IV. Brush up your grammar

A. Grammar Folio:

The Modals and their Equivalents

Modal Verb = Its Equivalent	Meaning	Present Indefinite	Past Indefinite	Future Indefinite
Must – быть обязанным сделать что-либо = to have to – быть обязанным, вынужденным что-то сделать в силу об’ективных причин = to be to - быть должным сделать что-либо по плану	долженствование; обязательство; обязанность; долг; необходимость; вынужденность; обязанность; договорённость; часть плана; соглашение;	must have to has am, is, are + to	---- had to was, were + to	---- will have to will be to
Should – следует; нужно	совет; долг; рекомендация; упрёк;	should	should	should
Ought to – следует, нужно	моральный долг; строгая рекомендация	ought to	ought to	ought to
Can – мочь (умственно или физически) = to be able to	Умение; способность; возможность; просьба	can	could	----
May - мочь, имея разрешение или возможность = to be allowed to	разрешение; предположение; неуверенность; возможность; запрет (в отрицат. Форме с not)	may	might	----
Need – нужно Need not – Не нужно	надобность, необходимость; отсутствие необходимости;	need

B. Exercises

1. Translate the sentences into Russian and comment on the use of the

modal verbs.

1. The financial statements must be prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles.

2. She had to work hard to make both ends meet.

3. In addition to preparing a balance sheet and an income statement, all public companies and many privately owned companies have to prepare a statement of cash flows.

4. You should study the numbers carefully when reading annual reports.

5. The auditor who is to review and evaluate our financial records has not arrived yet.

6. You should have done this work in time, Mr. Booster.

7. I’m very busy and I can only spare you a few minutes.

8. A firm which cannot pay its debts may have to be declared bankrupt.

9. If you explain the problem, I may be able to help you.

10. Tom is an experienced financial manager. He couldn’t have invested in such a shady business.

11. Now will you please show me the office where I am to work.

12. Could you give me a call about nine o’clock tonight?

13. The equity market (рынок акций) might see a strong growth as foreigners will be buying stocks with rubles.

14. Our financial situation is not so desperate. There are several ways to improve it. We could sell off the assets that are no longer needed, for instance.

2. Fill in the blanks with the modal verbs must, should, to be to, and to have

to followed by the appropriate form of the infinitives in brackets.

1. Financial statements ---------- fairly (to present) a company’s financial position and operating results.

2. – Do you want a piece of advice, Tom? You ---------- (to be) more patient

with Jane, our new bookkeeper.

-- Yes, sir, but she ---------- (to do) her work properly.

3. I ---------- (to go) to my office yesterday though it was my day off.

4. The annual meeting ---------- (to take place) last Friday.

5. Nick was a real professional but he has retired from his job. Now we -------- (to hire) a new accountant.

6. Forensic accountants ---------- (to work) like detectives in search of fraudulent entries.

7. – I’m not satisfied with your work, Mr. Smith. You ---------- (to prepare) all these statements three days ago.

8. Producers ---------- (to find) the ways to cover the factory’s overheads and things like selling and general expenses.

9. To keep the accounting equation in balance, each business transaction ---------- (to be recorded) in two separate accounts.

10. Our guests know that we ---------- (to wait) for them in the airport.

3. Choose the right variant:

1. ---------- you show me the way to the accounting department?

a) may b) can c) could

2. Where ---------- I find the vice-president of finance?

a) must b) may c) can

3. You ---------- do as you are told.

a) may b) should c) might

4. The firm’s assets and liabilities ---------- be listed in two columns of the

balance sheet.

a) should b) have to c) must

5. Fixed assets such as buildings, machinery, and equipment lose their value

over time and they ---------- to be replaced when it is necessary.

a) may b) have to c) must

6. Shareholders ---------- receive dividends after creditors have received

interest payments.

a) should b) may c) can

7. You never ---------- tell what the future ---------- bring.

a) may; can b) can; may c) could; might

8. My secretary looks so tired today. I fear she ---------- fall ill.

a) should b) is able c) may

9. The director if free now. So you ---------- see him.

a) must b) may c) might

10. Unless you are certified, you ---------- provide such an accounting service

as complex audits of corporate financial records.

a) should not b) don’t have to c) can’t

11. Jeff is the boss, so he ---------- take responsibility for the team.

a) can b) is able to c) ought to

12. You ---------- call the clients. I’ve already done it.

a) mustn’t b) needn’t c) may not

13. I ---------- work on the income statement all last weekend.

a) had to b) must c) should

14. You ---------- be very careful when reading the sentences that start with

“Except for…” and “Despite the…”

a) can b) ought to c) should

15. You ---------- read these papers. They are top-secret.

a) may not b) cannot c) are not able

16. Excuse me Sally, but I’m not feeling well today. I ---------- to talk about

your problems with tax returns only tomorrow.

a) may b) will be able c) can

17. You ---------- come in time. The meeting began an hour ago.

a) should b) should have c) had to

18. – Excuse me for being late. I ---------- come earlier, but you didn’t ask me

about it.

a) could b) could have c) might have

19. When Mr. Clark was younger he ---------- easily read even small printed

letters and numbers in financial records. Nowadays he --------- wear

glasses any time he works.

a) can; must; b) might; should; c) could; has to;

20. In the early days accountants --------- work manually, with the help of

paper, pencils, and lots of erasers. Today they --------- use computers and

software programs.

a) ought to; may; b) could; can; c) had to; can;