NI1 - extra contents in unit 3

In this unit we've been working with modals: SHOULD, CAN, CAN'T, HAVE TO and DON'T HAVE TO. What is not on the book is the characteristics of some of them, especially CAN.

• Remember that CAN is only present but it has no infinitive so you can`t say "to can". For this reason you have problems with tenses in which you use it as it happens in future tenses, so you use a synonym like TO BE ABLE TO + infinitive:
• I'll be able to go to Paris next week  but not  I'll can go to Paris next week (it's wrong)

• You can't use past participle either (3rd column of the irregular verbs) so you need TO BE ABLE TO again for perfect forms: present perfect or past perfect, for example.
• I haven't been able to finish yet but not I haven't could finish yet.

• The last difference is about meaning. You use CAN/COULD in a more general way (possibility, permision, ability, prohibition...) but TO BE ABLE TO is for ability and it means you are going to be successful and you can manage.

• Here you are some exercises to practise but remember some tenses haven't been revised yet: exercise 1  exercise 2  exercise 3

Another grammar content we've seen in class is the structure:

• verb + object + infinitive: I want you to go there ("Quiero que vayas allí")

This is a typical expression of command or request and the usual verbs are: WANT, TELL, ASK, NEED, HELP, WOUD LIKE, etc. Go to this link for more information and you should do the exercise at the end: click here.