3 modals for conversation.

New Structures for Speaking

3 modals for conversation

Intro to three modals

What modals can you see in the following dialogue? Can you identify any other language features?

1. The three verb phrases

A: Aren't you supposed to be at work?B: It's okay. My boss gave me the afternoon off. I've got to do a presentation tomorrow for some clients. The phone was ringing all the time, so she said I'd better go home and finish it off there.

1. The three verb phrases

Three modal verb phrases, which you will have seen before, are much more common in conversation than in written English: had better, have got to and be supposed to.

A: Aren't you supposed to be at work?B: It's okay. My boss gave me the afternoon off. I've got to do a presentation tomorrow for some clients. The phone was ringing all the time, so she said I'd better go home and finish it off there.

1. Comparing the three verb phrases

1. Read the questions below 2. Listen to a conversation between Kevin and Sara 3. Answer the questions 4. Then check your answers on the next slide.

1. Why is Kevin surprised to see Sara?2. Why couldn't Sara stay at work? 3. What is the aim of Sara's presentation?

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1. Comparing the three verb phrases

Listen again and read the text, paying attention to the pronunciation of the three verb phrases.

Kevin: Aren't you supposed to be at work?Sara: It's okay. My boss gave me the afternoon off. I've got to do a presentation tomorrow for some clients. The phone was ringing all the time, so she said I'd better go home and finish it off there. Kevin: You've got to use PowerPoint and all that, have you? Sara: If it helps, yes. I'm supposed to get our visitors to double their order with us. Kevin: That's tough. You'd better get on with it then, I suppose. I'll make us some dinner. Which phrase is closest in meaning to must? Which is similar to expect? Which offers strong advice?

Check your answers here

2. Had better

2. Had better

The meaning of had better is something like 'Here is my advice and if you don't take it, there will probably be a negative result.' After had better, we use an infinitive without to, and sometimes a question tag: You'd better get some sleep, hadn't you? You've got an important exam tomorrow.

2. Had better

Had better has a negative form: We'd better not buy anything else, or we'll have a huge credit card bill this month! The question form is usually negative too: Hadn't we better leave? It's getting late.

2. Had better

In spoken English had is normally pronounced 'd, as in the examples above, or it disappears: You better be careful with that plate. It's really hot. Note that we don't use had better to talk about the past, or to recommend things: (You'd better) see the new Picasso exhibition! Use something like You really must ... instead.

2.1 Had better - ► practice

1 You'd better pick up your prescription. 2 You'd better get going now, hadn't you? 3 He'd better hurry up, 4 You'd better not touch that cut on your arm, 5 She'd better not say anything about the party. 6 We'd better go to the supermarket, hadn't we? 7 You'd better not have another coffee. 8 You'd better post that card on the way to work.

a. or I'll go without him.

b. There's no food in the cupboards.

c. I'll be really angry if she ruins the surprise.

d. You're meeting her at five and it's ten to now.

e. The chemist shuts at five.

f. or it might get infected.

g. It's her birthday tomorrow.

h. You won't be able to sleep tonight.

2. Had better ► answers

1b. Listen to check your answers. Notice how had is pronounced. Listen again and repeat.

2.2 Had better - ► practice

a. You'd better bring walking boots - we'll be covering about fifteen miles a day

Look at the text messages 1-6 and then match them with replies a-f.

c. You'd better get enough cash for tonight - club'll be expensive

1. Missed the last train! 2. Just popping to ATM 3. Ed asked me out! 4. What should I bring? 5. U still up? 6. Lost my key!

d. Am, but'd better get some sleep. Got early start tomorrow! d. You're meeting her at five and it's ten to now.

b. U sure? Isn't there one at 12.45?

e. Better not tell Adam, he's v jealous!

f. Better leave mine out for u then, eh? It'll be under doormat!

3. Have got to

3. Have got to

Have got to has the same meaning as have to, but it is much more common in spoken English, particularly in its present positive form. In written English, it tends to express 'external' obligation and must expresses 'internal' or 'personal' obligation: 1. I've got to submit this essay by 6p.m.on Friday. 2. We must try and keep in touch.

3. Have got to

Have got to has a negative and a question form: 1. We haven't got to pay now, have we? 2. Have we got to change trains at Paris? It does not have a future form (Not: I'll have got to), although we regularly use the present form to talk about future events: I've got to go to the hospital on Friday.

3. Have got to

In spoken English, have got to is normally pronounced 've got to or got to or gotta: 1. They got to get their visas before they can travel. 2. You gotta see these photos. They're amazing!

3. Have got to - ► practice

3a. Put the words in the correct order to make sentences. Add punctuation where necessary.

1 family / a / we've / to / got /to / go / reunion 2 to / the / got / I've / go / dentist / to 3 see / got / my / to / new / you've / car 4 weight / lose / got / to / I've 5 smoking / he's / to / stop / got 6 restaurant / you've / try / got/to/ that/ Indian /new

3. Have got to - ► practice

3b. Complete 1-6 with the sentences in Exercise 3a on the previous slide

1 ____________, this tooth's really hurting again. 2 _________. The food's amazing. A: _____________! B: New car? What is it? 4 ____________- he's got the most awful cough these days. 5 A: What're you up to at the weekend? B: __________ for my nan's 90th birthday. 6__________- I can't fit into any of my clothes anymore.

3. Have got to - ► practice

Listen to check your answers. Listen again and make a note of whether you hear 've got to or got to.

4. Be supposed to

4. Be supposed to

We use be supposed to for things we 'expect' to happen: 1. Carlos is supposed to be here by now. Do you think he's got lost? 2. You're supposed to take your shoes off before you enter the temple. (It's a rule that you're expected to follow.) Negative, question and past forms are common: 1. You're not/You aren't supposed to park here. 2. Are we supposed to take a gift with us? 3. I was supposed to meet her at the station, but I forgot. She's pretty mad at me.

4. Be supposed to

The continuous form is also common, and it often carries a negative meaning: I'm supposed to be making tonight's dinner. (But I'm not sure if I want to.) In spoken English, the 'u' sound of 'supposed' disappears, and the second part of the word sounds like 'post' as in 'post a letter': s'post.

4. Be supposed to - ► practice

Complete the student dialogues 1-6 with phrases a-f.

1. A: This is strange! B: What is? A: Well, ______________ start now, but there's nobody here. 2. A: (on the phone) Where are you? B: At home. A: Well, ______________for a seminar B: Oh no! 3. A: This new class is early. I mean, _______________8.30? B: Well, that's what the timetable says.

a. you're not supposed to

b. I'm supposed to be out

c. you're supposed to be here

d. is it really supposed to start at

e. the lecture's supposed to

f. are we supposed to give

4. Be supposed to - ► practice

Complete the student dialogues 1-6 with phrases a-f.

4. A: What are you up to later? B: _______________with Matt. A: Well, there's a party in the student bar. 5. A: Listen, ________________a presentation? B: Yeah. Apparently we've got five minutes each to describe our projects. 6. A: Hey, you can't hand in that assignment. B: Why not? A: Well, ______________ write it by hand, it needs to be typed.

a. you're not supposed to

b. I'm supposed to be out

c. you're supposed to be here

d. is it supposed to start at

e. the lecture's supposed to

f. are we supposed to give

5. ► practice

Complete the following monologues with the correct form of had better, have got to and be supposed to; (company director, addressing employees)

Thanks for coming everyone. I'm sorry I've had to call you all to this meeting at such short notice, but I thought I (1) _________ let you know what's going on. As I'm sure you're all aware, the company has been in difficulty for some time now. What with the global recession and more recently, the changes in government, I'm afraid we (2) _________ think about making cuts. I'm not (3)____________speak so candidly until things have been finalised, but I feel we owe you this much as long-standing employees of the company. (two colleagues after the meeting). Are we (4)___________just sit here and let the management walk all over us? No! We (5)________ fight this all the way! We (6) _________organise ourselves and work out a plan of action!!

6. Extension/self-study

Imagine you have to show a new student/employee around your school/workplace. What kinds of things would you need to tell them? (e.g. rules, obligations, some advice.) Prepare a monologue as you guide the person around.

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