Very often students are confused about modal auxiliary (“helping”) verbs used especially in conversational English.

Here is a continuation of a collection of modal verbs you can learn in PC TECH.  There are more that were presented in previous blogs :

Could helps you express ability in past time:  I could run very fast as a child, but now I can’t.

We can also use could for a polite request:  Could you help me?  In which direction is Times Square?

To offer an affirmative suggestion you could use could:  You could ask that police officer for directions.  With past time:  Too bad!  You could have watched the game on TV yesterday.

Could  can express 50% certainty of less:  Where’s Juan today?  He could be at home sick.  In past time:  He could have been at home sick last week.

In a negative manner, could is used to describe the impossible:  That couldn’t be correct!  In past time:  That could not have been accurate.

Like can, be able to expresses ability:  Yuki is able to speak five languages!

With past time:  They weren’t able to go shopping yesterday because they forgot their credit cards.

(There will be more of these modal verbs in upcoming blogs.)

           PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

On Monday, October 14th we celebrate Columbus day. On this, was the day, a man named Christopher Columbus discovered America. He was 41 years old when he discovered America. He was an Italian explorer, navigator, and colonizer.

On this day, PC Tech will be closed. But not without honoring Mr. Christopher Columbus and this special day.

— Originally, Christopher Columbus thought he was in Asia. Little did he know, he had just discovered the New World.

— He did not set out to prove the world was round.

— A lunar eclipse may have saved him.

— Columbus made four voyages to the New World.

— Even in death, he continued to cross the Atlantic.

http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-christopher-Columbus

Students at PC Tech can somewhat relate to Christopher Columbus. He was passionate and curious. He set out to discover, and learn. And he, without a doubt, accomplished that. PC Tech stands for the same.

“You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore” ―  Christopher Columbus

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Very often students are confused about modal auxiliary (“helping”) verbs used especially in conversational English.

Here are some more examples of modal verbs you will learn in PC TECH.  You can find others in previous blogs :

Use be going to when you can predict something with 100% certainty, similar to will:  She is going to be here this evening?

We can also use be going to for intention or a definite plan:  I’m going to try sushi at a nice restaurant this afternoon.

In the past tense be going to expresses an intention that was not fulfilled:  I was going to make a dentist appointment last week, but my dentist was on vacation.

Can expresses possibility or ability:  They can speak excellent English because they studied at PC TECH.

Can also expresses informal permission; may, on the other hand, would be more formal:  You can use my smartphone to find that information.

Use can to make an  informal polite request to your friends:  Can I borrow your eraser?

In a negative manner, you can express impossibility with can:  That can’t be correct!

With past time:  That can’t have been correct!

(There will be more of these modal verbs in upcoming blogs.)

           PC TECH: English Language School in New York City

Let’s take a look at the benefits of learning English as a second language:

• You can express yourself more freely; with diversity.
• It empowers immigrants.
• It could help your career. My employers require or prefer bilingual applicants.
• You can watch American movies, and not have to wonder what they’re saying.
• You can help others learn English. 🙂
• It is a good thing.
• It promotes unity.
• It will give you the ability to travel and feel confident speaking. Many airports, banks, and hotels have English speaking staff and use English signs to guide you.

Facts about the English language:

• English is the most widely spoken language in the world other than Mandarin.
• English is a first language for many countries.
• American movies and TV programs are distributed all over the world, and are often subtitled for people who don’t speak the language.
• Most restaurant, store and hotel employees, no matter where they are, speak some English.

At PC Tech, you will discover the joys of learning English 🙂

PC TECH: English Language School in New York City