Modal Verbs and Phone Calls
2022-02-25
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1Consider a time that you answered the phone or made a phone call.
2What kinds of words did you use?
3What kinds of grammatical structures were important?
4In today's report, we will explore a point of grammar connected to phone calls.
5You will learn about some uses of modal verbs.
6We describe English verbs in terms of three ideas: tense, aspect and modality.
7That might sound like a lot to think about, but here is a simple explanation.
8Tense has to do with time. For example, tense can show present and past actions.
9Time beyond the basic present or past is often expressed by adding helping verbs to the present or past verb forms.
10This is how we form the simple future and past perfect, for example.
11Aspect is another idea related to verbs.
12It shows if an action is completed or ongoing.
13This is one of the differences between the simple past and past progressive.
14Modality is used to express ideas such as possibility, ability or necessity.
15We use modal verbs to help change the meaning of other verbs.
16Three modal verbs are especially useful when describing or making phone calls: will, can, and could.
17Let's explore each.
18Imagine you are sitting with family or friends. You hear the phone ring. You say: "I'll answer the phone."
19This is short for, "I will answer the phone."
20The main verb is "answer."
21In this sentence, the modal verb "will" expresses willingness.
22When a person says, "I'll answer the phone," they are suggesting that they are able to answer the phone and they want to answer the phone.
23Imagine the same situation that we just explored.
24You are sitting with family or friends.
25You hear the phone ring...and perhaps everyone looks around to see who is going to answer the phone. You say:
26I can answer the phone.
27Once again, the main verb is "answer."
28In this case, the modal "can" suggests ability. You are able to answer the phone. You may or may not want to answer the phone.
29Another modal is very important when making phone calls: could.
30One of its uses is to express a polite request or suggestion.
31If you would like to make it even more polite, you could also use the word "please."
32If you heard the phone ringing and wanted to ask another person to answer it, you could say:
33Could you answer the phone?
34Or
35Could you please answer the phone?
36"Could" also is useful when making phone calls.
37Imagine you call your doctor's office. A person answers the phone. You might ask:
38Could I speak to Dr. Smith?
39Or
40Could I please speak to Dr. Smith?
41If Dr. Smith worked at a large organization that has many offices, you might ask:
42Could you transfer me to Dr. Smith's office?
43Or
44Could you please transfer me to Dr. Smith's office?
45The modal "could" is important in all these cases.
46If you said, "I want to talk to Dr. Smith" or "Can I talk to Dr. Smith?" your message would be understood...but the person listening to you might think you were too direct, familiar, or demanding.
47 In other words, they might think you are being rude.
48Today's program explored the use of modal verbs in phone calls.
49The next time you make a call, consider what terms and grammatical structures you use in your native language.
50Then compare it to the kinds of terms and structures you hear in English. Write down what you learn.
51And, as always, be sure to watch American films and listen to radio broadcasts in English.
52Pay careful attention to the modals and other kinds of vocabulary that you hear.
53I'm John Russell.
1Consider a time that you answered the phone or made a phone call. What kinds of words did you use? What kinds of grammatical structures were important? 2In today's report, we will explore a point of grammar connected to phone calls. You will learn about some uses of modal verbs. 3Modal verbs 4We describe English verbs in terms of three ideas: tense, aspect and modality. 5That might sound like a lot to think about, but here is a simple explanation. 6Tense has to do with time. For example, tense can show present and past actions. 7Time beyond the basic present or past is often expressed by adding helping verbs to the present or past verb forms. This is how we form the simple future and past perfect, for example. 8Aspect is another idea related to verbs. It shows if an action is completed or ongoing. This is one of the differences between the simple past and past progressive. 9Modality is used to express ideas such as possibility, ability or necessity. We use modal verbs to help change the meaning of other verbs. 10Three modal verbs are especially useful when describing or making phone calls: will, can, and could. 11Let's explore each. 12"Will" to express willingness 13Imagine you are sitting with family or friends. You hear the phone ring. You say: "I'll answer the phone." 14This is short for, "I will answer the phone." 15The main verb is "answer." 16In this sentence, the modal verb "will" expresses willingness. When a person says, "I'll answer the phone," they are suggesting that they are able to answer the phone and they want to answer the phone. 17"Can" to express ability 18Imagine the same situation that we just explored. You are sitting with family or friends. You hear the phone ring...and perhaps everyone looks around to see who is going to answer the phone. You say: 19I can answer the phone. 20Once again, the main verb is "answer." 21In this case, the modal "can" suggests ability. You are able to answer the phone. You may or may not want to answer the phone. 22"Could" to express politeness 23Another modal is very important when making phone calls: could. 24One of its uses is to express a polite request or suggestion. If you would like to make it even more polite, you could also use the word "please." 25If you heard the phone ringing and wanted to ask another person to answer it, you could say: 26Could you answer the phone? 27Or 28Could you please answer the phone? 29"Could" also is useful when making phone calls. 30Imagine you call your doctor's office. A person answers the phone. You might ask: 31Could I speak to Dr. Smith? 32Or 33Could I please speak to Dr. Smith? 34If Dr. Smith worked at a large organization that has many offices, you might ask: 35Could you transfer me to Dr. Smith's office? 36Or 37Could you please transfer me to Dr. Smith's office? 38The modal "could" is important in all these cases. If you said, "I want to talk to Dr. Smith" or "Can I talk to Dr. Smith?" your message would be understood...but the person listening to you might think you were too direct, familiar, or demanding. In other words, they might think you are being rude. 39Some thoughts... 40Today's program explored the use of modal verbs in phone calls. The next time you make a call, consider what terms and grammatical structures you use in your native language. Then compare it to the kinds of terms and structures you hear in English. Write down what you learn. 41And, as always, be sure to watch American films and listen to radio broadcasts in English. Pay careful attention to the modals and other kinds of vocabulary that you hear. 42I'm John Russell. 43John Russell wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 44________________________________________________________________ 45Words in This Story 46modal verb - n. (grammar) a verb such as can, could, should, will, or would that is used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, necessity, and permission 47helping verb - n. (grammar) a verb used with another verb to show the time of an action or to form a question or a negative statement 48past perfect - n (grammar) a verb form that refers to an action that was completed by a particular time in the past 49past progressive - n. (grammar) a verb that shows continuing action at some point in the past. 50polite - adj. showing or characterized by correct social usage 51rude - adj. Showing or characterized by incorrect social usage 52vocabulary -n. words that are related to a particular subject