24. Ways of expressing permission (past-time context), past habits, possibility, probability

24. Ways of expressing permission (past-time context), past habits, possibility, probability

FUNCTION	VERB	INFINITIVE	USAGE	EXAMPLES
permission (past-time context)	could	simple	in reported speech due to sequence of tenses	He said she could take his car, but asked her to return it as soon as possible.
might	simple	used in the reported speech	He said I might take this.
past habits	would	simple	+, in literary style	Paul would take a book and spend hours reading about other people and countries.
probability	must	+	simple	With stative verbs (present)	He must believe it.	restrictions
continuous	With dynamic verbs (present)	He must be working.
perfect	Past action	He must have finished it.	not used to express future; used only in +, not in – and?
perfect continuous	The action began in the past and continues into the moment of speaking	He must have been working the whole day. He looks tired.
ought to		Not very common – mostly MUST is used. Set phrases: you ought to know; you ought to be ashamed of yourself	This party ought to be great.
should		Not very common – mostly MUST is used.	This party should be great.
will	simple	reference to the present or future	This will be his brother, I suppose.
perfect	reference to the past	He will have revealed the truth, I believe.
possibility	may	simple	+	He may have a cup of coffee in the cafe.
might	simple	due to the sequence of tenses	He said he might drink a cup of coffee in the cafe.
perfect	the action was not carried out due to certain circumstances	She might have been late if she hadn’t taken a taxi.
can	simple	reference is made to the present and future	The light in the opposite window is on, and I can see a person walking in the room.
could	simple	reference is made to the past	She could see what was written there as the letters were big enough.
simple	to express unreality with reference to the present and future	She could phone him if it were not so late.
perfect	the action that wasn’t fulfilled in the past	She could have phoned him if it hadn’t been so late.
to be to	passive	+ / -- /?	He was nowhere to be seen.

Дата добавления: 2015-09-29