Unit 2
Let’s celebrate!
• To get to know some modal verbs.
• To learn how to use modal verbs to
make prediction.
• To learn how to introduce a traditional
Chinese festival.
1 Look at the sentences from the reading
passage and answer the questions.
a That is why Letters from Father Christmas
could be the perfect book…
b The children must have been very excited as
they opened it.
c … they might not receive their presents if
they were not good.
1) What do the words in red indicate: an order, a
request, ability or possibility?
They indicate possibility.
2) Will the meaning of sentence (a) change if we
replace “could” with “must” or “might”?
If we replace “could” with “must”, the meaning
of sentence (a) will change. It means the speaker
is quite sure about the statement. If we replace
“could” with “might”, the meaning of sentence
(a) will remain more or less the same. “Could”
and “might” in affirmative sentences have a
similar meaning when indicating possibility.
v. 表明, 显示n. 请求, 要求
3) What happens if we change “must” and
“might” in sentences (b) and (c) into
“could”?
If we change “must” in sentence (b) into
“could”, it means the speaker is not sure
about the statement, and it’s only a
possibility. If we change “might” in
sentence (c) into “could”, it means it’s
impossible for the children to receive
presents.
Look for more sentences with modals in
the reading passage.
1) The letters were also beautifully illustrated
--- each must have taken its true author,
Tolkien, a long time to complete.
2) In another letter, Father Christmas
complained about how he could not stop
his helpers playing games with the toys in
stead of wrapping them up.
3) Who could it be from?
4) … we can all share the true spirit of giving
at Christmas time.
情态动词must, can/could, may/might均可
表示推测, 它们可以对过去、现在或将来的
情况作出语气强弱不同的推测。
把握推测语气的特点，选择恰当的情态动
词。
1. 表示肯定的推测时，各情态动词语气从
弱到强依次为might → may → could →
can → must；
表示否定的推测时, can’t / couldn’t语气较强，
意为“不可能”；may not / might not语气
较弱，意为“可能不”。
注意：
must的否定形式mustn’t不表示否定推测，
而是表示“不许可”或“不应该”。
2. 情态动词表示推测时, 在用法上有一些限制:
① must只用于肯定句中，意为“一定，准
是”。如:
This must be your room.
②could多用于否定句和疑问句中。如：
He looks young. He couldn’t be over 50.
Could it be true?
③may / might用于肯定句和否定句中。如：
They may not know his address.
She told me that she might go to Hawaii this
winter.
确定被推测时间，正确判断动词时态。
1. 对现在或将来的情况进行推测时，用“情
态动词+ do”。如：
You must be Mr. Smith. I was told to expect
you.
Our team might win the race.
2. 对此时此刻正在进行的情况进行推测时，
用“情态动词+ be +动词-ing形式”。如：
She may be waiting for you in the entrance
hall at the moment.
The police are stopping all cars. They must
be looking for the escaped prisoner.
3. 对过去的情况进行推测时，用“情态动词
+ have +过去分词”。如：
I didn’t see Alex. He might have gone
home.
I couldn’t have left my bag on the bus.
They must have gotten lost or they’d be
here by now.
【拓展】
在特定的语境中，“might / could + have +过去
分词”不是对一件事情是否发生进行推测，而是
表示本来可能发生但没有发生，或者本来可能完
成却没有完成的动作，有时具有一定的感情色彩。
①might have done本可以做(却没有), 有时表示很
委婉的责备。如：
Honestly, the report might have been better
written.
②could have done本可能做(却没有)。如：
He did not regret saying what he did but felt that
he could have expressed it differently.
2 Rewrite the underlined sentences in
the conversation using can/could,
may/might and must.
(At a fancy dress party)
Chris: I spent ages putting up all the
balloons and flowers last night.
Jean: I expect you are feeling tired now!
Chris: Yes, I am. Look that guy is dressed as Batman.
Is that Mike?
Jean: It’s possibly him. Check out that girl
over there. I’m sure that’s Lucy.
Chris: No, I don’t think that’s Lucy. Lucy isn’t that
tall.
Jean: Look at those two guys dressed as chickens!
Oh, they’re waving at us!
Maybe they’re from our school.
Chris: Let’s go and find out.
You must feel tir d now!
It may/might/could be him.
That must be Lucy!
that can’t be Lucy!
They may/might/could be fr m our school.
Black Friday is one of the busiest
shopping days of the year. Stores have
big sales and open their doors very early.
3 Look at the picture and make as many
sentences as possible using can/could,
may/might and must.
The woman in red must be very excited to
buy so many things.
The man with a wallet in his hand might be a
bit reluctant to pay.
The woman in glasses may be very tired to
get up so early and carry so many bags.
The cashier might be feeling uncomfortable
as he is sweating a lot.
…
Do you know Singles Day? Watch the
video and make as many sentences as
possible using can/could, may/might
and must.
4 Underline the words and
expressions about celebrations
during the Lantern Festival in the
speech bubbles and complete the
mind map. Add any more you can
think of.
flowers,
a scarf a red envelope,
a dress…
rice balls,
dumplings…
balloons,
posters
banners,
flowers…
hold a
lantern fair,
let off
fireworks
hold a lantern
riddles competition,
have a reunion
dinner…
Describe a festival celebration using
the words and expressions you have
learnt.
To celebrate…, we often drink/eat…,
give… as gift, decorate with…
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