1 BAT: Modal verbs

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

The Modal Verbs

Compare:

1 BAT

You eat healthily.

You should eat healthily.

What's the main verb? And the modal verb?

What function does each of them have in the sentence?

The Modal Verbs

Compare:

1 BAT

You eat healthily.

You should eat healthily.

What's the main verb? Eat. And the modal verb? Should.

What function does each of them have in the sentence? Eat gives meaning. Should reflects a sense of advice.

The Modal Verbs

Therefore:

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A modal verb expresses the intention or attitude of the speaker that is not expressed by the main verb.

You should eat healthily.

*should = advice

Btw, the form is:

MODAL + INFINITIVE

The Modal Verbs

Therefore:

1 BAT

You should eat healthily.

should = advice

The different intentions or attitudes determine the types of modal verbs.

The Modal Verbs

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Types of modal verbs

• Ability
• Requests
• Obligation and/or necessity
• Prohibition
• Advice
• Possibility & Certainty

Ability

The Modal Verbs

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PRESENT/ GENERAL ABILITY

"Humans can hold their breath for 3-5 minutes."

can / can't

"I couldn't speak English when I was 5"

could / couldn't

PAST / GENERAL ABILITY

be able to / managed to

"I've just been able to open this door. It was stuck."

"She managed to read the book for the exam in only two days"

REST OF TENSES / SPECIFIC ABILITY

"arreglárselas para"

Requests

The Modal Verbs

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can

INFORMAL

"Can I go to the toilet?."

"Could I have your telephone number, please?."

MORE FORMAL / POLITE

could

"May I use your restroom, please?"

STILL MORE FORMAL / POLITE

may

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Obligation / Necessity

The Modal Verbs

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must** / *have to / *need to

"You must do the washing up this afternoon."

"We have to bring the books to school on Christmas day"

OBLIGATION / OPINATIVE

RESPONSIBILITY / RULE

"We need to graduate if we want to find a good job in the future".

REQUIREMENT / IMPORTANT FOR YOU OR SOMEBODY

* has to / needs to when 3rd person Singular in Present

** must only in the Present. "Had to" in Past or "Will have to" in the future

The Modal Verbs

Lack of obligation

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don't have to* / needn't / don't need to*

"You don't have to do the washing up this afternoon."

"You don't need to / needn't do the washing up this afternoon."

NOT OBLIGATORY, BUT POSSIBLE

NOT NECESSARY, BUT POSSIBLE

*doesn't have / doesn't need to (He/She/It)

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Prohibition

The Modal Verbs

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mustn't / can't

"You mustn't play videogames on weekdays."

"People mustn't smoke inside restaurants"

PROHIBITIONS

"You can't go to the toilet now. I'm sorry.

NO PERMISSION, REQUEST REFUSAL

The Modal Verbs

Advice

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should / ought to

"You shouldn't have so many energetic drinks. You should drink more water instead."

MORE COMMON

"You ought not to have so many energetic drinks. You ought to drink more water instead."

MORE FORMAL

Certainty

(Im)Possibility &

may / might / could (not)

must

can't

"I may study Law. I haven't decided yet."

"It can't be Carla. She's on a trip."

"It must be late because it's getting dark."

"She might visit her grandad this weekend."

"We could celebrate his 18th birthday party in a disco."

The Modal Verbs

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Activity 1:

The Modal Verbs

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Complete the sentences with an appropriate modal structure.

1. We ______ go home now. It's getting really cold (Advice)
2. You _______ come to the church if you don't want to (Lack of obligation)
3. We ______ use our phones at school. (Prohibition)
4. Girona _____ win the league this year (Possibility)
5. I _____ to study a lot for tomorrow's test. (Necessity)
6. My sister ______ speak Japanese fluently some years ago. (Ability)
7. You ______ smoke so much. It's extremely harmful for your lungs. (Advice)
8. In most temples in Asia, you _____ take off your shoes as a show of respect. (Obligation)

Activity 1:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Complete the sentences with an appropriate modal structure.

1. We SHOULD / OUGHT TO go home now. It's getting really cold.
2. You _______ come to the church if you don't want to (Lack of obligation)
3. We ______ use our phones at school. (Prohibition)
4. Girona _____ win the league this year (Possibility)
5. I _____ to study a lot for tomorrow's test. (Necessity)
6. My sister ______ speak Japanese fluently some years ago. (Ability)
7. You ______ smoke so much. It's extremely harmful for your lungs. (Advice)
8. In most temples in Asia, you _____ take off your shoes as a show of respect.

Activity 1:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Complete the sentences with an appropriate modal structure.

1. We SHOULD / OUGHT TO go home now. It's getting really cold.
2. You DON'T HAVE TO come to the church if you don't want to.
3. We ______ use our phones at school.
4. Girona _______win the league this year.
5. I _____ to study a lot for tomorrow's test.
6. My sister ______ speak Japanese fluently some years ago.
7. You ______ smoke so much. It's extremely harmful for your lungs.
8. In most temples in Asia, you _____ take off your shoes as a show of respect.

Activity 1:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Complete the sentences with an appropriate modal structure.

1. We SHOULD / OUGHT TO go home now. It's getting really cold.
2. You DON'T HAVE TO come to the church if you don't want to.
3. We MUSTN'T use our phones at school.
4. Girona _______win the league this year.
5. I _____ to study a lot for tomorrow's test.
6. My sister ______ speak Japanese fluently some years ago.
7. You ______ smoke so much. It's extremely harmful for your lungs.
8. In most temples in Asia, you _____ take off your shoes as a show of respect.

Activity 1:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Complete the sentences with an appropriate modal structure.

1. We SHOULD / OUGHT TO go home now. It's getting really cold.
2. You DON'T HAVE TO come to the church if you don't want to.
3. We MUSTN'T use our phones at school.
4. Girona MIGHT / MAY / COULD win the league this year.
5. I _____ to study a lot for tomorrow's test.
6. My sister ______ speak Japanese fluently some years ago.
7. You ______ smoke so much. It's extremely harmful for your lungs.
8. In most temples in Asia, you _____ take off your shoes as a show of respect.

Activity 1:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Complete the sentences with an appropriate modal structure.

1. We SHOULD / OUGHT TO go home now. It's getting really cold.
2. You DON'T HAVE TO come to the church if you don't want to.
3. We MUSTN'T use our phones at school.
4. Girona MIGHT / MAY / COULD win the league this year.
5. I NEED TO to study a lot for tomorrow's test.
6. My sister ______ speak Japanese fluently some years ago. (Ability)
7. You ______ smoke to much. It's extremely harmful for your lungs. (Advice)
8. In most temples in Asia, you _____ take off your shoes as a show of respect.

Activity 1:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Complete the sentences with an appropriate modal structure.

1. We SHOULD / OUGHT TO go home now. It's getting really cold.
2. You DON'T HAVE TO come to the church if you don't want to.
3. We MUSTN'T use our phones at school.
4. Girona MIGHT / MAY / COULD win the league this year.
5. I NEED TO to study a lot for tomorrow's test.
6. My sister COULD / WAS ABLE TO speak Japanese fluently some years ago.
7. You ______ smoke to much. It's extremely harmful for your lungs. (Advice)
8. In most temples in Asia, you _____ take off your shoes as a show of respect.

Activity 1:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Complete the sentences with an appropriate modal structure.

1. We SHOULD / OUGHT TO go home now. It's getting really cold.
2. You DON'T HAVE TO come to the church if you don't want to.
3. We MUSTN'T use our phones at school.
4. Girona MIGHT / MAY / COULD win the league this year.
5. I NEED TO to study a lot for tomorrow's test.
6. My sister COULD / WAS ABLE TO speak Japanese fluently some years ago.
7. You SHOULDN'T / OUGHT NOT TO smoke so much. It's extremely harmful for your lungs.
8. In most temples in Asia, you _____ take off your shoes as a show of respect.

Activity 1:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Complete the sentences with an appropriate modal structure.

1. We SHOULD / OUGHT TO go home now. It's getting really cold.
2. You DON'T HAVE TO come to the church if you don't want to.
3. We MUSTN'T use our phones at school.
4. Girona MIGHT / MAY / COULD win the league this year.
5. I NEED TO to study a lot for tomorrow's test.
6. My sister COULD / WAS ABLE TO speak Japanese fluently some years ago.
7. You SHOULDN'T / OUGHT NOT TO smoke so much. It's extremely harmful for your lungs.
8. In most temples in Asia, you HAVE TO / MUST take off your shoes as a show of respect.

Activity 2:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets.

1. It'll be better for you if you study every day. (should)_________________________________________2. I'm likely to go to the concert. I love that artist. (may)_________________________________________3. It's prohibited for clients to try on underwear in most shops. (mustn't) _________________________________________4. She doesn't have the ability to lipread. (can't) _________________________________________ 5. I'm obliged to tidy my room as soon as I get home. (must) _________________________________________

Activity 2:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets.

1. It'll be better for you if you study every day. (should)YOU SHOULD STUDY EVERY DAY. 2. I'm likely to go to the concert. I love that artist. (may) 3. It's prohibited for clients to try on underwear in most shops. (mustn't) 4. She doesn't have the ability to lipread. (can't) 5. I'm obliged to tidy my room as soon as I get home. (must)

Activity 2:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets.

1. It'll be better for you if you study every day. (should)YOU SHOULD STUDY EVERY DAY. 2. I'm likely to go to the concert. I love that artist. (may)I MAY GO TO THE CONCERT. I LOVE THAT ARTIST. 3. It's prohibited for clients to try on underwear in most shops. (mustn't) 4. She doesn't have the ability to lipread. (can't) 5. I'm obliged to tidy my room as soon as I get home. (must)

Activity 2:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets.

1. It'll be better for you if you study every day. (should)YOU SHOULD STUDY EVERY DAY. 2. I'm likely to go to the concert. I love that artist. (may)I MAY GO TO THE CONCERT. I LOVE THAT ARTIST. 3. It's prohibited for clients to try on underwear in most shops. (mustn't) CLIENTS MUSTN'T TRY ON UNDERWEAR IN MOST SHOPS.4. She doesn't have the ability to lipread. (can't) 5. I'm obliged to tidy my room as soon as I get home. (must)

Activity 2:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets.

1. It'll be better for you if you study every day. (should)YOU SHOULD STUDY EVERY DAY. 2. I'm likely to go to the concert. I love that artist. (may)I MAY GO TO THE CONCERT. I LOVE THAT ARTIST. 3. It's prohibited for clients to try on underwear in most shops. (mustn't) CLIENTS MUSTN'T TRY ON UNDERWEAR IN MOST SHOPS.4. She doesn't have the ability to lipread. (can't) SHE CAN'T LIPREAD. 5. I'm obliged to tidy my room as soon as I get home. (must)

Activity 2:

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets.

1. It'll be better for you if you study every day. (should)YOU SHOULD STUDY EVERY DAY. 2. I'm likely to go to the concert. I love that artist. (may)I MAY GO TO THE CONCERT. I LOVE THAT ARTIST. 3. It's prohibited for clients to try on underwear in most shops. (mustn't) CLIENTS MUSTN'T TRY ON UNDERWEAR IN MOST SHOPS.4. She doesn't have the ability to lipread. (can't) SHE CAN'T LIPREAD. 5. I'm obliged to tidy my room as soon as I get home. (must) I MUST TIDY MY ROOM AS SOON AS I GET HOME.

The Modal Perfects

1 BAT

The Modal Perfects

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STRUCTURE

• MODAL + have + PP (3rd c.)

EXAMPLES

• I should have bought a ticket for the concert. Now, it's sold out.

• Going through cancer must have been very hard for your family and you.

• It may have been Joe who rang. He said he would call round if he had time.

TYPES

The Modal Perfects

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CERTAINTY IN THE PAST

must / can't have + pp

Going through cancer must have been very hard for your family and you.

He can't have got a 10. The test was quite difficult.

"tiene que haber / no puede haber ___"

TYPES

The Modal Perfects

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POSSIBILITY IN THE PAST

may / might / could have + pp

They might have won the game if the ref had awarded them the penalty.

"podría haber ___"

TYPES

The Modal Perfects

REGRET

1 BAT

I should / shouldn't have + pp

I should have bought a ticket for the concert. Now, it's sold out.

I shouldn't have drunk so much last night.

("Yo) debería / no debería haber"

COMPLAIN ABOUT OTHERS

should / shouldn't have + pp

You shouldn't have shouted the cat. You know he's very sensitive.

They should have visited their grandma a long time ago. Now it's too late.

"deberías / no deberías haber"

TYPES

The Modal Perfects

CERTAINTY IN THE PAST

1 BAT

POSSIBILITY IN THE PAST

must / can't have + pp

may / might have + pp

Going through cancer must have been very hard for your family and you.

They might have won the game if the ref had awarded them the penalty.

He can't have got a 10. The test was quite difficult.

"podría haber ___"

"tiene que haber / no puede haber ___"

COMPLAIN ABOUT OTHERS

REGRET

should / shouldn't have + pp

I should / shouldn't have + pp

You shouldn't have shouted the cat. You know he's very sensitive.

I should have bought a ticket for the concert. Now, it's sold out.

They should have visited their grandma a long time ago. Now it's too late.

I shouldn't have drunk so much last night.

"deberías / no deberías haber"

("Yo) debería / no debería haber"

The Modal Perfects

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EXERCISE

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES WITH THE CORRECT MODAL VERB

EXERCISE:

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

The Modal Perfects

1 BAT

1. Don't complain if we have a two-unit exam instead of a one-unit one. We all ______ have behaved better. 2. I _____ have worn this T-shirt sometimes when I was younger, but I can't fully remember. 3. Getting trapped in a lift for two hours ____ have been a terrible experience. I hope you're fine now. 4. I ______ have bought this car. It consumes a lot of a fuel. 5. Look at Max! He's about to cry. The job interview _____ have gone well.

can't must should shouldn't might / may / could

EXERCISE:

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

The Modal Perfects

1 BAT

1. Don't complain if we have a two-unit exam instead of a one-unit one. We all should have behaved better. 2. I _____ have worn this T-shirt sometimes when I was younger, but I can't fully remember. 3. Getting trapped in a lift for two hours ____ have been a terrible experience. I hope you're fine now. 4. I ______ have bought this car. It consumes a lot of a fuel. 5. Look at Max! He's about to cry. The job interview _____ have gone well.

can't must should shouldn't might / may / could

EXERCISE:

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

The Modal Perfects

1 BAT

1. Don't complain if we have a two-unit exam instead of a one-unit one. We all should have behaved better. 2. I might / may / could have worn this T-shirt sometimes when I was younger, but I can't fully remember. 3. Getting trapped in a lift for two hours ____ have been a terrible experience. I hope you're fine now. 4. I ______ have bought this car. It consumes a lot of a fuel. 5. Look at Max! He's about to cry. The job interview _____ have gone well.

can't must should shouldn't might / may / could

EXERCISE:

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

The Modal Perfects

1 BAT

1. Don't complain if we have a two-unit exam instead of a one-unit one. We all should have behaved better. 2. I might / may / could have worn this T-shirt sometimes when I was younger, but I can't fully remember. 3. Getting trapped in a lift for two hours must have been a terrible experience. I hope you're fine now. 4. I ______ have bought this car. It consumes a lot of a fuel. 5. Look at Max! He's about to cry. The job interview _____ have gone well. .

can't must should shouldn't might / may / could

EXERCISE:

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

The Modal Perfects

1 BAT

1. Don't complain if we have a two-unit exam instead of a one-unit one. We all should have behaved better. 2. I might / may / could have worn this T-shirt sometimes when I was younger, but I can't fully remember. 3. Getting trapped in a lift for two hours must have been a terrible experience. I hope you're fine now. 4. I shouldn't have bought this car. It consumes a lot of a fuel. 5. Look at Max! He's about to cry. The job interview ____ have gone well.

can't must should shouldn't might / may / could

EXERCISE:

COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

The Modal Perfects

1 BAT

1. Don't complain if we have a two-unit exam instead of a one-unit one. We all should have behaved better. 2. I might / may / could have worn this T-shirt sometimes when I was younger, but I can't fully remember. 3. Getting trapped in a lift for two hours must have been a terrible experience. I hope you're fine now. 4. I shouldn't have bought this car. It consumes a lot of a fuel. 5. Look at Max! He's about to cry. The job interview can't have gone well.

can't must should shouldn't might / may / could

The Modal Perfects

1 BAT

EXERCISE

EXPLAIN WHAT YOU THINK HAS HAPPENED USING A PERFECT MODAL OF CERTAINTY OR POSSIBILITY.

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

1 BAT

YOU SEE YOUR BEST FRIEND SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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He / She might have won the lottery.

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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YOU TURN THE TV ON AND YOU SEE SOME RUBBLE FROM DESTROYED BUILDINGS

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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Israel must have attacked Gaza again.

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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YOU SEE YOUR LITTLE BROTHER / SISTER CRYING ON THEIR BED

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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Your dad must have punished him / her for using the phone all day and night.

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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YOU WALK ALONG THE PASEO DE LA CASTELLANA AFTER A REAL MADRID GAME. MADRID FANS SEEM SAD AND ANGRY.

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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Real Madrid must have lost 1-5 against Valencia.

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR YOUR PHONE IN YOUR POCKET, IT'S NOT THERE.

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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Somebody may have stolen it or you might have left it at home.

The Modal Perfects

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EXERCISE

IMAGINE YOU SUFFER THE NEXT SITUATIONS. EXPRESS SOME REGRETS OR COMPLAINTS USING AN APPROPRIATE MODAL PERFECT STRUCTURE.

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

1 BAT

YOU FAILED ALL THE EXAMS.

REGRET

COMPLAINT

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

1 BAT

I should have studied more.

REGRET

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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YOUR CHILDREN BROKE A WINDOW

REGRET

COMPLAINT

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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You shouldn't have played football in the garden.

COMPLAINT

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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YOUR FRIEND IS LATE.

REGRET

COMPLAINT

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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You should have left home earlier.

COMPLAINT

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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YOUR NEW SECOND-HAND CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN.

REGRET

COMPLAINT

EXPLAIN THE NEXT SITUATIONS WITH A SENTENCE.

The Modal Perfects

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I shouldn't have bought the car.

REGRET

The Modal Verbs

MODAL VERBS SUMMARY

1 BAT

MODAL + INFINITIVE

• Ability: (can (not), could (not) (past), be able to, managed to)
• Requests: (can, could, may)
• Obligation: and/or necessity: (must, have to, need to)
• Lack of obligation: (don't/doesn't have to/need to, needn't)
• Prohibition: (mustn´t)
• Advice: (should (not), ought (not) to)
• Possibility & Certainty: (may (not), might (not), could (not), must / can't

The Modal Verbs

PERFECT MODAL VERBS SUMMARY

1 BAT

MODAL + HAVE + PP

• Certainty in the past: must / can't have + pp
• Possibility in the past: may / might / could (not) have + pp
• Regret: I / We should (not) have + pp
• Complaints: should (not) have + pp

PRODUCTION EXERCISE

The Modal Verbs

1 BAT

Write sentences about the following:

Something...

1. you really must do this weekend.
2. difficult you managed to do recently
3. you would like to be able to do, but you can't
4. you should have done last week
5. you might do this weekend
6. you didn't need to do recently, but you did anyway
7. you don't have to do this weekend, but are going to do anyway
8. you can't do now, but hope you will be able to do in three years' time