Verbs Lesson 15

Auxiliary verbs and their equivalents


Be able to instead of can
Be able to often has the same meaning as can.
  • He can walk on his hands. OR He is able to walk on his hands.
  • I am unable to understand his motive. OR I can’t understand his motive.
  • They were able to catch the thief. OR They could catch the thief.
Be to instead of will or shall
The structure be + to can be used to express simple futurity.
  • He is to retire next year. = He will retire next year.
  • The President is to visit Japan next month. = The President will visit Japan next month.
  • We are to get a wage rise in June. = We will get a wage rise in June.
Be + to instead of must
The structure be + to is also used to give orders. In this case, it means almost like must.
  • You are to complete the work in two days. (= You must complete the work in two days.)
  • He is to report for duty within a week.
Had better instead of should or ought to
  • You had better consult a good doctor. = You should consult a good doctor.
Had better may also express a threat.
  • He had better be careful.
Have to instead of must
  • I have to be there at 10 o’clock. (= I must be there at 10 o’clock.)

Nhận xét

Đăng nhận xét

Bài đăng phổ biến từ blog này

English Short Story 5

Belling The Cat There lived many mice in a grocer’s shop. They ate plenty of grains and the grocer suffered heavy loss. So, he brought a fat cat to catch the mice. The mice were worried. They held a meeting to drive away the cat. A smart-looking mouse suggested that the cat moved softly and swiftly. They decided to tie a bell round its neck. So that when the cat moves, the mice would become aware of the cat. All the mice agreed to this decision. The old mouse said, “Can you tell me who is to bell the cat?" There was no reply. Their decision is not yet executed.
Đọc thêm

What are adverbs?

Adverbs are words like  now, then, today, tomorrow  and  carefully . An adverb modifies the meaning of a verb, an adjective or another adverb. Read the following sentences: Alice smiled  sweetly. Those mangoes were  very  sweet. He spoke  quite  loudly. In sentence 1, the adverb  quickly  shows how (or in what manner) Alice smiled. It modifies the verb  smiled. In sentence 2, the adverb  very  says something about the sweetness of the mangoes. It modifies the adjective  sweet . In sentence 3,  quite  says something about the manner in which he spoke. It modifies the adverb  loudly. Note that  adverbs  standing at the beginning of sentences sometimes modify the whole sentence, rather than a particular word. Unfortunately  no one was present there. (= It was unfortunate that no one was present there.) Probably  I am mistaken. (= It is probable that I am mistaken.) Kinds ...
Đọc thêm

Adverbs Part 2

Adverbs of degree or quantity Adverbs of degree  answer the question ‘how much’ or ‘in what degree’ or ‘to what extent’. Examples are:  very, too, fully, quite, rather, enough, any, partly, almost, utterly, as, entirely etc. That was  very  tragic. I have  almost  finished. He was  rather  busy. Is he  any  good? You are  partly  right. You are  entirely  wrong. Adverbs of reason Adverbs of reason  answer the question ‘why?’. Examples are:  therefore, hence, consequently etc. Consequently  he refused to go. Therefore  they decided to boycott the meeting. He is  hence  unable to refute the charge. Adverbs of affirmation or negation Examples are:  surely, certainly, not, probably, indeed etc. You are  certainly  right. I am  not  going. He is a fool  indeed. Interrogative adverbs Adverbs which are used for asking questions are c...
Đọc thêm