Future and Modals : Unit 29, I’d rather . . .

Ann likes to sit on the floor. She doesn’t
want to sit on a chair. So she says:

I’d rather sit on the floor. (= I would prefer
to sit on the floor.)

I’d rather . . . = I would rather.

A.      I would rather ( do something) = I would prefer ( to do somethng ) :

I’d rather (I would rather)

Do . . . stay . . . have . . . be . . .

I’d rather not (I would rather not)

Do . . . stay . . . have . . . be . . .

Would you rather

Do . . . stay . . . have . . . be . . .

-          I don’t really want to go out. I’d rather stay home. (= I’d prefer to stay home)

-          “Shall we go now?”     “No, not yet. I’d rather wait until later.”

-          I want to go now but Tom would rather wait until later

-          I’m feeling tired. I’d rather not go out this evening. (= I’d prefer not to go out)

-          Sue is feeling tired. She’d rather not go out this evening.

-          We’re not hungry. We’d rather not eat yet.

-          “Do you want to go out this evening?”    “I’d rather not.”  (= I’d rather not go out)

-          “Would you rather have milk or juice?”    “Juice, please.”

-          What would you rather do? Go to the movies or watch a video at home?

B.      We say “I’d rather do something” (not “to do something”) :

-          I’d rather sit on the floor. (not “I’d rather to sit”)

-          Sue would rather not go out. (not “would rather not to go”)

But we say “I’d prefer to do something” :

-          I’d prefer to sit on the floor.

-          Sue would prefer not go out. (not “would rather not to go”)

But we say “I’d prefer to do something” :

-          I’d prefer to sit on the floor.

-          Sue would prefer not to go out.

C.      You can say “ I’d rather do . . . than . . . “ :

-          I’d rather go out than stay home.

-          I’d rather have a dog than a cat.

-          We’d rather go to the movies than watc a video at home.

Future and Modals : Unit 28, Would you like . . . ?

A.      Would you like . . . ? = Do you want . . . ?
We use Would you like . . . ? to offer things :

-          “Would you like  some coffe?”
“Yes, please.”

-          “Would you like a cigarette?”
“No, thank you. I don’t smoke.”

-          “What would you like, tea or coffe?”
“Tea, please . . . “

We Use Would you like to . . . ? to invite someone :

-          Would you like to come to a party?

-          “Would you like to have dinner with me on Sunday?”

“Yes. I’d love to.” (= I would love to have dinner with you.)

Where would you like to go this evening?

B.     I’d like ( I would like) is a police way of saying “I want” :

-          (in a restaurant) I’d like fish, please.

-          I’m thirsty. I’d like a drink.

-          I’d like to watch the news on television.

C.      Study the difference :
Would you like . . . ? / I’d like . . . .
Do you like . . . ? / I like . . .

-          “Would you like to go to the movies tonight?” (tonight)
“Yes, I’d love to go.”
but   “Do you like to go to the movies?” (in general)
“Yes, I go to the movies a lot.”

-          “I’d like an orange. (= I want an orange now.)
but     I like oranges. (in general)

Future and Modals : Unit 27, Should

Should + base form (should do / should write, etc.) :

I/we/you/they He/she/it

Should Shouldn’t

do go stop write

A.      (Someone) should do something = It is a good thing to do or the right thing to do :

-          Tom should go to bed earlier. He usually goes to bed very late, and he’s
always tired.

-          It’s a good movie. You should go and see it.

-          When you play tennis, you should always watch the ball

-          When way should we go? Left or right.

B.      Shouldn’t (or should not) = It’s not a good thing to do or it’s not the right thing to do :

-          Tom shouldn’t go to bed so late.

-          You work all the time. You shouldn’t work so hard.

C.      We often use think with should :

I think . . . should . . . :

-          I think Ann should buy some some new clothes.
(= I think it’s a good idea.)

-          It’s late. I think we should go home now.

-          “Should I buy this coat?”    “Yes, I think.”
you Should.

I don’t think . . . should . . . :

-          I don’t think you should work so hard.
(= I don’t think it’s a good idea.)

-          I don’t think the police should carry guns.

Do you think . . . should . . . ? :

-          Do you think I should buy this jacket?

-          What time do you think we should go home?

D.      ought
ought to = should :

-          I ought to go home now. (= I should go home know.)

-          It’s a good movie. You ought to see it. (= You should see it.)

Remember that we say “ought to do” (with to), but “should do” (without to) :

-          Ann ought to buy some new clothes. (not “Ann ought buy”)

Future and Modals : Unit 26, Have to . . .

A.      I have to do something = it is necessary for me to do it or I am obliged to do it :

I/we/you/they  have He/she/it  has

To do . . . To work . . . To go . . . To wear . . .

-          I’ll be late for work tommorow. I have to go to the dentist. (=it is neccessasry
for me to go to the dentist)

-          Sue starts work at 7:00, so she has to get up at 6:00.

-          You have to pass a test before you can get a driver’s license

B.      The Pass (Yesterday / last week, etc.) is had to . . . :

-          I was late for work yesterday. I had to go to the dentist.

-          There was no bus, so we had to walk home.

C.      In questions and negatives we use do/does (present) and did (past) :

-          What time do you have to get up tommorow morning?

-          Does Sue have to work on Saturday?

-          Why did they have to leave the party early?

I don’t have to do (something) = it is not necessary to do it :

-          I’m not working tommorow, so I don’t have to get up early.

-          Mike doesn’t have to work very hard. He has an easy job.

-          We didn’t have to wait very long. The bus came right on time.

D.      Must

You can also use must to say it is necessary to do something :

-          The windows are very dirty. I must clean them. (or  I have to clean them)

-          It’s a fantastic movie. You must see it. (or  You have to see it)

We use have to more often than must, especially in spoken English.