

• There isn't enough snow to ski on.

not + adjective + enough + to-infinitive

• You're not old enough to have grand-children.

webgraphy: http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/infinitive_function.php

Why is it important to use correct grammar ?

Why is it important to use correct grammar ? 

From time to time I find myself getting involved in a discussion about grammar. It's always the same: on one hand we have the people who argue that good grammar is important, and on the other hand we have those who say it isn't. Here I present my reasons for good grammar being important.

It boils down to this:

The purpose of good grammar is to ensure that what you write is correctly comprehended and is easy and enjoyable to read.

 

 

7 grammar rules you really should pay attention to

7 grammar rules you really should pay attention to 

1. The subjunctive
This one is pretty simple. When you're writing about a non-true situation — usually following the word if or the verb wish — the verb to be is rendered as were.
2. Bad parallelism
This issue comes up most often in lists, for example: My friend made salsa, guacamole, and brought chips. If you start out by having made cover the first two items, it has to cover subsequent ones as well. To fix, you usually have to do just a little rewriting. Thus, My friend made salsa and guacamole and brought chips to go with them.
3. Verb problems
There are a few persistent troublemakers you should be aware of.
4. Pronoun problemsLet's take a look at three little words. Not "I love you," but me, myself and I. Grammatically, they can be called object, reflexive, and subject. As long as they're by themselves, object and subject don't give anyone problems.
5. The 'dangling' conversation
In a class, I once assigned students to "review" a consumer product. One student chose a bra sold by Victoria's Secret.
6. The semicolon
I sometimes say that when you feel like using a semicolon, lay lie down till the urge goes away. But if you just can't resist, remember that there are really only two proper uses for this piece of punctuation. One is to separate two complete clauses (a construction with a subject and verb that could stand on its own as a sentence).
7. WordsAs I noted in my previous article, the meaning of words inevitably and perennially change. And you can get in trouble when you use a meaning that has not yet been widely accepted. 
Webgraphy: https://theweek.com/article/index/241295/7-grammar-rules-you-really-should-pay-attention-to

have got to

RULES OF HAVE GOT TO

1. Use have (got) to in the affirmative/positive form to talk about an obligation, or something that is necessary to do.

Have (got) to is always followed by a verb. You can think of it as have (got) + infinitive. Have to and have got to have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably.

We have (got) to go to school tomorrow.
James cancelled our date tonight. He’s (got) to work late.
You can’t just show up at her house! You have (got) to call her first.

2. Have got to is NOT commonly used in American English in the negative form. Use don’t and doesn’t with have to.

I don’t have to be at work until 2pm tomorrow.
She doesn’t have to start her new job until May 9th.
We don’t have to go to school tomorrow! Yay!
X: I haven’t got to be at work until 2pm tomorrow.
X: She hasn’t got to start her new job until May 9th.

3. Have got to is NOT commonly used in American English in a question. Use do/don’t and does/doesn’t in a question.

Do you have to go to school tomorrow?
Don’t you have to be home by midnight?
Does this report have to be finished today?
Doesn’t she have to work tomorrow?
X: Have you got to go to school tomorrow?
X: What time have you got to be there?

4. In American English, have got to is ONLY used in the simple present tense.

Have to can be used in the simple past:

We had to leave before the concert was over.
She had to leave the party early because she had to be home by midnight.
He had to spend $2,000 to repair his car after the accident.

In American English, have (got) to is not used in the present continuous form.

X: I am having (got) to …

5. You can use have (got) to to talk about the future if you have already made plans to do something, or if you are now obligated to do something in the future.

Even though you are talking about something happening in the future, the simple present tense is still used:

I have (got) to call my mom tomorrow.
We have (got) to go shopping for a dress before the wedding.
He has (got) to improve his grades before he can go to university.

6. You can use will/won’t have to [NOT will have got to] in the 1st conditional (future possible/real conditional). It means that you will be obligated to do something or it will be necessary to something in the future:

If I don’t go to university I will have to get a job.
When the kids grow up and move out, we‘ll have to sell the house and move into a smaller one.

Be going to can be used instead of will:

The new owners of the farm are going to have to tear down the old barn and build a new one.
If she doesn’t buy a new car, she‘s going to have to take the bus every day to work.

7. Have got to can also be used as an exclamation. Use have got to when you are certain about something (in the simple present tense):

You can’t be serious. You have got to be kidding me!
She has got to be crazy to want to bungee jump!
This has got to be your sweater! It’s definitely not mine.

8. Gotta is NOT a word!

‘Gotta’ is the sound that native English speakers make when they say ‘got to.’ It is NOT a proper English word and should NOT be used in written English!
Webgraphy: http://www.englishteachermelanie.com/grammar-have-to-have-got-to/

ought to

The verb ought to only exists in simple present and present perfect forms.
Examples:

• Helen ought to be more careful.
  
• I ought to stay in bed.
  
• They ought to be here already.
  
• You ought to eat more vegetables.
  
• Tom ought to take her home.
  
• It ought to work properly.

  The forms of ought to:

All persons	Present	Present perfect
Affirmative	ought to	ought to have
Negative	ought not to,  oughtn't to	ought not to have,  oughtn't to have