Grammar & Games: My Kahoot! Games for Your Practice

Subject-Verb Agreement with Famous Quotes
Image from Locky's English Playground

Kahoot has been such a big hit in the classrooms around the globe. I have also created several Kahoot exercises for those of you who would like to test yourselves out.

Choose Preview
Image from Locky's English Playground

Use the 'Preview' mode to play these games and see how well you do! The links are listed below. Have fun learning and playing!


Resources:
Subject-Verb Agreement with Famous Quotes
https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/cb0787fa-d8ca-4e78-b0ae-7f14832a63ee

Parallel Structure with Famous Quotes
https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/93d36a1d-9b1c-4df8-9322-bbabeb3f6235

Sentence Structure with Famous Quotes
https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/d4f0bbc3-cbab-48e0-9d27-66e3f65e4018

Synonyms and Antonyms for IELTS Preparatory
https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/a12700ba-8b77-416b-8c8a-9bf65aeeb39a

Usage: Modals Anatomy -- Part 5 (Must)

I hope you have read the previous entry. Today's the final chapter on modal verbs usage! Must .

There are two main functions for the modal verb Must, 

1. Making deductions or conclusions (highly probable / highly improbable)
2. Stating necessity and Obligation

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The first main function...


Making deductions or conclusions (highly probable):

1. He jumped off a 10-storey building to test his parachute? He must be mad!
2. He's such a snake! Yet she decided to marry him. She must be really in love with him.

However, you never use must not to express the opposite meaning -- that something is highly impossible. We use can't instead.

1. He jumped off a 10-storey building to test his parachute? He can't be that crazy!
2. He's such a snake! Yet she decided to marry him. She can't be that irrational!

Modal Perfect:

He must have done
He can't have done




Express past certainty using must have done / can't have done:
A: I haven't heard from George for years. I have been looking for him all these years.
B: He must have emigrated. Living happily in a place with no telecommunication devices.
A: He can't have left the country. His passport is still with me!
B: He can't have left such important thing with you! You must be joking!




************************************************************
The second main function...


Stating necessity and obligation (strong tone):

1. We must cut down the level of CO2 released into the atmosphere.
2. You must be here by 7:55pm, the ferry leaves at 8pm sharp.

Alternatively, you can use have (got) to:

1. The fire is spreading fast, we've got to leave now!!!
2. My mum is home! She'll kill me if she knows I have been calling you. I've got to go!

In the negative form, we use must not, in a way similar to can't:

1. Students must not talk during examination.
2. You mustn't talk to my daughter ever again!

Apart from ordering others, we also order ourselves (not order by others):

1. I must stop playing computer games from today onwards.
2. I must learn to keep my promises.

In questions, we only use must:

1. Must I report this case to my boss?
2. Must you get your quotation by today? If not, I have some other pushing matters to handle.

In this second main function expressing necessity and obligation, there isn't a "past tense" for must,  so we use had to:

1. A: When I was a kid, I had to be back home by 5pm after school.
2. B: When I was a kid, I had to go home immediately after school.
3. C: When I was a kid, I had to ride a Mercedez Benz back home after school. If I rode a Toyota, my buttocks would itch!

For indirect speech:

1. A: My mum said that I must stop eating potato crisps. (Must is still use after a past reporting verb -- said)
2. B: I said that you had to / would have to stop listening to your mum. (Use Had to / Would have to)

When an obligation is from external force, or 'outside', we prefer to use have to:

1. I have to go to Tsim Sha Tsui late tonight, I have a meeting to attend.
2. You've to take these meds 3 times a day, the doctor said so.

For the case of future, we use will have to (more polite), have (got) to and must:

1. I will have to go to Beijing next Sunday to attend a conference.
2. You must come back to the office at 10am tomorrow to pack up your belongings. (giving order)
3. You can talk to the patient, but you'll have to leave before 5pm. (More polite because of distancing)
4. I have to attend a reunion dinner with my relatives this Sunday. (Used when program has long been confirmed)

Homework:
Try to explain the meanings of the following sentences in details, you can make your predictions as you wish, just simply focus on the highlighted words:
(Leave comments for me to check)


Paul: Hey Mary, how are you doing?
Mary: Not bad. How are you?
Paul: Same old. You must have been busy. I've been trying to find you.
Mary: Yeah, quite. You sound serious. It must be something important.
Paul: Well, kind of. You see, I have to attend a party organised by my school's alumni next Saturday, and ...
Mary: Sorry Paul, you'll have to speak a little faster cos I'm in a little hurry right now.
Paul: Oh, okay. You see, it is a dance ball, and I will have to have a partner to go with me, and ... I haven't find the wrong person yet.
Mary: It must be really troubling you, huh!
Paul: Ye~ah. So, I ... was was wondering ... if you could ....
Mary: Sure! Why not!
Paul: Really? You know what I was going to say?
Mary: Yeah! Well, I have to go to do some grocery shopping in the morning, but I will be free after that.
Paul: Mary, ...
Mary: Oh! I must get myself a nice evening dress first, ah! Where did I put the one I bought last week?
Paul: Mary, I mean...
Mary: Must I dress according to the theme of the party? What is the theme anyway?
Paul: In fact, the theme is ...
Mary: Oh, doesn't matter. I must dress to my very best, right?
Paul: The theme is "Dance with Your Pets", Mary! I'll have to borrow Mi Mi for a night.
Mary: What? My dog?




Resources:
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/04/usage-modals-anatomy-part-4-may-might.html
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/11/usage-polite-or-impolite-past-vs_13.html
Practical English Usage Third Ed. -- Michael Swan

Usage: Modals Anatomy -- Part 4 (May & Might)

Grammar time again! This time, we will move on to another pair of modal verbs, May & Might.


Before we start, let's bear in mind that the use of Might is more polite and more formal, as we have discussed in previous entries on distancing.


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May and Might are very similar to each other as they both suggest the chances that something will happen, or is happening. Might is used when the situation is less certain and less possible:

Expressing possibilities:

1. We may go camping this Sunday.
2. She might go Egypt this summer, but it all depends on her cash.
3. She may not be at home.
4. He might not be with her. 

Asking for permission:

1. May I watch TV now?
2. Might I be allowed to meet your daughter? (More formal)
3. I wonder if I might be allowed to meet your daughter. (More formal, indirect use)

Giving and refusing permission: (May only)

1. A: May I watch TV now?             B: No, you may not.
2. You may not go into the conference room without a smart card.
3. You may leave now.

Express wishes and hopes: (May only)

1. May you and your family live happily ever after!
2. May he rest in peace. (Prayer for a dead person)
3. Let's hope that the orphans may receive love from their new families!

Talk about something definitely true (may / might ...but):

1. You may be smarter than me, but I work 10 times harder than you.
2. The cat might look cute now, but she won't be so cute when she starts making scratches on your deluxe sofa.

Modal Perfect:

He may / might have done
He may not / might not have done


Possibilities in the past:

1. Sam called, he said he is still on his way. He didn't say what happened. I guess he might have got caught up in something.

Use in Second Conditionals:

1. If she hadn't been wasting all her time trying to find her 200% Mr Right, she might have got married ages ago.

Homework:
Try to explain the meanings of the following sentences in details, you can make your predictions as you wish:
(Leave comments for me to check)

1. Jane: Look! That's him! Isn't he handsome? I kinda like him.       Peter: He might be stupid.
2. Jane: May I slap you in the face?                Peter: No, you may not. What's so good about him?
3. Jane: He might become the next best Japanese pop singer!
4. Peter: He might? I thought you have ALWAYS worshipped certainties.
5. Jane: What? I can't fancy a guy who is cute and talented?!      Peter: You may......
6. Jane: Then?       Peter: I'm just, you know, he may be cute now, but not in another 5 years.
7. Jane: What may your reason be now, grumpy?            
8. Peter: Well, his face looks real stiff to me, he might have injected a litre of two of those Botox things into his face, so his face will turn into Ironman's mask in 5 years.
9. Jane: You are just jealous!!!

Resources:
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/03/usage-modals-anatomy-part-3-shall.html
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/11/usage-polite-or-impolite-past-vs.html
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/11/usage-polite-or-impolite-past-vs_11.html
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/11/usage-polite-or-impolite-past-vs_13.html

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/catch_10#catch_10__3

Practical English Usage Third Ed. -- Michael Swan

Usage: Modals Anatomy -- Part 3 (Shall & Should)

For those of you who have been trying my exercises in the Usage: Modal Anatomy -- Part 3 (Shall & Should) entry, I can feel that you are improving. Of course, some of you have better concepts than others, but that is normal. Don't feel inferior. I started off slowly and find them rather confusing too, but once you have practised more and have seen more examples, you will eventually feel what the modals are trying to tell you. My tip is you always try to look into the situation first, that is, read between the lines and think carefully, add a little deduction/induction into the examples and then everything will seem so much easier to understand.
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Shall is never used in modern English in the second person.
It is used in the third person only for legal or formal undertakings and guarantees.

Legal English:

1. The tenant shall hereafter be held responsible for all repairs.

Shall is always used in the first person singular and plural in the interrogative:

Offering (Mainly British English):

1. Shall we dance?
2. Shall I buy you lunch on the way back?

Making suggestion which is advisable to do/not to do (advisability):

1. You should really see that film. It's awesome!
2. You shouldn't buy that. It is too expensive!

Polite request with First Conditional (see Grammar: Zero and First Conditionals (Add-ons) for more details):

1. I should be grateful if you would send me your budget estimate as soon as possible.

Asking for suggestion:

1. Should I buy one more jacket?

Prediction that is expected to happen:

1. It should be a fine day tomorrow! We should be able to play football.

Used as a Second Conditional ( see Grammar: Second Conditional for more details):

1. Should you have any inquiries, please call the hotline.
2. Should he arrive after supper, please show him to his room.
3. If she should /were to leave Paul, I would bet it is because of Keith.

As a subjunctive (See Grammar: Subjunctive Mood for more details):

1. I suggest the chairman be/should be asked to resign.
2. I propose this case be/should be dealt with at once.

Modal Perfect:

You should have done. / You shouldn't have done.
I should have done. / I shouldn't have done.

Past actions & Impossible to change & Regret:

1. I should have read the signs. Now she is so mad at me.
2. I shouldn't have spoken so rudely to her.

Past actions & Impossible to change:
      Keith: You should've been more careful when handling that cup. Now it is broken.
      Michael: Well, you shouldn't have kept those words to yourself till I broke it.


Deserved an action in the past, but was not carried out (usually with passive voice):

1. She should have been awarded the Oscar Award ages time ago. (passive voice)
2. He should have been given the chance to explain himself. (passive voice)

Homework:
Try to explain the meanings of the following sentences in details, you can make your predictions as you wish:
(Leave comments for me to check)

1. "Should've seen it coming, should've read the signs, anyway, I guess it's over." -- Westlife, Fool Again.
2. You really shouldn't have shouted at that dog.
3. Shall we?
4. Should he call, please let me know.
5. You should listen to your mum.
6. I should have given my client a call first. He's not in his office now.
7. He should have been in jail.

Resources:
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/03/usage-modals-anatomy-part-2-will-would.html
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/03/books-movie-drama-sherlock-holmes-vs.html
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/09/grammar-zero-and-first-conditionals-add.html
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/09/grammar-second-conditional.html
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/06/grammar-subjunctive-mood.html

A Proficiency Course in English -- F.V.Bywater
Practical English Usage Third Ed. -- Michael Swan

Usage: Modals Anatomy -- Part 2 (Will & Would)

Oops, I missed my Friday entry. Sorry about that. I was down with a not-so-bad cold but quite serious ear pressure. I'll share more about that in the next entry, for now, let's continue with our grammar first.

I must say I am very happy to see 3 female willing learners trying the exercises I posted. Keep up with the good work. If you don't try, you never know if you have got the right concept. If you have any doubts, do feel free to contact me as well. The Question Page and the comments are there for you to throw me questions.

And sorry to those of you who would like to try but I put up the answers too early. So next time, I am going to let you have a week to leave me answers before I release my suggested ones.


*************************************************************************************************

So, in the previous entry, Usage: Modal Anatomy -- Part 1 (Can & Could), we have discussed a lot about Can and Could, let's move on to the next pair -- Will & Would.

As we have already discussed under the topic Conditional Sentences, we now know that Will and Would can be used to express possibility as well as time.

Actions without planning, instant decision:

1. Jane: I feel a little cold.        Paul: I'll close the windows.
2. John: Where to, my friend?    William: I'll just walk around. 

Making predictions from one's knowledge:

1. Sandy: He won't let you off so easily this time. He'll track you down and make you beg on your knees!!!

          Jimmy: What did I do? I only miss submitting my homework twice!


Making promise and showing threat:

1. I promise I'll take good care of you!
2. I'll show you what it means by pain! 

Refusal:

1. The computer won't boot up! I've tried a million times!
2. She won't open up to us.

Giving orders or instructions:

1. Will you STOP SCREAMING? Thank you.
2. Will you come this way please?

Polite request:

1. Would you like to have something to drink?
2. Would you mind passing me the pepper, please?

Official Arrangement:

1. At 9:20am, we'll meet at the South Pacific Hotel in Wanchai.

Now, let's look at some examples from the future perfect form:

Action completion by a particular future time:

1. I will have worked for 24 hours non-stop in 2 hours' time.

Action which are no longer possible (Third Conditionals), usually showing regret:

1. If I hadn't lost my wallet, I would have already watched the film by now.
2. It would have been amazing to watch Michael Jackson's "This is it!" live concert.

Homework:


Try to explain the meanings of the following sentences in details, you can make your predictions as you wish:
(Leave comments for me to check)

1. He won't tell me the truth. Let's think of alternatives.
2. He won't tell me the truth. No matter how I have asked.
3. Pete: I'm going to the supermarket.   Laura: Will you get me some crisps?
4. Would you keep the door open for me?
5. Will you please come back tomorrow at 10am?
6. He will have worked for this company for 20 years tomorrow.
7. I would have noticed had you not disturbed me.
8. You wouldn't have noticed even if I had lost my voice!

Resources:
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/search/label/QUESTION%20PAGE
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=55608&dict=CALD&topic=honesty-openness-and-sincerity
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/10/grammar-third-conditional.html

Usage: Modals Anatomy -- Part 1 (Can & Could)

Does anyone recall the entries I wrote about modal verbs? It was under the title "Usage: Polite or Impolite? Past vs Present -- Part 3". Since then I have wanted to write a bit more about modal verbs, because to me, they can be very easy to begin with, difficult to go deep, and then easy once again when you can remember all.

Modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb(or helping verb) that is used to indicate modality -- meaning possibility and necessity.[1][2]

As I have mentioned in "Usage: Polite or Impolite? Past vs Present -- Part 3", the 9 modals are

Can & Could

Will & Would

Shall & Should

May & Might

Must

We'll look into each pair in each entry. First, let's take a look at the pair Can & Could

Having ability:

1. I can swim.
2. I could swim (in the past, now I can't).

Giving permission:

1. You can go now.
2. N.A.

Asking for permission:

1. Can I speak to Jane?
2. Could I speak to Paul? (more polite, time concerned is still present)

Request for help:

1. Can you lend me a dollar?
2. Could you lend me a dollar? (more polite, time concerned is still present)

Giving suggestion:

1. N.A.
2. You could clarify with her first before blaming her. (time concerned is still present)

Expressing possibility:

1. Smoking can cause cancers.
2. It can't be true! (it is not possible to be true)
3. You could arrive anytime now. (Slight possibility/ Unsure) (time concerned is still present)

Offering help:

1. Can I get you a drink?
2. N.A.

As you can see from the above, Could is the past tense of Can only for the case of ability.


Modals can also be categorised according to their forms.
Basically, you can call them:

1. Modal Simple 
• I could talk to her.
2. Modal Continuous
• I could be talking to her.
3. Modal Perfect
• I could have talked to her.
4. Modal Perfect Continuous
• I could have been talking to her.

Among the forms, I am most interested by the Modal Perfect of Could and Can because of their usefulness in expressing different mood.


Could have done (more common)
Can have done (less common)


Showing possibility in past event:

1. I can have visited her. (I had the chance, but I didn't visit her.)
2. You could have talked to her. (You had the chance, but you didn't, maybe you chose not to) (same as 1)

Showing disbelief in past event:

1. He couldn't have behaved so badly in school!
2. She couldn't have betrayed her dearest friend!

Showing criticisms / regrets in past event:

1. You could have informed me before you threw away my letters!! (But you threw my letters away and now I am very angry!)
2. I could have saved that kid had I called the ambulance earlier. (Because I didn't call the ambulance earlier, the kid has died and I am angry with myself now, and I regret it too)

The negative sense of Could/Can have + Past Participle is slightly more tricky and you just have to read carefully between the lines, usually it carries the meaning of "the result wouldn't have changed even if somebody did try":

Couldn't have done (more common)
Can't have done (less common)

1. I couldn't have succeeded without your help. (But I did succeed because you did help me)
2. He couldn't have phoned you because he left his cellphone at home. (It was just not possible for him to call you)
3. The dinner couldn't have been better! It was fantastic! (The dinner was not possible to get even better, it was already at its best)

Homework:


Try to explain the meanings of the following sentences in details, you can make your predictions as you wish:
(Leave comments for me to check)

1. Person A: "We can try to use inductive reasoning to solve this puzzle." Person B: "Could do."
2. Could you please shut your mouth?
3. You could have killed yourself crossing that road just now! Now take those earplugs off!
4. He couldn't have solved those problems by himself.

Enjoy!!!


                      "Who says grammar is boring?" -- Locky




Resources:
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/11/usage-polite-or-impolite-past-vs_13.html
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modal_verb
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auxiliary_verb
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_modality
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_modal_auxiliary_verb
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-modal

Book reference:
Practical English Usage -- Michael Swan

Usage: Polite or Impolite? Past VS Present -- Part 3

DISTANCING with MODAL VERBS

The Modal verbs can be really wide as it can be used in many different ways to show different mood, time as well as possibilities (particularly in the conditionals, see earlier entries under the "Grammar" label).

There are 9 modal verbs in English:

Can & Could

Will & Would

Shall & Should

May & Might

Must

While the followings are often regarded as semi-modals or auxiliary verbs, which can be used in similar ways:

ought to & had better

used to

dare & need

do

going to

have to

One of the uses of modal verbs is to show politeness:

1. Can you help me open the door? I have no spare hands (Speaker is holding onto a pile of files).
2. Will you come with me? (Speaker turns around) This way please (speaker shows the way with his hand).

Examples 1 and 2 use the 'present' form, which implies that that distancing is not present, thus the speakers do expect a "Yes" as the response.

To show more politeness than the previous examples, we tend to use the 'past' version of the modal verbs: (Note that they are not really talking about the past)

1. Could you give me a hand?
2. Would you let me know your phone number, please? (add 'please' to make it even more polite)
3. Would you mind offering your seat to this lady ?(Speaking on behalf or a lady who is pregnant, even more polite when using "would you mind")
4. Could you possibly allow me to offer you a cappuccino? (Even more polite than "Could you allow" by using possibly)

With the exception of May:

1. May I offer you my jacket? (Cannot say "Might I offer")

Must is completely out of our concern here because it has nothing to do with politeness.

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_modal_auxiliary_verb

Usage: Polite or Impolite? Past VS Present -- Part 2

DISTANCING with the CONTINUOUS TENSES

The continuous tenses can be used to show distancing because it sounds more casual, as they suggest something temporary and unfinished.

With present continuous:

1. I'm hoping that you can give me a chance. (More unsure than I hope)
2. I'm looking forward to seeing you again. (more casual than I look)
3. I'm afraid we must be going.

Note than the distancing here is not exactly to show politeness, but to make the situations sound less serious.

For politeness, the past continuous give TWICE the level of distancing:

1. "Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets?" -- Hermione to Professor McGonagall
2. "Were you looking for someone?" said the waitress.
3. I was thinking -- maybe we should just forget about it.

Resources:

Practical English Usage by Michael Swan

Usage: Polite or Impolite? Past VS Present -- Part 1

DISTANCING

Sorry, I haven't been keeping my blog updated as promised. This is due to my busy schedule (that the school is making full use of my time), as well as the time needed to do the research in this topic.

Again, some of you have already heard me mentioning this topic in class, but I would like to go a little deeper this time, so I will break this topic into a few entries, so that I can answer as many doubts as possible.

First, let me state that, in general, past tenses are more polite than present tense, as many of you might have already known, which further implies that past tenses are not only used for telling actions happened in the past.

Past tenses play a very important part in Distancing.

The main reason is that past tenses give people a 'distance' from 'now', thus the listener will feel less 'pushed' by the speaker because it sounds less direct.

eg. At a high-end brand shop, a salesperson might say...

1. "How many handbags did you want to buy? (more polite)" to a customer who speaks Mandarin
2. "How many handbags do you want to buy? (less polite)" to a customer who speaks Cantonese

eg. At a jewelery shop, a salesperson might say...

1. "How much did you intend to spend? (more polite)" to a customer who wears gold all over the body
2. "How much do you intend to spend? (less polite)" to a customer who wears T-shirt and flip-flops.

eg. When a boy sees a girl he likes ...

1. I wondered if you were free this evening.

When a girl sees the boy she doesn't like...

1. I wonder if you have ever looked at yourself in the mirror.

So much for today, think over and digest a bit! See you in a few days! (My time for bed)

Picture resources:

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rma/lowres/rman202l.jpg

Resources:

Practical English Usage by Michael Swan