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Rules and Regulations at School > You Could Have Gotten a Ticket!


Understand traffic violations, using different Perfect Modals.

You're a passenger in a car. The driver just did something he or she shouldn't have gone.

You Could Have Gotten a Ticket!

I can't believe he went through that red light! / get a ticket

Dialog
A: You know... I hate to be a "back seat driver," but you really shouldn't have gone through that red light.
B: Oh?
A: Yes. You could have (1) gotten a ticket!
B: Hmm. You're right. I guess I just went through that red light without thinking. I must have had my mind on something else.

Functions
(1) Possibility
could have
might have

Exercises
1) I can't believe she made that U-turn! / be pulled over by a police officer
2) I can't believe he passed that car on the right-hand side! / cause an accident
3) I can't believe she cut in front of that big truck! / be hit
4) I can't believe he sped through that school zone! / hit somebody
5) I can't believe she drove through that intersection so fast! / get us killed

Grammar
Perfect Modals
Modal Auxiliaries (such as can, could, may, might, should, had better, must, will, or would) are helping verbs that express a wide range of meanings. The Modal Auxiliaries are usually used with another verb to express ideas such as ability, permission, possibility, necessity, etc. Most of the modals have more than one meaning.

Perfect Modals are Modal Auxiliaries following by the verb have forming the perfect tense (Form: Modal + Have (Infinitive) + Past Participle).

The primary perfect modals used in English are Should have, Could have (or Might have), and Must have. Should have is used for advice given after the event happened. Express the idea of advisability. Could have and Might have are used to express an event that could have occurred but didn't. Express the idea of possibility. Must have is used for making conclusions not for stating past necessity. Express the idea of certainty.

Should Have
You should have done better than that.
You really shouldn't have gone though that red light.

Could Have
You could have gotten a ticket!

Might Have
You might have gotten a ticket!

Must Have
I must have had my mind on something else.



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Rules and Regulations at School > Let Me See Your License


Understand traffic violations, using different Verb Tenses.

You're a police officer! Give somebody a ticket!

Let Me See Your License

You went through a red light

Dialog
A: Let me see your license.
B: Here you are, Officer. Tell me, what did I do wrong?
A: You went through a red light.
B: I did?
A: Yes, you did.
B: Oh. I didn't realize that (1). Would you possibly be willing to (2) let me go with just a warning this time?
A: No. I'm afraid I can't. I'm going to have to give you a ticket.
B: Oh.

Functions
(1) Surprise-Disbelief
I didn't realize that.
I wasn't aware that.

(2) Requests
Would you possibly willing to
Could you possibly
Could you please
Could I possibly ask you to

Exercises
1) You were speeding.
2) Your inspection sticker has expired.
3) You made an illegal U-turn.
4) You taillights aren't working.
5) You were going 75 in a 55 mile-per-hour zone.

Grammar
Verb Tenses
Verb tenses are tools that English speakers use to express time in their language. There are three basic tenses: present, past, and future. Each has a perfect form, indicating completed action; each has a progressive form, indicating ongoing action; and each has a perfect progressive form, indicating ongoing action that will be completed at some definite time.

Verb Tenses
You were speeding.
You inspection sticker has expired.



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Rules and Regulations at School > I Don't Think You're Allowed to...


Tell people they aren't allowed to do things, using Impersonal expressions with you, gerunds, and infinitives.

Tell somebody that what they're doing isn't allowed.

I Don't Think You're Allowed to...

"NO PLAYING BALL IN THE PARK"

Dialog
A: Excuse me, (1) but I don't think you're allowed to (2) play ball in the park.
B: Oh?
A: Yes. There's a sign over there that says so.
B: Hmm. I guess I didn't notice it. Thanks for telling me.
A: You're welcome.

Functions
(1) Attracting Attention
Excuse me,
Perdon me,

(2) Indicating Permissibility
I don't think you're allowed to
I don't think you're permitted to
I don't think people are allowed to
I don't think people are permitted to
I don't think ...-ing is allowed.
I don't think ...-ing is permitted.

Exercises
1) "NO PARKING IN THIS BLOCK"
2) "PLEASE DON'T TALK IN THE LIBRARY"
3) "NO SKATING"
4) "PLEASE DON'T WALK ON THE GRASS"
5) "NO JAYWALKING"

Grammar
Impersonal Expressions with You
Impersonal Expressions are expressions that use impersonal pronouns. Impersonal expressions do not have a specific person or thing as the subject. In English we use the non-specific it or you. The it or you do not refer specifically to the listener.

You
I don't think you're allowed to play ball in the park.

Gerunds and Infinitives
Gerunds and infinitives are forms of verbs that act like nouns. They can follow adjectives and other verbs. Gerunds can also follow prepositions.

A gerund is a noun formed from a verb by adding -ing. Not all words formed with -ing are gerunds.

An infinitive is the basic form of a verb, usually used with to (to + the verb).

When a verb follows a verb it either takes the gerund or infinitive form.

The best way to learn their correct use is with practice.

Gerunds
I don't think playing ball in the park is allowed.

Infinitives
I don't think you're allowed to play ball in the park.



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Rules and Regulations at School > Is Parking Permitted Here?


Ask whether things are allowed, using Impersonal expressions with you.

Ask if something is permitted.

Is Parking Permitted Here?

Dialog No. 1

park / Yes,...

A: Is parking permitted (1) here?
B: Yes, it is. (2)
A: Thanks.

Dialog No. 2

swim / No,...

A: Are people allowed to (3) swim here?
B: No, they aren't. (4)
A: Oh. okay. Thanks.

Functions
(1) Asking about Permissibility
Is ...ing permitted?
Is ...ing allowed?
Is it okay to...?

(2) Indicating Permissibility
Yes, it is.
No, it isn't.

(3) Asking about Permissibility
Are people allowed to...?
Are people permitted to...?
Are you allowed to...?
Are you permitted to...?

(4) Indicating Permissibility
Yes, they are.
No, they aren't.
Yes, you are.
No, you aren't.
Yes, you are.
No, you aren't.

Exercises
1) fish / Yes,
2) take pictures / No,
3) camp / No,
4) roller skate / Yes,
5) hitchhike / No,

Grammar
Impersonal Expressions with You
Impersonal Expressions are expressions that use impersonal pronouns. Impersonal expressions do not have a specific person or thing as the subject. In English we use the non-specific it or you. The it or you do not refer specifically to the listener.

You
Are you permitted to park here?
Are you allowed to park here?

Yes, you are.
No, you aren't.

I don't think you're allowed to play ball in the park.


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Rules and Regulations at School > You Could Have Gotten a Ticket


Understand traffic violations, using Perfect Modals.

You're a passenger in a car. The driver just did something he or she shouldn't have done.

You Could Have Gotten a Ticket

I can't believe he went through that red light! / get a ticket

Dialog
A: You know... I hate to be a "back-seat driver", but you really shouldn't have gone through that red light.
B: Oh?
A: Yes, You could have (1) gotten a ticket!
B: Hmm. You're right. I guess I just went through that red light without thinking. I must have had my mind on something else.

Functions
(1) Possibility
might have

Exercises
1) I can't believe she made that U-turn! / be pulled over by a police office.
2) I can't believe he passed that car on the right-hand side! / cause an accident
3) I can't believe she cut in front of that big truck! / be hit
4) I can't believe he sped through that school zone! / hit somebody
5) I can't believe she drove through that intersection so fast! / get us killed

Grammar
Perfect Modals: Should Have / Could Have / Might Have / Must Have
Perfect Modals are helping verbs in Present Perfect Tense that express a wide range of meanings (ability, permission, possiblity, necessity, etc.). The Perfect Modals express an event that could have occurred but didn't.

Should Have
I should have done better than that.
You really shouldn't have gone through that red light.

Could Have
You could have gotten a ticket.

Might Have
You might have gotten a ticket.

Must Have
I must have had my mind on something else.



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