Master Modals with the SEAM method part 2 - Questions

Hi. James from EngVid. This movie seems like it will be good. I'm hoping it will be good.

Now I'm going to teach you something today. Well, not really on scene. I'm going to teach

you modals. But I have my own special way of teaching it. You see, to me, modals bring

everything together. And by doing that, they allow us to talk about possibilities.

So what I'm going to do is start in a really weird way and talk about a word that I'm not

going to talk about, and then come right back full circle to "seem." "Seem." This word in

English is a very powerful word because it allows us to look at something without saying

it's actual. Now a lot of other verbs, like the verb "to be" and the verb "to do," they're

actual. "You are doing this." "He is this." There's no 50, 20, or 40 percent it is the

way it is. So we use other words, and we call these words "modals," because they allow us

to talk about the possibility of how something might look without saying it's like that.

Like, "I think you could go to the washroom." "I think you could." It's possible, but it's

not guaranteed. So in this way, we want to use modals. And today, I'm going to talk about

modals. Now, my method on "seem," see, I talked about "look like," and when something looks

like something, it not necessarily is that way. So we use modals so we can talk about

how things seem, or could be, without saying they actually are. That's a good introduction

because you're going, "Okay, I get it. We're talking about possibility, how it might be

or how it seems. Possible." But what is this word? I showed you a newspaper. A newspaper

has a "seem," right? This line here that keeps things together. My clothing has a "seem."

They sew, and it keeps parts of it together. Even better, Batman. Okay, sorry. You didn't

see it? Slow motion. "Batman." Special effects. Really big budget here. Really big. Okay?

On my jeans, don't look at my bum. There's a "seem," a line. Right here. Now, okay, you're

going to have to look at my bum, but don't. There's a line where the pants come together.

That's a "seem." They sew. Because of this, my pants are together, and I can wear them.

So we use a "seem" to hold things together. On this cup, for instance, there will be a

"seem." It holds the cup together, or you can't use it. So we use a "seem" to hold things

together, or you can't use it. Modals help us, because it puts English together in situations

that are not 100% yes or no. It is hot. It is not hot. It could be hot. It may be hot.

It might be hot. It ties together the rest of English, which is not guaranteed, or black

or white. I did one lesson before, and it was "e," for "seem." So "seem" has different

aspects, or the different powers of modals, what modals can do. The last lesson I did

was "express," "expresspan," and we talked about possibility, ability, and necessity.

So these are three of the things. There are even more. Go check it out. It'll explain,

and it'll even give another explanation for "seem" a little longer.

This time, I want to talk about the "a" in "seem." How else modals keep things together.

We use modals to ask questions. We use them to ask questions. Now, I'm going to make a

joke and say, "We use modals to ask for a pass." Or, as you Americans say, "for a pass."

When you get a pass, it allows you to do things, right? In Canada, we have what's called a

metro pass. I'll show it to you because you'll never be able to use it. There, quick. Now,

I'll counterfeit it in Taiwan. There again. Now, I take this, I give it to a bus person,

a person on the bus, and it allows me to travel. Kind of cool, right? It gives me this ability.

Well, when we ask for a pass in the "seem" method, what it gives me is, number one, I

can ask for... The "a" stands for "assistance," which is help. A pass allows you to go places.

If someone assists you, it helps you with help. The "p" stands for "permission." If

you have permission, you have a pass to do something. Now, what modals do we use when

we ask for a pass, when we ask for permission, and when we ask for assistance? You like that?

See? Check pan. I did that there, too. Cool. An acRonniem. We use acRonniems to make you remember.

Okay? So, what modals would we use for permission? Well, my teachers used to have a joke. Okay?

So, let's start with permission, and it has to do with the washroom. Okay? Ezekiel right

now. Where's Ezekiel? Okay. Can't do a class without Ezekiel. Or, for you guys, Mr. E.

He just dropped his cigarette, because he remembers the old school days. It was terrible.

He's not happy. He's like, "Oh, God. Not that again." Teachers, when I was younger, they

used to have this sense of humor. You'd go, "Teacher, teacher, can I go to the washroom?"

Because you wanted permission to go to the washroom. And the teacher, the teacher would

be very smart and go, "You can go to the washroom, but I don't know if you're allowed to." And,

of course, you're five years old going, "Oh, why? Why?" And then you'd have to learn this

other permission word. And the other permission word would be this. "May." There we go. Young

man, you have to say, "May I go to the washroom?" And you go, "Oh, it's too late. We need a

mop. I have to clean now. May I get a mop?" All right. So, they use "can" and "may," and

I've showed you both. "Can" is ability. So, when someone says we're asking permission,

they usually know they have the ability to do it, but they're asking for permission to

do it. So, I know if you looked at "pan," you'll find that it's in there, right, for

ability. But we also say, "Can I do something?" And I'm saying, "Are you going to permit me

to do this?" Right? The next one is "may." Now, "may" is actually more polite. That's

like the very formal way of speaking. "May I go to the washroom?" So, you might say that

in, you know, a situation where there's a power difference. "May I," and not just the

washroom. A good example is "marker," right? You don't know me. You need a marker to write

down somebody's name. We're on the street. You would probably go, "Hey, may I borrow

your marker for a second?" Because "can" is a little casual. "Casual" is between friends

and people you're somewhat acquainted with. By "somewhat," I mean you have some knowledge

of. They're not the first time you've seen them. Maybe you're in an office together.

You say, "Hi, Fred. Hi, Barney," on a regular basis, right? "Bronto Burger?" Sure. Anyway,

you know, but you're not buddies. "Buddies" means friends, right? You don't go out all

the time. So, then you say, "Hey, can I borrow that for a second?" But with your boss, you

might say, "May I borrow your phone?" Very big power disparity, which means difference.

Okay? So we say "can" or "may." Another one that's just good is this one. "Could." Okay?

"Could." "Could" is similar to "can" because "could" means "possible." So already you're

admitting by asking permission. Remember, permission is because you don't know if you

can, so you need permission to do it. "Could" is "possible." Is it possible I can do this?

See? Is it possible I can do this? I will have the ability to do this. Nice, right?

Now, three different modals. They're not the same strength. If you were paying attention,

I said, "May" is stronger than "can." Well, it goes "may," "could," so literally, "may,"

"could," "can." And it comes down to the basic meanings of the modals. "May." "May I" is

because you don't believe it's going to go in your favor. You're like, "Boss has more

power than I," so it's like a 70/30 relationship, or all the way to 90/10 relationship. Okay?

Maybe you don't even know them at all, so it's 0/100. So you say "may" because you want

to say, "Look, I'm being very polite because I know I don't know you, and this may be a

big thing for you." "Could," when you do know someone and you want to be polite, because

you don't want to say, "May I," like go to McDonald's in Canada and go, "May I have a

hamburger, and may I also have a chocolate shake?" They go, "May you get out the door."

Okay, that's the other thing. When we say "may," we say "I" and "we," right? We don't

say "you" or "they," because what we're referring to is ourselves, and we're asking for permission.

So "may" is interesting because we can use it in certain quarters, but not others. Well,

we say "can" for the other ones, okay? So "may" is when you don't know someone at all.

Now "could." "Could" is work situation, school situation, family talking to your mom and

dad, you want to borrow the car. "Dad, can I borrow the car tonight?" Not, "May I borrow

the car?" You say "may," they're like, "Young man, have you been smoking drugs, and are

they in my car?" Right? But if you say "could," it's like, "Dad, I respect you. I have respect

for you, but we know each other, so let's be a little less formal, and could I borrow

the car?" Sure, right? So this is when you start going, you know, you're 70/30. 70/30.

It's more like a 60, maybe 50/50 position, okay? "Can," "Hey, can I borrow that pen?"

You're casual, right? You're at a friend's house. Of course, you're over 19 if you're

in Canada. You've got a beer, you're watching the game. "Hey, can I have a beer?" Right?

You don't need to be, "Could I have a beer?" Your friend will go, "No, because I don't

even know you." Who are you? You just said by saying "could" and "may," we don't know

each other, right? "Can I borrow that for a second?" It's casual, right? Please do not

say, "Give that to me," or "Gimme." No "gimme." We'll talk about that another time. No "gimmes,"

okay? "Gimme that." "Caveman." Right? Okay? So here we've looked at, for permission,

we're going to use, and this is POS, right? See our POS? Ask for permission. "Can I borrow

your phone?" Right? "May I borrow?" Very formal. Think about the bank, you need money

for a loan. "May I borrow $1 billion, please?" Okay? "Can I borrow your phone?" Or, "Could

I, on the street, could I borrow your cell phone for a moment?" It's an important call.

Right? Better than saying, "Can I?" Okay? So, we've done the permission part. Well,

let's look at assistance. What does assistance mean? Well, you need somebody to assist you.

That's the verb. That means somebody to help. Right? Remember? Ask for help. This is ask

for permission. Ask for help. I'm good at this contraction thing. All right? So, what

words would you ask for help? Well, imagine... You could actually use "may" up here. It's

quite funny, actually. Imagine you're at the airport, and they come up to... Actually,

no. Oh, there's a brilliant place in Canada called Holt Renfrew. And if you ever go there,

when they open... There's a guy with his hat. I can't remember his name. Nice guy. He'll

open the door for you and say, "May I help you?" Okay? He's offering assistance. That's

different. Right? But assistance is being... You could say, "Can you help me?" Now, remember

what I said. You can't say, "May you?" All right? This one doesn't exist, but we can

repeat this one up here. "Can someone help me? Can I get some help?" All right? Now,

that's basic, you know? Same as natural. But what happens if we want to be a little bit

more polite? And do you remember we talked about "could" and we said "could" deals

with possibility? Well, if you're not too sure, maybe you're in the wrong environment,

right? Or you don't know if the people here could possibly help you, you would say this.

"Could. Could you help me?" All right? Maybe you're in an environment where you know they

have to. You're at... What's that place called again? They have official greeters. "Sorry,

Ezekiel, what?" "Thanks." See? He said, "I can help you with that." All right? "Yeah,

I have the ability to help you with that." See? He's giving me some assistance. I go,

"Thanks. Thanks." All right? Walmart. They have official greeters, right? All right? You

know there that they have to help you. "Can you help me?" "Dude, I get paid $7 an hour.

I have to. What do you want?" Okay? They have to help you. You say, "Can you help me?"

They have to. "Could you help me?" In a place where maybe it's not their department or job

and you know that, say, "Could you help me? I know this isn't your job, but could you

come here and give me a hand?" Here's a funny one. "Would." "Excuse me? Would?" "Would

you be able to help me with something?" Well, what does "would" mean? "Would," in English,

is for imaginary. You imagine something. "I would do this if I was able to." All right?

So, we looked at "may." We said very formal, "would." "Would you be able to give me a hand

tomorrow night?" Why would you say this? You're probably in a situation where, like "may,"

they don't have to do anything for you. "Boss, would you be able to let me get next Tuesday

off?" You say, "Could you let me off next Tuesday?" Or, "Can." But you say, "Would,"

because it's possible, remember? "Would" is imaginary, right? Like, it's possible they

could say, "No." So, we're slipping, changing "may" to "would" when we're asking for assistance.

Another way of asking for assistance, like, "Would you be able to help me with this?"

All right? Cool. You like that? I like it, too. All right. So, it's a short lesson today,

all right? A very short lesson. We're almost out of time here. But when we're looking for

"seem," okay? When we're looking at "seem," we've done "e." So, go look for "e," lesson

"e." This is using modals to ask for a pass. Remember what a pass does? It allows you to

go places. Now, I might need help, and that will help me do more, right? "Could," sorry,

"can," "could," "would." And I might ask for permission, because I need permission before

I can move forward. And I go, "Can," "may," or "could." And I gave you examples. Try and

remember them, yeah? When you go back, there'll be a quiz. Yeah, you know, grammar and that,

right? So, you know what? I need to give you a pass to a higher education. So, if you don't

mind, right, can I help you learn more English? I would like to, right? I'd like to assist

you. So, I'm going to send you to www.engvid.com, where you have my permission to get all the

assistance necessary to learn modals, time clauses, and whatnot in grammar, and some

vocabulary, brilliant vocabulary pyramid you can learn from, okay? Have a great day, and

I'll see you soon. EngVid.