1. Pertemuan 10 Modal Verbs (2) + link words
Matakuliah : G0134/Grammar III
Tahun : 2005
Versi : revisi 1
Pertemuan 10 Modal Verbs (2) + link words

2. Learning Outcomes
Pada akhir pertemuan ini, diharapkan mahasiswa
akan mampu :
Menganalisa kesalahan pemakaian modal verbs dan link words dalam kalimat.

3. Certainty, probability, possibility
Outline Materi
Certainty, probability, possibility
Link words / phrases: purpose and reason

4. Certainty
CERTAINTY
Talking about the present
We use:
must when we are sure something is true: It must be from Steven because he’s in Australia. (= I am certain it is from Steven …)
can’t / couldn’t when we are sure something is not true: It can’t be / couldn’t be from Steven because that’s not his writing. (= I am certain it’s not from Steven …)

5. Possibility
POSSIBILITY
We use:
 might / may / could when we think something is possibly true: The letter might be / may be / could be from Dad’s friend, Tony, because he moved to Australia recently. (= I know Tony lives there and it is possible, not certain, that the letter is from him)

6. Possibility
might not / may not when we think something is possibly not true: It may not be / might not be from anyone that we know. (= it is possible that it is not)

7. Certainty & Possibility
Present
TRUE
NOT TRUE
Certainty
Must+ infinitive without to
Can’t/couldn’t + infinitive without to
Possibility
Might/may/could + infinitive without to
Might not/may not + infinitive without to
Notice that could means the same as might and may, but couldn’t is different from might not and may not.

8. Talking about the past Talking about the past Certainty We use:
Must have when we are sure something is true: Steven must have arrived in Bandung by now. (= I am certain he has arrived …)
Can’t / couldn’t have when we are sure something is not true: He can’t / couldn’t have got there yet because it will take at least two weeks. (= I am certain he hasn’t got there …)

9. Link words: purpose and reason
Because, as, since  have similar meanings. They show the reason or cause of something. They come before a clause:
LINK WORD
because CLAUSE
We stayed at home as it was raining.
since
There is almost no difference in meaning between because, as and since, but because can emphasize the reason more strongly.
As and since assume that the reason is obvious:

10. Link words: purpose and reason
I’ll do it because I want to, not because you asked me to.
As/Since everyone is here, we can begin. (=It is obvious)
We use only because when we answer with a clause on its own:
‘Why are you late?’ ‘Because I missed the bus.’