6.1 Modals in the Past—Form

COMPREHENSION Based on the reading, write T for true or F for false. 1. Lincoln didn’t have much formal education.

2. Lincoln’s short speech surprised the audience. 3. Lincoln was confident and believed his speech would go down in history.

THINK ABOUT IT Discuss the questions with a partner or in a small group.

1. What do you think it was like to be an American at the time of the Civil War? Give your reasons. 2. The Gettysburg Address was one of the greatest speeches in American history. What qualities does a great speaker need, in your opinion? Explain.

EXAMPLES “I should have prepared the speech more carefully,” thought Lincoln. Southern farmers could not have become as rich without slaves. Lincoln probably could have been elected again, but he was assassinated. Africans should not have been brought to the U.S. to work as slaves.

EXPLANATION To form the past of a modal, we use modal + (not) + have + the past participle. To form the passive of a modal, we use modal + (not) + have been + the past participle.

Pronunciation Note: Informally, have in past modals is often contracted to ‘ve and sounds like the word “of.” Sometimes it is reduced to just the schwa sound /ә/. These words are written in very informal writing as shoulda and coulda.

EXERCISE 1 Fill in the blanks with the words you hear to complete the conversations. 6.2

1. A: Did you read the story about Lincoln before class?

B: No. I didn’t have time.

A: You should have read it. Our lesson depends on it.

B: I studied American history in high school.

A: Then you

B: Yes, I did. about Lincoln and the Civil War.

2. A: Lincoln was a wonderful president.

B: I agree. Without him, slavery

A: Farmers much longer.

slaves. That was terrible!

B: I guess they just wanted to make money. They

It’s hard to believe that’s how people were. rich without slaves.

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