(a) My clothes are dirty I (should/ought to) wash them
(b) Incorrect: I should to wash them
(c) Incorrect: I ought washing them
Should and ought to have the same meaning. They mean: “This is good idea. This is good advice.”
Forms:
Should + simple form of a verb (no to)
Ought + to + simple form of a verb
(d) You need your sleep. You should not (shouldn't) stay up late.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Polite question, would you, could you, will you, can you
(a) Would you please open the door? Yes
(b) Could you please open the door? Yes. Of course
(c) Will you please open the door? Certainly. I'd be happy to
(d) Can you please open the door? Of course. I’d be glad to.
Sure. (Informal)
Okay. (Informal)
Uh-huh. (Meaning “yes”)
I’m sorry. I’d like to help, but my hands are full.
People use would you, could you, will you, and can you to ask polite questions. The questions ask for someone’s help or cooperation. (a), (b), (c) and (d) have basically the same meaning. The use of can, as in (d), is less formal than the others.
Note: may is not used when you is the subject of a polite question.
Incorrect: may you please open the door?
(b) Could you please open the door? Yes. Of course
(c) Will you please open the door? Certainly. I'd be happy to
(d) Can you please open the door? Of course. I’d be glad to.
Sure. (Informal)
Okay. (Informal)
Uh-huh. (Meaning “yes”)
I’m sorry. I’d like to help, but my hands are full.
People use would you, could you, will you, and can you to ask polite questions. The questions ask for someone’s help or cooperation. (a), (b), (c) and (d) have basically the same meaning. The use of can, as in (d), is less formal than the others.
Note: may is not used when you is the subject of a polite question.
Incorrect: may you please open the door?
POLITE QUESTIONS: MAY I, COULD I, CAN I
(a) May I please borrow your pen? yes
(b) Could I please borrow your pen? yes. of course
(c) Can I please borrow your pen? yes certainly.
Sure (informal)
Okay. (informal)
Uh-Huh. (meaning yes)
I'm sorry, but I need to use it myself.
People use may I, could I, and can I to ask polite questions. The questions ask for someone's permission or agreement. (a), (b), and (c) have basically the same meaning.
Note: can I is less formal than may I and could I.
Please can come at the end of the question: may I borrow your pen, please?
Please can be omitted from the question: may I borrow your pen?
(b) Could I please borrow your pen? yes. of course
(c) Can I please borrow your pen? yes certainly.
Sure (informal)
Okay. (informal)
Uh-Huh. (meaning yes)
I'm sorry, but I need to use it myself.
People use may I, could I, and can I to ask polite questions. The questions ask for someone's permission or agreement. (a), (b), and (c) have basically the same meaning.
Note: can I is less formal than may I and could I.
Please can come at the end of the question: may I borrow your pen, please?
Please can be omitted from the question: may I borrow your pen?
Using could to express possibility
(a): Why isn't Greg in class?
B: I don't know. He could be sick.
(b) Look at those dark clouds. It could start raining any minute.
Could can mean past ability. But that is not its only meaning. another meaning of could is possibility.
In (a): "He could be sick" has the same meaning as "He may/might be sick," i.e," it is possible that he is sick."
In (a): could expresses a present possibility
In (b): could expresses a future possibility.
wait for next posting
B: I don't know. He could be sick.
(b) Look at those dark clouds. It could start raining any minute.
Could can mean past ability. But that is not its only meaning. another meaning of could is possibility.
In (a): "He could be sick" has the same meaning as "He may/might be sick," i.e," it is possible that he is sick."
In (a): could expresses a present possibility
In (b): could expresses a future possibility.
wait for next posting
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