LEVEL A1: GOODBYE

THERE IS AN OPTION FOR YOU TO TRANSLATE ALL THE TEXT

IN YOUR LANGUAGE (Top right > Select language > Click on the flags).

VOCABULARY

• I can’t go to the party!
• Of course you can!
• You may never see her again.
• You can’t make me go!
• I may not be your mother…
• A clip round the ear
• It might be easier…
• I can’t think of any reason….
• Has she said anything?
• She hasn’t said anything.
• She needs to talk to someone.
• That someone is you.
• I can’t go like this!
• I need to get ready.
• You’ve got 20 minutes.
• He talked to Sarah.
• She may be back.
• She has applied for a Master’s.
• The party was lovely.
• Everyone had a wonderful time.
• Everyone was sad.
• He promised to write.
• As often as he could…
• To promise

LESSON 15 DIALOGUE

– Goodbye-

 Lesson 15 – Goodbye 

Jess: Sam, come to the party!

Sam: I can’t go to the party!

Jess: Of course you can! You may never see Sarah again.

Sam: You can’t make me go!

Jess: Now you really are behaving like a child. I may not be your mother but I´ll give you a good clip round the ear!

Sam: It might be easier for her if I don’t go.

Jess: Then again, it might not. I can’t think of any reason why Sarah wouldn’t want you there.

Sam: Has she said anything?

Jess: She hasn’t said anything. She needs to talk to someone and that someone is you.

Sam: Well, I can’t go like this. I need to get ready!

Jess: Well you’ve got 20 minutes. So hurry up!

Sam went to the party and talked to Sarah. She told him that she may be back in one year as she has applied for a Master’s.

The rest of the party was lovely, everyone had a wonderful time and everyone was sad to see Sarah go. Particularly Sam who promised to write to Sarah as often as he could.

COMPREHENSION QUIZZES (3 TO COMPLETE)

Interactive Video Comprehension Quiz 1: 

Summary Statements Comprehension Quiz 2: 

Drag and Drop Quiz 3: 

GRAMMAR PRACTICE: MODALS VERBS 

Modals are auxiliary verbs that are used when we want to emphasise the meaning in relation to certainty, obligation, ability, possibility, probability, ask permission, make requests and related aspects. The manners can be separated into two groups according to the meaning.

The first group is to project a degree of certainty, that something is certain, uncertain, probable, improbable, possible or impossible. The second is to project obligation, freedom to act, ability or incapacity.

The modals verbs are: CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, SHALL, SHOULD, WILL and WOULD.

Possibility

When we want to express that something is possible in the future we can use could, might and may:

Examples

He could call in sick and take the day off.

We might go to the party.

You may need to take the day off work.

If we want to express that something was possible at some time in the past, we can use could have, might have and may have:

Examples

He might have finished work by now.

She may have left it in the office.

To make general statements about what is possible, we use can:

Examples

You can buy three drinks for the price of two.

He can be a little difficult to get along with.

The past of Can is Could:

Examples

You could buy three drinks for the price of two.

He could be a little difficult to get along with.

Impossibility

Can’t or cannot be used to express that something is not possible:

Examples

He can´t make it to the party.

They cannot leave work early.

The past of Can’t/Cannot is Couldn’t/Could not:

Examples

He couldn´t make it to the party.

They couldn´t leave work early.

Probability

When we are sure that something is true, we use must:

Examples

They must be running late.

The sun is shining and you´re wearing a big coat. You must be boiling.

We use must have for the past:

Examples

They must have been running late as they missed the start of the film.

He must have been very hot in that big coat.

If something is true or will be true in the future, we use should:

Examples

He should know where a good parking spot it.

They should be here by now.

We use should have for the past:

Examples

I should have known that there was no place to park.

They should have been here by now.

Ability

Can is used when we talk about a skill in a subject or about general skills:

Examples

He can recall pi to 30 decimal places.

They can fill a concert hall in no time at all.

Can was also used to talk about the ability to do something in the present or future:

Examples

He can enter the competition but he doesn´t stand a chance.

They can plead as much as they want but I´m not going to do it.

The past of can is could:

Examples

We could afford it then.

She could sing every Queen song flawlessly.

 

Could have been used to suggest that someone has the ability or the opportunity to do something.

Examples

We could have gone to Cuba.

You could have returned the book that I lent to you.

Permission

When we want to ask permission to do something, we can use can:

Examples

Can we give the museum a miss today?

Can I finish work a little earlier?

If we want to be more formal, we can use could or may:

Examples

Could we give the museum a miss today?

May I finish work a little earlier?

We use can to give permission

Examples

Of course you can borrow the book.

You can finish a little earlier today.

When we want to be more formal when it comes to giving permission, we use may:

Examples

Of course you may borrow the book.

You may finish a little earlier today.

We use can to say that someone has permission to do something:

Examples

They can leave whenever they wish.

We can enter the theatre twenty minutes before the show starts.

If we want to be more formal, we use may:

Examples

They may leave whenever they wish.

We may enter the theatre twenty minutes before the show starts.

Instructions and requests

To say or ask someone to do something, we use can and will:

Examples

Can you move your car, please?

Will you turn the music down please?

If we want to be nicer, we use could you and would you:

Examples

Could you pass me the salt please?

Would you help me move house please?

Suggestions and advice

Suggestions and tips are formed using should:

Examples

We should go to the cinema.

You should keep it on your person at all times.

We can also use could to make suggestions:

Examples

We could go to the cinema.

You could ask him for the day off.

Offers and invitations

The offers are made using can I or shall I:

Examples

Can I help you with something?

Shall I order a taxi for you?

I can / I could or I’ll / I will also be used to offer:

Examples

I can help you with that if you like.

I´ll pick something up for you.

Would you like it used for invitations:

Examples

Would you like to come for something to eat?

Would you like a drink?

If we want to be nicer we use you must or we must:

Examples

You must come for something to eat.

We must go for a drink.

Obligation and necessity

When it is necessary to do something, we use must:

Examples

We must book the holiday before January.

You must look like you mean business.

The past is had to:

Examples

We had to book the holiday before January.

I had to look like I meant business.

Advices and tips

Here are some notable factors about modal verbs:

1. Modal verbs do not acquire the -s in the third person.
2. We use « no » to make negative forms of manners, even in simple present and simple past.
3. Many modal verbs can not be used in past or future times.

PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE

• Related Pronunciation Video Lesson and interactive exercise(s): /w/ Consonant Sound

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