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SCHEDA
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20-11-2009
10:49
Pagina 124
Verbi modali: regole e usi
Modal verbs
I verbi modali sono:
can, could, may, might, must, ought to, needn’t, should, shall, will, would
Forma
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I modali sono sempre seguiti dalla forma base del verbo (senza il to dell’infinito).
He can cook and paint really well.
We must hurry.
Nella forma negativa si aggiunge not al modale.
He cannot (can’t) leave.
They will not (won’t) go.
Con may, might e shall, la forma negativa generalmente non viene contratta:
They might not be happy with our offer.
Nelle forme interrogative i modali vanno prima del soggetto (e non richiedono l’ausiliare do / did).
Can you come tonight?
What will he say?
Al presente indicativo i modali non prendono la -s della terza persona singolare.
He can swim. non He cans swim.
She must come before he leaves. non She musts come.
I verbi modali sono ripresi nelle risposte brevi e nei question tags.
Will you arrive before next week? – No, I won’t.
Can you speak Russian? – Yes, I can.
You can ride a horse, can’t you?
He should be here by now, shouldn’t he?
I verbi modali non hanno le forme
dell’infinito, per cui si deve ricorrere
ad altri verbi, come indicato nella
tabella. Must ha solo la forma del
presente; should e ought to sono
sinonimi.
Uso
Verbi modali
can
may
must
needn’t
shall
will
Infinito
could
(to) be able
might
(to) be allowed, (to) be permitted
/
(to) have to
/
should / ought to
would
L’uso dei verbi modali può essere ricondotto a due grandi aree di significato:
– un significato logico di possibilità e predizione, che va dal certo al meno certo;
– un significato legato agli usi sociali della lingua (permesso, obbligo, volontà, ecc.), secondo gradi
che vanno dal forte al debole.
Grado di certezza
It will arrive.
It must be here.
It should phone.
It may arrive.
It might / could arrive.
Grado di forza dell’affermazione
will
must
should
may
might / could
+
–
will / shall
must
should
/
could
I will phone you.
You must study.
You should do your homework.
You could do your homework.
In genere, i verbi modali usati al passato suonano meno diretti o esprimono esitazione. Le seguenti
frasi pongono tutte la stessa domanda. Osserva il diverso modo di avanzare una richiesta, dal tono
più perentorio e diretto a quello più esitante e indiretto.
Open the window, will you?
perentorio
Open the window, please!
diretto
Can you open the window, please?
gentile
Could you open the window?
indiretto
I wonder if you can open the window.
molto indiretto
I wonder if you could open the window.
molto, molto indiretto
Nota anche i seguenti esempi:
Can I talk to you?
You must give up smoking.
Will you help me?
He may come.
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Could I talk to you?
You should give up smoking.
Would you mind helping me?
He might come.
più indiretto
meno perentorio
più indiretto
più esitante
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Pagina 125
Exercises
5. They won’t arrive on time.
1
Riordina le parole per formare frasi.
Ex. OK. / hope / I / everything / will / be
....................................................................................................................
6. Can you pass me that box?
I..................................................................................................................
hope everything will be OK.
1. time. / arrive / not / might / They / on
....................................................................................................................
7. Will you help me with this?
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
2. me? / letter / you / this / Could / for / check
....................................................................................................................
4
3. money. / careful / be / should / You / more /
your / with
....................................................................................................................
Leggi la pagina di diario di Sarah e
inserisci un verbo modale negli spazi.
Scegli tra: might, might not, can, can’t,
must, mustn’t, should, shouldn’t.
4. to / must / visitors / All / report / reception.
Tuesday 30 September
....................................................................................................................
5. for / week? / have / I / my / money / pocket /
this / Can
....................................................................................................................
6. ought / call / They / to / us.
....................................................................................................................
2
Abbina le frasi alla funzione
comunicativa.
1.
You mustn’t do that again.
2.
Of course you can go to the party.
3.
I must have your report today.
4.
I’ll be in touch.
5.
We can’t get the door open.
6.
Can you help me with this?
7.
You should be more careful.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e. richiesta
f. consiglio
g. impossibilità
permesso
promessa
proibizione
obbligo
3
Leggi le frasi ed esprimi lo stesso
concetto con un minor grado di certezza
oppure in modo meno diretto.
Ex. I can finish it by this evening.
can’t .................................... imagine how
What a day! You (Ex.) .................
bad it’s been … It’s 11.30p.m. and I (1) ..................................................... be
asleep, but I (2) ..................................................... close my eyes without
thinking about today. My parents have just gone to bed so I
(3) ..................................................... write my diary in peace, finally.
Day started with a big argument. I love Giorgia dearly but she
(4) ..................................................... be more careful about what she says
to people – everyone seemed to know about me and Philippe
breaking up before we made it public – I (5) ................................ have a
quiet word with her tomorrow. I (6) ............................................... really
describe how I feel about Philippe – I know I (7) ................................................
start feeling down about it and everyone says I (8) ..........................................
think about it but we’d been together for a couple of years so it’s
quite hard not to.
Today’s Maths test didn’t go too well and I (9) ....................................... pass
– that (10) ..................................................... really please my Mum and
Dad. I (11) ..................................................... really get things together at
school before it’s too late. I hope I (12) ..................................................... at
least get a decent mark in the French test as that’s the only
subject I like at the moment .
Ah well, tomorrow’s another day. I’ve written everything I wanted
to so hopefully I (13) ........................................ get some sleep now – at last …
Night.
I..................................................................................................................
might finish it by this evening.
1. You must be here by 8.
....................................................................................................................
2. They may be able to help you.
....................................................................................................................
3. It’ll be cold tomorrow.
....................................................................................................................
4. Everything is OK.
....................................................................................................................
5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Traduci le seguenti frasi in inglese.
Dovresti stare più attento.
Devi arrivare prima dalle 9.00.
Sai giocare a cricket, non è vero?
Potresti aiutarmi ogni tanto.
Ti porto le foto domani.
Può darsi che venga a trovarci stasera.
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