Aragón

Grammar

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Should

Should can be used to express obligations and advice. It is used quite often when talking about requisites or desired attributes. The form is the same for the third person.

Affirmative form

The ideal candidate should be hard working

Subject Auxiliary verb Verb Rest of sentence
I should talk quietly
He / she / it should talk quietly
We / you / they should talk quietly

Remember : that should is not followed by "to" (NOT I should to go shopping)

Negative form

You shouldn't smoke

Subject Auxiliary verb Verb Rest of sentence
I should not (shouldn't) smoke in here
He / she / it should not (shouldn't) run in here
We / you / they should not (shouldn't) shout seen

Interrogative form

Should I bring a copy of my CV to the interview?

Auxiliary verb Subject Verb Rest of sentence
Should I call you tomorrow?
Should He / she / it borrow the money?
Should We / you / they play in the game?

Can

Can is used to express, ability, permission or possibility depending on the situation. In the context of a job interview it can be used to express abilities and what you are able to do.

Look at these examples:

I can work well in a team.
I can't use a computer

subject + can + main verb (always infinitive without "to")

Remember that the pronunciation changes if it is stressed or unstressed as well as if it is used in the negative.

/kæn/ - stressed

/kən/ - unstressed

Could:

Could can be used to express ability in the past in the same way in which can is used in the present

Be able to:

To be able to is also used to express ability although the structure is very slightly different from can.

I am able to work well independently
I am not able to drive

subject + be + able + infinitive

Because can is possible only in the present (Could in the past) we use be able to when we want to use other tenses or the infinitive.

Look at these examples:

I have been able to drive since I was 17 (present perfect)
I will be able to speak perfect English very soon. (future simple)
I would like to be able to have the opportunity to work here. (infinitive)


1 Do your work
2 Do business
3 Make a phonecall
4 Make a profit

Make and do

When to use make and when to use do can often be confusing. There are some rules that you need to learn to know when to use each one but sometimes there are no rules and you just have to learn them!

When to use make:

Make is usually used to express an activity that creates something that you can touch. It often, but not always, expresses the idea of construction or creation.

Examples:

Make a cup of tea
Make a model
Make a cake

Expressions with make:

Sometimes make doesn't imply construction or creation. There are lots of expressions that use make that simply need to be learned:

make arrangements   make money
make a choice   make a phone call
make a comment   make a plan
make a decision   make a point
make an effort   make a profit
make an enquiry   make a promise
make an excuse   make a remark
make friends   make a speech
make a journey   make a suggestion
make a mistake    

When to use do:

Do is used for activities, actions and tasks. Generally, but not always, these actions produce no physical result. Do can be used to talk about work.

Do your work.
What do you do?
Do a project

Do is also used for general ideas or as a substitute for other verbs:

I am not doing anything at the moment
I have to do something
I do everything for you

Expressions with do:

Just like make there are certain expressions with do that must be learned:

do badly   do well
do business   do your best
do good   do your worst
do harm