Modal verbs

Inglês com música - Cliff richard - We don't talk anymore

A light approach to the use of some Modal, Semi-modal and Auxiliary Verbs in Cliff Richard's "We Don't Talk Anymore" song.
Note: you should take a look at an English Grammar book for an entire learning on how to form (structure) these verbs.
This activity aims at language practice of the use of Modal, Semi-modal and Auxiliary verbs in English. I hope it can be useful for you.
Teacher Laurindo

In general, Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility, intention, obligation and necessity. They are:
· can, could
· may, might
· will, would,
· shall, should
· must
· ought to

Semi-modal verbs are called so because they are partly like modal verbs and partly like main verbs. They are:
· need
· dare
· used to

The Auxiliary verbs are used to make sentences negative and to ask questions. They are:
· be
· do
· have

Some of the Modal, Semi-modal and Auxiliary verbs present in Cliff Richard's "We Don't Talk Anymore" song have the following general meaning:

USED TO
We use "USED TO" to express past habits which no longer happen in present or for something that was true but is not true any more.
Ex: "USED TO think that life was sweet..."

CAN/CAN'T
We use CAN/CAN'T to say that something is/is not possible or that somebody has/doesn't have the ability to do something.
Ex: "I CAN'T believe you'd throw it away".

HAD
The verb form HAD is used to form the Past Perfect tense of other main verbs, and is used to express an action that took place BEFORE another one in the past.
Ex: "(I) Used to feel we HAD it MADE."

COULD
In general, COULD is the past form of CAN and usually refers to GENERAL ABILITY or PERMISSION TO DO SOMETHING.
Ex: "Used to feel we could sail away,"

DO
We use DO/DOES to make (affirmative) question. Ex: "Do you know what you've done(?)"
Don't/Doesn't= We use DON'T/DOESN'T to make
negative sentence or questionss.
Ex: "It's so funny how we don't talk anymore."

HAVE
This verb form helps to form THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE and is used to indicate a connection between a past action and the present time of speaking.
Ex: "Do you know what you'VE (=HAVE) done?"

AIN'T
This is a very common expression in spoken English.

Here it is a contracted form for AM NOT, and is being used to form THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE to indicate that an action is or is not on the course at a specific point of time.
Ex: "But I ain't losing sleep and I aint counting sheep."

Now let's go through the song context to recognize the use of these verb forms. I hope you enjoy this activity

WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE (Cliff Richard)

USED TO think that life was sweet,
USED TO think we were so complete,
I CAN'T believe you'd throw it away.

USED TO feel we had it made,
USED TO feel we could sail away,
CAN you imagine how I feel today?

Well it seems a long time ago
You were the lonely one,
Now it comes to letting go
You are the only one,
DO you know what you've done?

It's so funny how we DON'T talk anymore,
It's so funny how we DON'T talk anymore,

But I AIN'T losing sleep
And I AIN'T counting sheep,
It's so funny how we DON'T talk anymore.

Well it really DOESN'T matter to me,
I guess your leaving was meant to be,
It's down to you now you wanna be free,

Well I hope you know which way to go
You're on your own again,
And DON'T come crying to me
When you're the lonely one,
Remember what you'VE done.

It's so funny how we DON'T talk anymore,
It's so funny how we DON'T talk anymore,

But I AIN'T losing sleep
And I AIN'T counting sheep,
It's so funny how we DON'T talk anymore.

But I AIN'T losing sleep
And I AIN'T counting sheep,
It's so funny how we DON'T talk anymore.

But I AIN'T losing sleep
And I AIN'T counting sheep,
It's so funny how we DON'T talk anymore.

Uh, Uh, Uh, Uh!

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