Task 3. Focus on Grammar

Modal Verbs Expressing Ability and Permission

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

Present can can not can he

is able to is not able to is he able to

may may not may he

is allowed is not allowed is he allowed

is permitted is not permitted is he permitted

Past could could not could he

was able to was not able to was he able to

was allowed was not allowed was he allowed

was permitted was not permitted was he permitted

Future he will be able to will not be able to will he be able to

he will be allowed will not be allowed will he be allowed

he will be permitted will not be permitted will he be permitted

Exercise 1. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate modal verb. Give more than one variant if possible.

1. I . . . him to use my notes to prepare for the seminar. 2. . . . the students choose what they wanted to study? 3. You . . . keep the book for a month. After that you . . . return it to the library. 4. . . . you type? I . . . type, but I know a very good typist who will do this work for us. 5. . . . you lend me 5 quid. I'll pay you back tomorrow morning. 6. Since the accident I . . . to drive a car. 7. He read the letter but he . . . to understand it. 8. . . . I leave my bag with you? No, you . . .. I am leaving now. 9. I had the right visa so they . . . me to cross the border. 10. Who . . . answer my questions? 11. Do not leave for tomorrow what you . . . do today. 12. King Philip of France was not a good fighter and he . . . take part in the Crusades. 13. In Trafalgar Square you . . . see two beautiful fountains. 14. With the help of this guide book you . . . to see the most important London sights. 15. Taking a trip down the River Thames to the Tower of London you . . . get a glimpse of six London bridges. 16. . . . you tell us about your trip to London?

Exercise 2. You are a guest at your friend's home. What do you say in these situations:

1. You want another cup of tea.

2. You want to phone home.

3. You want to smoke.

4. You want to take a bath.

5. You want to borrow a towel.

6. You want an evening newspaper.

7. You want to watch TV.

8. You want your friend to wake you up next morning.

Text 2 Pre - reading Task

Scan the following passage in three minutes and find information

about the following:

a) the aim of Imperial College;

b) the structure of Imperial College;

c) the fields of work;

d) research programmes of Department of Materials;

e) links with the humanities.

Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine

Imperial College is located in London. It was established in 1907 by Royal Charter `to give the highest specialised instruction, and to provide the fullest equipment for the most advanced training and research in various branches of science, especially in its application to industry.' The College is part of the University of London which is the largest university in the country for full-time students and has many thousands part-time.

The College itself is a federation of four closely linked colleges: the Royal College of Science, the Royal School of Mines, the City and Guilds College and St.Mary `s Medical School. All these colleges are working in the broad fields of the physical sciences, the life sciences, the earth sciences, mining, metallurgy and allied subjects, the main branches of engineering, including computing, and medicine.

The reputation of the staff is high. There are Noble Prize winners, Fellows of the Royal Society and Fellows of the Fellowship of Engineering among them.

Imperial College has strong links with both industry and government. Visiting professors and lecturers, industry and government establishments make an important contribution to the more specialized teaching at the College. Industry also provides the College with financial support for certain academic posts, advanced courses, bursaries and scholarships.

There are many departments which provide various study and research programmes for students working for higher degrees (MPhil, MSc or PhD) or on the post-doctoral level. For example, Department of Materials has extensive facilities for the processing and examination of materials. The topics include the following: semiconductors and devices, silicate melts, slags and ashes; metal matrix composites; microstructure and property relationships in alloys; development of new alloys; corrosion and protection, etc. Science and Technology Studies (STS) at Imperial examines the culture of modern science and technology from the perspective of the humanities. Teaching and research emphasise the history, communications and public understanding of science and technology from the origins of the Industrial Revolution to the present.

Students' life at Imperial College is very interesting. There is a wide range of athletic, social and recreational clubs. All social, cultural and athletic needs of students are provided by the Imperial College Student Union.

(Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, 1993)