UNIT 6: MODALS TO EXPRESS DEGREES OF CERTAINTY

• For me is important to know that we have to use

MUST HAVE /HAD TO HAVE” + PAST PARTICIPLE

When we are speculating about the past and are almost certain.

For instance:

A: I am sure that I turned on my TV.

B: Do not worry. Your husband is here and he must have turned it off.

• Also let me tell you that when we speculate in negative about the past we have two possibilities:

COULDN’T HAVE

CAN’T HAVE

Both have the same meaning.

For instance:

Oh! It is a disaster but my brother was outside yesterday, so he couldn’t have done it.

Or

Oh! It is a disaster but my brother was outside yesterday, so he can’t have done it.

• When you are slightly less certain, you have to use

MUST NOT HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

For instance:

My uncle must not have traveled to Loreto.

• In questions we use
  
  CAN HAVE/ COULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
  
  For instance:
  Could / Can that have discovered the penicillin?
  
  Vanessa Correa - AO4

UNIT 6: MODALS TO EXPRESS DEGREES OF CERTAINTY

well, I am happy that I can use some modals such as should, ought to , might , may and could to express almosr certain or less certain and a future action or event.

E.G.
1.- We may know the answer soon .
2.- we might pass the final exam.
3.-We ought to solve the problem soon

IT 'S NICE TO LEARN NEW THINGS EACH DAY
OCTAVIO CHIRINOS A0G4

Modals to express degrees of certainty - UNIT 6

I think the topic of modals to express degrees of certainty was really interesting .Well this is my opinion ,
but inside of this topic , you know there are modals to speculate about the future and this is what I am talking about.

SHOULD / OUGHT TO are not only used to give advice in the present as we saw in the previous unit, right.

Also they are used when you ARE ALMOST CERTAIN ABOUT A FUTURE ACTION OR EVENT.

EXAMPLES:

1. Maria should / ought to do well on the test tomorrow.

(In these two possible sentences, the speaker is saying,

"She will probably do well on the test. That is what I think will happen." )

2. We should/ ought to be able to go to Spain next holidays if we keep saving at this rate.

3. It shouldn't take us long to clean up this mess if we all help.

( In these sentences we want something to happen , and it is reasonable to expect it to )

4. She ought to / should take us for a drive soon.

5. I should /ought to take a walk tomorrow.

(Expectations)

Milagros Cori Fleishman - (A04F)

UNIT 6

The topic about modal to express degrees or certainty was very interesting, because I learned to use modals correctly, when I'm speculating. For example If you want to express speculations or possibilities (50%) about a past situation, you have to use may have/might have and could have + past participle .

Example:
Fact: I was waiting my friend and didn't come.

• She may have forgotten our meeting.
• She might have had an accident.
• She could have gotten lost and arrived when I left.

And also I learned that could have + past participle has two meanings.

Fact: My relatives came here for one week.

• A degree of certainty:
  I could have visited them. (when it's a possibility)
  
• When it's a missed oportunity:
  I could have visited them. (I didn't)

In the negative, use may not have /might not have + past participle

• He may / might not have had enough money to buy that present.

In question, use might have/ could have + past participle

• Might/could she have had enough money?

Saby Chachi-AO4F-Advance Grammar 1

UNIT 5 and UNIT 6 : MODALS

I realize that integrated skills approach help us to understand, and practice English Grammar. It allows us to gain condidence in our abilities to write accurately and very fluenty. It is important to know grammatical structures and use them correctly.

The Grammar in these units was one of the most startling for me. In these sections show the grammar structure with:

Perfect Modals that refer the future or past.

1. In an action completed before a moment of focus in the future.

Example 1:

My mom may have already gone to bed by the time, I get home tonight.

2. Most often refer to past time and mean:

a. that an action did not occur

b. we are not certain whether an action ocurred or not.

Example 2:

Vickie should have gotten my msg by now.

may

must

Should and Ought to mean:

1. an action is responsability or ethical obligation.

2. an action is advisable, a good idea.

Example 3:

Cristina should finish all her work soon.

Had better:

express advisability when we want to tell someone how to avoid an undesirable consequent.

Example 4:

Hellen had better take your umbrella. (if you don't, you'll get wet)

To develop more our abilities we should keep an "idea file" to increase our creativity and store ideas. Another idea could be to make outlines to understand the organization (reading, writing).

Finally, I am very sure that we will master Grammar course when we have understood grammatical structures in all contexts.

Ericka Cojoma

A04F