Past modals
When do we use the following structure?
may have done
We use it when we think it's possible that something was true or happened in the past.
Which verb means to comfort someone and stop them from worrying?
a) accommodate
b) budge
c) contribute
d) reassure
d) reassure
What's the difference between didn't need to do and needn't have done?
didn't need to do - it wasn't necessary for someone to do something and the person knew this at the time
needn't have done - when someone did something and now they know it wasn't necessary
What does the phrasal verb stumble upon mean?
to discover something by chance or to meet someone by chance
Complete the sentences with the correct past modals.
a) Amanda (finish) ... her work, but suddenly she felt ill and had to go home.
b) Everyone shouted in fear. They (be) ... very terrified.
c) Tom (write) ... this because it is in Arabic and he doesn't know Arabic.
a) Amanda would have finished her work, but suddenly she felt ill and had to go home.
b) Everyone shouted in fear. They must have been very terrified.
c) Tom can't / couldn't have written this because it is in Arabic and he doesn't know Arabic.
Explain the meaning of the following terms in English.
a) downturn
b) household name
c) overdraft facility
a) a period or process in which business activity, production etc is reduced and conditions become worse
b) the name or brand of a product that is very well-known
c) a feature of a bank account that allows a customer to temporarily owe money to the bank
What's the difference between:
a) could do and could have done,
b) had to do and must have done?
a) could do - refers to abilities or possibilities in the past, present or future
could have done - refers to abilities or possibilities in the past that didn't happen, often expressing regret or missed opportunity
b) had to do - refers to past obligations or necessities
must have done - refers to a strong deduction or high probability about a past event, indicating certainty based on evidence
Translate the following expressions into English.
a) być niewypłacalnym, być na minusie
b) gwałtownie rosnąć (o cenach)
c) patrzeć komuś na ręce
d) wycofać się w porę (żeby więcej nie stracić)
a) be in the red
b) go through the roof
c) breathe down somebody's neck
d) cut one's losses