Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Free Practice TOEFL iBT test
http://www.testden.com/challenge/free-TOEFL.asp?refererid=goog-africa-s-TOEFL&gclid=CjwKEAiAodOlBRDCjr-UlJDjtVUSJABR7fxyMtiYEo2JmSoxv1eJhXJOG5uszkuVQXo_esRDo3YbZBoCvGjw_wcB#
Friday, January 9, 2015
Should
Should
"Should" is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation.
Examples:
- When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam. recommendation
- You should focus more on your family and less on work. advice
- I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. obligation
- By now, they should already be in Dubai. expectation
Using "Should" in Present, Past, and Future
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "should" behaves in different contexts.
| Modal Use | Positive Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future | Negative Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future | You can also use: |
| should recommendation, advisability | 1. People with high cholesterol should eat low-fat foods.2. Frank should have eaten low-fat foods. That might have prevented his heart attack. 3. You really should start eating better. | 1. Sarah shouldn't smoke so much. It's not good for her health.2. Sarah shouldn't have smoked so much. That's what caused her health problems. 3. Sarah shouldn't smoke when she visits Martha next week. Martha hates when people smoke in her house. | ought to |
| should obligation | I should be at work before 9:00.We should return the video before the video rental store closes. "Should" can also express something between recommendation and obligation. "Be supposed to" expresses a similar idea and can easily be used in the past or in negative forms. | NO NEGATIVE FORMS | be supposed to |
| should expectation | 1. Susan should be in New York by now. 2. Susan should have arrived in New York last week. Let's call her and see what she is up to. 3. Susan should be in New York by next week. Her new job starts on Monday. | 1. Susan shouldn't be in New York yet.2. Susan shouldn't have arrived in New York until yesterday. 3. Susan shouldn't arrive in New York until next week. | ought to, be supposed to |
Could
Using "Could" in Present, Past, and Future
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "could" behaves in different contexts.
| Modal Use | Positive Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future | Negative Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future | You can also use: |
| could possibility | 1. John could be the one who stole the money.2. John could have been the one who stole the money. 3. John could go to jail for stealing the money. | 1. Mary couldn't be the one who stole the money.2. Mary couldn't have been the one who stole the money. 3. Mary couldn't possibly go to jail for the crime. | might, may |
| could conditional of can | 1. If I had more time, I could travel around the world.2. If I had had more time, I could have traveled around the world. 3. If I had more time this winter, I could travel around the world. | 1. Even if I had more time, I couldn't travel around the world.2. Even if I had had more time, I couldn't have traveled around the world. 3. Even if I had more time this winter, I couldn't travel around the world. | |
| could suggestion | 1. NO PRESENT FORM2. You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii. 3. You could spend your vacation in Hawaii. | NO NEGATIVE FORMS | |
| could past ability | I could run ten miles in my twenties.I could speak Chinese when I was a kid. "Could" cannot be used in positive sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability. Yesterday, I could lift the couch by myself. Not Correct | I couldn't run more than a mile in my twenties.I couldn't speak Swahili. "Could" can be used in negative sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability. Yesterday, I couldn't lift the couch by myself. Correct | be able to |
| could polite request | Could I have something to drink?Could I borrow your stapler? Requests usually refer to the near future. | Couldn't he come with us?Couldn't you help me with this for just a second? Requests usually refer to the near future. | can, may, might |
| REMEMBER: "Could not" vs. "Might not" "Could not" suggests that it is impossible for something to happen. "Might not" suggests you do not know if something happens.
Examples:
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