MODAL REPHRASING TYPICAL EXPRESSIONS
ABILITY
- CAN= KNOW HOW TO DO STH. She knows how to play the piano
- COULD She was able to run faster but she didn’t. She… could have run faster.
I didn´t finish reading the book because I was watching TV. I should/ could have finished reading the book.
POSSIBILITY
IT’S POSSIBLE, I’m thinking about(considering)=COULD OR MAY
It’s possible that Jane will visit Switzerland next year. (could) Jane could visit Switzerland next year.
It’s possible that Mr Smith committed a crime. (may) Mr Smith…may have commited a crime.
I’m thinking about taking Spanish lessons. (=IT’S POSSIBLE THAT I…)(may)I may take Spanish lessons
BUT…It’s possible the weather will be sunny tomorrow. (might) It might be sunny tomorrow.
PERHAPS, MAYBE= MIGHT
7. Perhaps she’s gone to stay with her mother. (might) She …might have gone to stay with her mother.
11. Perhaps Mr Smith murdered his wife. (might) Mr Smith… Mr Smith might have murdered his wife.
MAY/MIGHT in the past (same rephrasing tips)
4. I think that Ridley Scott didn’t direct this film. Ridley Scott… may not have directed this film.
11. Maybe/perhaps he learnt Spanish as a child. He ...He may have learnt Spanish as a child.
19. Maybe/perhaps she didn´t mean what she said about you.
She may / might not have meant what she said about you.
14. It is possible that the teacher saw me. The teacher ...may / might have seen me.
18. It´s possible that I left the English book at home because it is not here. I...may / might have left my English
book at home.
I’M SURE/CERTAIN/ I BET… +AFFIRMATIVE= MUST
I’m sure they’ll be home by now. They must be home by now.
I’m certain that he buried something in the gardenHe … He must have buried something in the garden.
I’m sure he bought a new carHe … He must have bought a new car.
I'm sure she's at home/ she thinks I'm stupid. She… must be at home now./ must think I´m stupid
They're always buying new cars. I'm certain they have a lot of money. They must have a lot of money.
I bet I look silly in this coat. I … I must look silly in this coat.
MUST in the past
I’m sure that he has finished the exercise. He… He must have finished the exercise.
We are certain that it was a disaster. It… It must have been a disaster.
I´m sure your classmate took your jacket by mistake. Your classmate ...Your classmate must have taken your
jacket by mistake.
I suppose you are tired after your cruise. You must be tired after your cruise.
I am sure he was too tired to go to the concert. He must have been too tired to go.
I’M SURE/CERTAIN/ I BET… +NEGATIVE= CAN’T
James definitely isn’t eighteen yet! (can’t)James can´t be 18 yet!
I’m sure that Mrs Smith didn’t leave home. (can’t) Mrs Smith … Mrs Smith can´t have left home.
I know that isn't Janet-She's in America. (can’t). She… She can´t be Janet .
I am sure Peter didn´t enjoy his holiday. Peter ... can´t have enjoyed the holiday.
AREN’T ALLOWED=CAN’T OR MUSTN’T (PROHIBITIONS)
The students aren´t allowed to bring their mobile phones to school.
The students mustn´t / can´t bring their phones to school.
IT ISN’T NECESSARY FOR…. TO INF= NEEDN’T/ DOESN’T NEED TO/DOESN’T HAVE TO…..
MODAL REPHRASING TYPICAL EXPRESSIONS
It isn’t necessary for her to phone me back/ She needn’t/ doesn’t need to/doesn’t have to…..
NEED in the past. MODAL PERFECT BUT SAME REPHRASING
3. It wasn’t necessary for them to have reserved the tickets. They… needn´t have reserved the tickets.
15. It was unnecessary for you to study this unit. You ...needn´t have studied this unit.
SHOULD
AFFIRMATIVE: SHOULD/I`M SORRY
1. I’m sorry that I didn’t study enough. I… should have studied more.
5. You didn’t write as many words as possible. You… should have written more words.
IF I WERE YOU…..= YOU SHOULD/OUGHT. YOU’D BETTER If I were you I would tell him the truth.
NEGATIVE: SHOULDN’T: IT WAS WRONG, A MISTAKE, A BAD IDEA
It was wrong of you to go to that party. You… You shouldn´t have gone to the party.
I think you were wrong to buy the new car. You ...shouldn´t have bought the car.
It was a mistake to sell the house. I wish I hadn’t. I shouldn’t have sold the house
It was a mistake to ask him to do it. You ...shouldn´t have asked him to do it.
It wasn’t a good idea for the government to apply all those economic measures. The government… shouldn´t have
applied all those ...
It was a bad idea to park outside the train station. We ...shouldn´t have parked outside the train station.
I regret having behaved so badly during the lesson. I shouldn´t have behaved so badly during the lesson.
I can’t believe your boyfriend began smoking. Your boyfriend can´t have / shouldn´t have began smoking.
Where to practice this:
http://www.xtec.cat/~ogodoy/sac/rephrasing/rephrexercises.htm
https://sites.google.com/view/patriciagro/rewriting/modal-verbs
