Lesson 4th: Can, May, and will

I. Key points and examples of this course

In this lesson, we will learn how to use the help verb can, c-a-n, CAN, May, M-a-y, May, Will, w-I-l, Will and might, M-I-g-h-t, might. first of all, let's listen to a conversation. Peter talked to Mary about the school activities at school. we should read it at a natural speed first. Please pay attention to the pronunciation and tone of the English teacher.

M: Hi, Mary.
F: Oh, hello, Peter. How are you?
M: I'm fine. Can you have a cup of coffee with me?
F: I can't now. I have an exam tomorrow. I have to study for it.
M: You're taking a lot of courses this year.
F: I might drop some of them. Are you still with the football team?
M: Yes, we will play a game this Friday.
F: May I go to see you play?
M: Yes, of course.
F: I hope the weather will be sunny Friday.
M: I hope so, too.

Now we can read this conversation again at a slow speed.

M: Hi, Mary.
F: Oh, hello, Peter. How are you?
M: I'm fine. Can you have a cup of coffee with me?
F: I can't now. I have an exam tomorrow. I have to study for it.
M: You're taking too hour courses this year.
F: I might drop some of them. Are you still with the football team?
M: Yes, we will play a game this Friday.
F: May I go to see you play?
M: Yes, of course.
F: I hope the weather will be sunny Friday.
M: I hope so, too.

Now I have picked out the sentence that contains the help verb in the previous session and read it again at a slow speed.

M: Can you have a cup of coffee with me?
F: I can't now.
M: I might drop some of them.
M: We will play a game this Friday.
F: May I go to see you play?
F: I hope the weather will be sunny Friday.

Ii. Can

First, we will learn how to use can, c-a-n, and can. this word indicates "capable" to do one thing. its negative formula is cannot, c-a-n-o-t, cannot, which can be reduced to can't, which means "no ability" to do one thing. in the first exercise, we will give you some examples to illustrate what Peter and Mary can do but cannot do. we read every sentence twice. Please follow the sentence when you read it for the second time.

M: Peter can have a cup of coffee but Mary can't.
F: Peter can have a cup of coffee but Mary can't.
M: Peter can play football but Mary can't.
F: Peter can play football but Mary can't.
M: Peter can swim but Mary can't.
F: Peter can swim but Mary can't.
M: Mary can dance But Peter can't.
F: Mary can dance But Peter can't.
M: Mary can sing but Peter can't.
F: Mary can sing but Peter can't.
M: Mary can speak French but Peter can't.
F: Mary can speak French but Peter can't.

Next, let's use another method for exercises. The student asked the teacher: "What can I do? "Then the teacher proposed
This phrase is used by students to answer questions. Let me give an example:

F: What can I do?
M: Join the gymnastics team
F: I can join the gymnastics team.
M: Join the track team
F: I can join the track team.
Now let's start the exercises:
F: What can I do?
M: Join the gymnastics team
F: I can join the gymnastics team.
M: Join the track team
F: I can join the track team.
M: drive a car
F: I can drive a car.
M: Cook fancy dishes
F: I can cook fancy dishes.
M: speak English well
F: I can speak English well.
M: Run fast
F: I can run fast.
M: sing an American song
F: I can sing an American song.

Iii. May and might

After learning the can usage, let's see how to use the help verb "may" and "might. both of these words indicate that things may happen in the future and can be exchanged in sentences. for example, Peter may be a professional player in the future. you can also say that: Peter might become a professional player.

Well, let's do a set of exercises. all the exercises are about Peter's future achievements. now, we ask the English teacher to propose a sentence using the word "may", and ask the students to use the word "might" instead. when students are doing exercises, please follow them.

M: Peter may become a professional player.
F: Peter might become a professional player.
M: Peter may become a sport star.
F: Peter might become a sport star.
M: Peter may play in the Olympus games.
F: Peter might play in the Olympus games.

Next let's take a look at Mary's future achievements. Please continue with the exercises.

M: Mary may become a professional singer.
F: Mary might become a professional singer.
M: Mary may have a career in singing.
F: Mary might have a career in singing.
M: Mary may sing in a concert.
F: Mary might sing in a concert.

4. Request from the May table

Just now we learned how to use can, can't, and May and might. Next we want to learn
In addition to the possibility, the word "may" can also be used to indicate allow or request.

In the last lesson, we mentioned Peter's trip to New York in the summer. The following group of exercises talked about Peter's question about whether his mother was allowed to do anything when she arrived in New York. peter asks a question first, and then you will hear yes or no. please answer your questions based on what you have heard. first, let's take an example:

M: May I go to New York with the school tour?
F: Yes!
F: Yes, you may go to New York with the school tour

Okay. Now let's start practicing. After you answer your question, please listen to the correct answer.

M: May I go to New York with the school tour?
F: Yes!
F: Yes, you may go to New York with the school tour.
M: May I go to New York alone?
F: No!
F: No, you may not go to New York alone.
M: May I take a lot of money with me?
F: No!
F: No, you may not take a lot of money with you.
M: May I take two suitcases with me?
F: Yes!
F: Yes, you may take two suitcases with you.
M: May I visit some beautiful Churchill in New York?
F: Yes!
F: Yes, you may visit some beautiful Churchill in New York.

Here are several more examples:

M: May I have a cup of coffee with you?
F: May I have a cup of coffee with you?
M: May I go to see you play football?
F: May I go to see you play football?
M: May I have four tomatoes and a dozen eggs?
F: May I have four tomatoes and a dozen eggs?
M: May I sit next to you?
F: May I sit next to you?
M: May I dance with you?
F: May I dance with you?
M: May I take you home?
F: May I take you home?
M: May I use your telephone?
F: May I use your telephone?
M: May I help you?
F: May I help you?

5. Will

Now, let's learn the last helper verb "will" to be taught today. this word indicates what will happen in the future. here are some examples. each sentence is read twice. Please listen again and repeat it again.

M: Peter will play football this Friday.
F: Peter will play football this Friday.
M: Mary will go to see the football game this Friday.
F: Mary will go to see the football game this Friday.
M: Mary will see Peter this Friday.
F: Mary will see Peter this Friday.
M: The weather will be sunny this Friday.
F: The weather will be sunny this Friday.

Now let's learn how to turn those sentences into question words. For example, the teacher said: Peter
Will play football this Friday. Then the teacher will give you a question: what, and you will change the sentence to: What Will Peter play this Friday? Well, now let's start practicing. After you finish a question, please listen to the correct answer.

M: Peter will play football this Friday.
M: What
F: What Will Peter play this Friday?
M: Mary will go to see the football game this Friday.
M: When
F: When will Mary go to see the football game?
M: Mary will see Peter this Friday.
M: WHO
F: Who will mary see this Friday?
M: The weather will be sunny this Friday.
M: How
F: How will the weather be this Friday?

The word "will" can also be used to represent a person's volunteers. the following exercises are all about your willingness to do anything. we read every sentence twice. Please repeat it again.

M: Will you sing a song for us?
F: Will you sing a song for us?
M: Will you go to the bank with me?
F: Will you go to the bank with me?
M: Will you take me to the airport?
F: Will you take me to the airport?
M: Will you buy two loaves of bread?
F: Will you buy two loaves of bread?

The following group of exercises compares will with its negative will not, that is, won't. Or should you listen again and repeat it again.

M: Peter won't go to the supermarket but Mary will.
F: Peter won't go to the supermarket but Mary will.
M: Peter won't cook for you but Mary will.
F: Peter won't cook for you but Mary will.
M: Mary won't go swimming Ming with you but Peter will.
F: Mary won't go swimming Ming with you but Peter will.
M: Mary won't have a cup of coffee but Peter will.
F: Mary won't have a cup of coffee but Peter will.

6. Answer questions

Now let's take a hearing test. First of all, please listen to an article about average American middle school students,
For example, what kind of sports can Peter attend in school and what kind of achievements may be made in the future. We will read it at a normal speed first. Please listen carefully.

American high school students, like Peter, may play on school sports teams. most high schools have football, baseball, basketball and track teams. some schools might also have ‑ming teams, gymnastics teams and tennis teams. good players can join university teams when they graduate from high schools. the very best will become popular

Sports stars. The best football, basketball and tennis players can become professional.

That means they will have a career in sports and will get money when they play. The best track and gymnastics students may go to the Olympus games on the U. S. Olympus team.

Did you understand the article just now? If you don't understand it all, wait for a moment and you will have a chance to hear it.
The English teacher gave you three questions about today's quiz.

The first problem is:
M: What sports teams do most American high schools have?
The second problem is:
M: What kind of players will become popular sports stars?
The third problem is:
M: What does "professional players" mean?

Well, now let's read the article at a slow speed. Please pay attention to it:

American high school students, like Peter, may play on school sports teams. most high schools have football, baseball, basketball and track teams. some schools might also have ‑ming teams, gymnastics teams and tennis teams. good players can join university teams when they graduate from high schools. the very best will become popular sports stars. the best football, basketball and tennis players can become professional. that means they will have a career in sports and will get money when they play. the best track and gymnastics students may go to the Olympus games on the U. s. olympus team.

Now, I want to ask you to answer the three questions for today's quiz. After you answer the question, please listen to the correct answer and see if you have answered correctly.

The first problem is:
M: What sports teams do most American high schools have?
F: They have football, baseball, basketball and track teams.
The second problem is as follows:
M: What kind of players will become popular sports stars?
F: the very best players will become popular sports stars.
Now, please answer the third question:
M: What does "professional players" mean?
F: It means to have a career in sports and to get money to play.