CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION

Watch this video from the BBC with instruction to prevent Coronavirus or any other virus diseases. The telephone numbers mentioned in the video are for the UK only. In Galicia there's a free-phone information number 900 400 116 or 061.

Video:

Prevention tips video:

At the peak of the coronavirus histeria, it's worth reminding that the best way to prevent the spreading and protect ourselves is a correct personal hygiene, which includes washing your hands. Because hands are the main gateway to the widespread of germs and viruses. Are we washing our hands correctly? Watch the video below to check.

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'MAY BE' vs 'MAYBE'

MODAL VERBS: CAN, MAY, MUST (HAVE TO), NEEDN'T, SHALL

CONFUSING USES: 'WILL', 'WOULD', 'SHALL' & 'SHOULD'

OFFERING, INVITING & REQUESTING

MODAL PERFECTS

When talking about past actions, we have to use modals in the past. MODAL PERFECTS.

USEFUL PHRASES IN A CAFÉ

Here are some useful phrases you'll need when you go to a café with different funcions: ordering, offering and paying.

ASKING & GIVING ADVICE. [CONFUSING 'ADVICE' vs 'ADVISE']

MODAL VERB: WILL/WOULD

COLLOCATIONS WITH "CAN'T"

Some charts with some collocations with modal verb CAN'T  that make up useful and common expressions.

MODAL VERBS: EXPRESSING PERMISSION

Above, modal verbs used to ask for permission. Below possible ways to give it.

MODAL VERB: MAY/MIGHT

MODAL VERB: SHALL/SHOULD (OUGHT TO)

MODAL VERB: CAN vs COULD

These charts show the different concepts behind modal verb CAN/COULD, and distinguishes the confusing uses between them. Concept: Ability, Possibility, Permission and Request. Uses: Present/Past, Poltiness/Informal

MODAL VERB: MUST

CONFUSING MODAL VERBS

On this post we're going to distinguish the use of modal verbs in pairs that can be confusing. For the basics on modal verbs click to this previous post HERE.

1) Distinguishing MAY & CAN.

2) Distinguishing WILL & WOULD:

3) Distinguishing MUST & SHOULD:

4) Distinguishing between modal verbs meaning PROBABILITY:

5) Distinguishing between modal verbs meaning PERMISSION:

6) Distinguishing MUST from semi-modal HAVE TO:

MODAL VERB CONCEPTS

About to start checking on modal verbs and their uses and concepts, from today on there are going to be a series of posts devoted to the topic: MODAL VERBS.

Remember the basics:

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:

1-Each verb has its different concept meaning or function. (Look at the chart above)

2- These verbs aren't conjugated. 
No "-S" in the third person singular present.  He can swim. (Not: *He cans swim)
They lack some verb forms, which are covered by semimodals of a similar meaning.
  He had to leave. (Not *He musted leave. Must doesn't have a simple past form)
  He will be able to do it. (Not *He will can do it. Can doesn't have a future form)
[Semi-modal verbs that are used instead of the modal are:
HAVE TO for MUST (obligation)
BE ABLE TO for CAN (ability)
BE ALLOWED TO for CAN, MAY (permission)]

3- They work as auxiliary verbs in the NEGATIVE and QUESTIONS.
  Can I open the window? No, you can't open the window, it's cold.

4-  These verbs are always followed by INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO.
  He can swim. (Not * He can to swim)
Except OUGHT TO.  You ought to go to the doctor's.

5- PERFECT MODALS: past modal verb+HAVE+Past Participle refer to the past.
She hasn't arrived yet. She might have missed the bus.
You failed the exam. You should have studied more.

All the posts about modal verbs with the tag Modal Verbs.

ENGLISH AUXILIARY VERBS

Remember English needs auxiliary verbs to make the negative and interrogative forms. Here are the three main auxiliary verbs in English: BE for the Continuous/Progressive and Passive forms, HAVE for the Perfect forms and DO for the Simple forms. BE and HAVE are used also in the affirmative of those forms. Other auxiliary verbs are MODAL verbs.

NEGATIVE & QUESTION FORMATION IN ENGLISH

Two charts to show you the structures of negative sentences and questions in English. Remember that in English you need AUXILIARY VERBS to make negative sentences and questions. Each auxiliary verb is different depending on the VERB TENSE the sentence is. Check below in each chart with the auxiliary verb forms of each verb tense and the examples.

1) NEGATIVES

2) QUESTIONS

More about making questions HERE.

PASSIVE WITH MODALS

This post is to check on how to make the passive when using modal verbs. Always follow this pattern:

MODAL VERB + BE + past participle

You can see examples in the charts above and below.

More posts about PASSIVE: HERE.