Huong dan on tap tieng anh

Bé gi¸o dôc vµ ®µo t¹o

Trêng ®¹i häc n«ng nghiÖp I



Bộ giáo dục và đào tạo

Trờng đại học nông nghiệp 1


đề cơng ôn tập môn tiếng anh
dành cho cao học và nghiên cứu sinh
------------------------------------------

Đề cơng này dùng làm cơ sở hớng dẫn ôn tập phục vụ cho việc kiểm tra môn tiếng
Anh trong kỳ thi tuyển sinh cao học và nghiên cứu sinh hàng năm theo quy định của
Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo và do Trờng Đại học Nông nghiệp I tổ chức.
Phần một :

giới thiệu chung

I. Mục tiêu: Đề cơng này nhằm hớng dẫn đồng bộ 3 qui trình ôn tập, hớng dẫn ôn
tập và ra đề thi :
1. Nội dung chơng trình giảng dạy các lớp ôn tập thi tuyển sinh.
2. Nội dung và hình thức đề thi tuyển sinh.
3. Việc ôn tập của thí sinh.
II. Nội dung : Đề cơng gồm 5 phần chính (A E) dựa theo hớng dẫn về Dạng thức
ra đề thi môn ngoại ngữ trình độ B, C của Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo :
Phần A : Từ vựng (Vocabulary)
Phần B : Ngữ pháp (Grammar)

Phần C : Đọc hiểu (Reading Comprehension)
Phần D : Viết (Writing )
Phần E : Dịch (Translation)
* Phần Đọc hiểu (B) và Viết (C) đợc trình bày dới dạng các bài mẫu.
* Ngoài ra, để giúp thí sinh ôn tập, chúng tôi còn biên soạn, tập hợp các cấu trúc thờng gặp trong các bài thi và cách xử lý, một số bài tập đợc trình bày bằng POWER
POINT để tham khảo (không kèm theo tài liệu Hớng dẫn này).
III. Nguyên tắc biên soạn :
1.

Dựa trên Quyết định số 02/2001/QĐ-BGD&ĐT ngày 29 tháng 01 năm 2001
và sửa đổi, bổ sung theo Quyết định số 19/2002-QĐ-BGD&ĐT ngày
09/4/2002 của Bộ trởng Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo ban hành Quy chế tuyển

Đề cơng hớng dẫn ôn tập. ĐHNN1 -.2006

2


sinh sau đại học và Phụ lục 1 về Dạng thức ra đề thi môn ngoại ngữ trình độ B,
C.
2.
3.

Dựa trên quy định về khối lợng ngữ liệu và yêu cầu kỹ năng trong Chơng trình
bồi dỡng ngoại ngữ các cấp độ A,B,C của Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo.
Tuy quy định kiến thức về ngữ liệu và yêu cầu về kỹ năng ngoại ngữ giữa 2 cấp
độ B (cho cao học), và C (cho nghiên cứu sinh) có khác nhau, nhng về cơ bản
vẫn dựa trên một nền chung, cấp độ C kế thừa và nâng cao hơn cấp độ B. Do
vậy hớng dẫn này dùng chung cho cả 2 cấp độ, khi hớng dẫn ôn tập và ra đề
thi giáo viên cần vận dụng cho thích hợp với từng trình độ.

IV. Các tài liệu tham khảo chính
Phần hớng dẫn các nội dung chính, câu mẫu, bài mẫu và bài tập đợc soạn dựa theo
các văn bản hớng dẫn của Bộ đã nói ở trên và tham khảo các tài liệu trong và ngoài nớc nh các tài liệu ôn tập và luyện thi của Nhà xuất bản Đại học Cambridge
Cambridge University Press - (Anh) : Practice Tests for Cambridge Preliminary English
(PET), Cambridge Practice Tests for First Certificate (FCE), Progress to First Certificate,
Cambridge First Certificate Examination Practice, Fifty Tests in Essential English của
Nhà xuất bản Basil Blackwell,.. và trong các sách luyện thi IELTS và TOEFL do các
nhà xuất bản khác nhau ấn hành, và một số tài liệu tải về từ mạng, v.v.

Đề cơng hớng dẫn ôn tập. ĐHNN1 -.2006

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Phần hai : yêu cầu, nội dung chính cần ôn tập
A.

VOCABULARY (Từ vựng):

1.
Số lợng từ vựng khoảng 1500 - 1800 từ với Cấp độ B và 1800 - 2100
từ đối với Cấp độ C.
2.
Từ cơ bản, từ phái sinh: Cho một câu có một chỗ trống và cho một dạng
cơ bản của từ , thí sinh phải tìm từ phái sinh thích hợp từ từ cơ bản đó để điền vào chỗ
trống.
Ví dụ : từ gốc : CHILD : số nhiều : children ; tính từ : childless, child-like,
childish ; danh từ : childhood ; ATTRACT : tính từ : attractive/unattractive,
attractable; trạng từ : attractively; danh từ : attraction, attractiveness, attractivity .

B.

GRAMMAR (Ngữ pháp)
Phần Ngữ pháp phải nắm vững và biết sử dụng 5 phần cơ bản sau :

1.

Nhóm động từ : (The Verb Group)
1.1. Các thì trong tiếng Anh ( The English Tenses)
1.2. Câu bị động ( The Passive Voice)

2.

Câu điều kiện (Conditional Sentences)
2.1. Điều kiện có thực (Real conditions)
2.2. Điều kiện không có thực (giả thiết) (Unreal conditions)

3.

Động từ chỉ tình thái (Modal Verbs)
3.1. Can/Could
3.2. May/Might
3.3. Must/Have to
3.4. Should/Would

4.

Các dạng không chia của động từ ( The Non-Finites )
4.1. Động từ nguyên thể ( The Infinitive )

4.2. Danh động từ ( The Gerund )

5.

Cách nói trực tiếp - gián tiếp (Direct and Indirect/Reported Speech)

C.

READING COMPREHENSION (Đọc hiểu)

1. Phần trắc nghiệm gồm 15 câu: chọn từ hoặc cụm từ thích hợp điền vào chỗ
trống, hoặc khoanh tròn chữ cái đối với từ hoặc cum từ thích hợp.
2. Bài đọc hiểu với các dạng thức bài tập khác nhau (nh: trắc nghiệm, trả lời câu hỏi,
đúng - sai, điền từ, thay từ, v.v)
3.

Đọc, chọn từ thích hợp điền vào chỗ trống (Gap- Filling)

Đề cơng hớng dẫn ôn tập. ĐHNN1 -.2006

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D.

WRITING (ViÕt)

1.

Dùng c©u cã híng dÉn (Guided Sentence Building)

2.

ViÕt l¹i c©u (Re-writing/Sentence Transformation)

E.

TRANSLATION (DÞch)

1.
2.

DÞch Anh – ViÖt
DÞch ViÖt – Anh

(English – Vietnamese Translation)

(Vietnamese – English Translation)

§Ò c¬ng híng dÉn «n tËp. §HNN1 -.2006

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Phần ba : hớng dẫn chi tiết
A.

VOCABULARY (Từ VựNG):

B. Grammar (NGữ PHáP)

Phần Ngữ pháp phải nắm vững và biết sử dụng 5 phần cơ bản sau :
1.

Nhóm động từ : (The Verb Group)
1.1. Các thì trong tiếng Anh ( The English Tenses)
1.2. Cách nói bị động ( The Passive Voice)

2. Câu điều kiện (Conditional Sentences)
2.1. Điều kiện có thực (Real conditions)
2.2. Điều kiện không có thực (giả thiết) (Unreal conditions)
3. Động từ chỉ tình thái (Modal Verbs)
3.1. Can/Could
3.2. May/Might
3.3. Must/Have to
3.4. Should/Would
4. Các dạng không chia của động từ ( The Non-Finites )
4.1. Động từ nguyên thể ( The Infinitive )
4.2. Danh động từ ( The Gerund )
5. Cách nói trực tiếp, gián tiếp ( The Direct- Indirect/Reported Speech)
--------------------------------------------------1.

nhóm Động từ

1.1. các thì trong tiếng anh: (The English Tenses)
There are altogether 12 tense forms in English :

PRESENT
PAST
FUTURE

SIMPLE
CONTINUOUS
PERFECT
PERFECT CONTINUOUS

1.1.1. The Simple Present
NOW
PAST ___________________________________________ FUTURE

The Simple Present is used:
(i) with verbs:
I understand it now.
That looks good.
Đề cơng hớng dẫn ôn tập. ĐHNN1 -.2006

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(ii) for the future with verbs such as “open/close”, “begin/end”, “arrive/leave” and
expresses a fact.
- The English test begins at eight.
- T©m arrives at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
(iii)

to express a habitual or everyday action.
- I always drink coffee for breakfast.
- She gets up at six every morning.

(iv)

for something that existed in the past, exists now, and will exist in the future/
something that is always true.
- The sun rises in the east.
- Dogs bark and cats mew.

1.1.2. The Present Continuous
NOW
PAST ___________________________________________ FUTURE

The Present Continuous is used:
(i) to show present time – now – with all verbs except these stative verbs.
know
understand
believe
look
remember

hear
like
love
sound
mean

appear
Seem
smell
have
prefer

taste

wish
own
need
want

- T©m is talking on the phone right now.
- It is raining outside.
1.1.3. The Present Perfect
NOW

PAST

FUTURE

The Present Perfect is used :
(i) to show that an action happened at an indefinite time in the past.
- I have seen that movie.
(no definite time in the past)
- She has taken the test .
(no definite time in the past)
(ii) when an action started in the past and is still continuing in the present.
- Nam has lived in Nam §inh for ten years. (he still lives there)
or
- Nam has lived in Nam §inh since 1995.
N.B.: The adverbial time expressions “for” and “since” are used with the present perfect
tense: “For” is used for duration of time : for ten years; for three days
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“Since” is used with the beginning of the time period: since 1995, since (last)
Wednesday; since 10 o’clock.
(iii) when an action was repeated in the past or happened more than once in the past.
- I have written three letters this week.
- She has failed her driving test twice this year.
(iv) with the adverbial time expressions “yet” and “already” which show that an action
occurred or did not occur at an definite time in the past.
“Yet” is used in negative sentences and questions .
“Yet” appears at the end of the sentence.
- We haven’t had lunch yet.
“Already”
appears between the auxiliary and the main verb:
- They have already finished their project.
“Already” may also be placed at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
(v) with other time expressions such as “up to now”, “often”, “as soon as”, “during the past
few days”, “lately”, “recently”, “just”, “ever”, “never”, “so far”, “frequently”, “finally” :
- He will call you as soon as he has finished his homework.
- During the past two days, she has read five chapters.
1.1.4. The Present Perfect Continuous
NOW

PAST

FUTURE

The Present Perfect Continuous is used :
(i) to emphasize the duration of an activity that began in the past and is still continuing
in the present. It is used with time expression such as “for”, “since”, “all day”, “all week” :
- I have been doing this exercise for half an hour.

- It has been raining all morning.
(ii) sometimes with the same meaning as the present perfect, and with some verbs such
as “teach”, “live”, and “work”, either tense can be used.
- He has been teaching here for five years.
or
- He has taught here foe five years.
- She has been working with us since last February.
or
- She has worked with us since last February.
1.1.5. The Simple Past
NOW

PAST
§Ò c¬ng híng dÉn «n tËp. §HNN1 -.2006

FUTURE

8


The Simple Past is used :
(i) to show that an activity began and ended at a specific time in the past.
- I took the test the day before yesterday.
- We went for a picnic last weekend.
(ii) to show that an action occurred over a period of time in the past.
- She lived in §a Nang for five years before she came here.
1.1.6. The Past Continuous
NOW

PAST

FUTURE

The Past Continuous is used :
(i) when an action in the past which had already started was interrupted by another
action.
- Mai was sleeping when the phone rang.
- When it started to rain, we were having dinner.
(ii) when two action in the past continued at the same time.
- Lan was watching television while T©m was sleeping.
- He was reading while I was writing my essay.
(iii) when an action was continuing at a particular time in the past.
- Nam was studying at nine o’clock last night.
- We were doing morning exercises at six this morning.
1.1.7. The Past Perfect
NOW

PAST

FUTURE

The Past Perfect is used :
(i) to show that an activity was completed before another activity or definite time in the
past.
- By the time I got to the airport, the plane had already taken off.
- She had learned English before she came here.
or
- She learned English before she came here.
N.B. With “before” and “after” either the past perfect or the simple past tense can be used.

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1.1.8. The Past Perfect Continuous
NOW

PAST

FUTURE

The Past Perfect Continuous is similar to the Past Perfect, but it is used to : emphasize the
duration of an activity that continued before any activity in the past:
- He had been living in §a N¨ng before he decided to move to Hanoi.
- Lan had been cleaning her house all morning before the guests arrived.

1.1.9. The Simple Future
NOW

PAST ________________________________________ FUTURE

The Simple Future is used:
The two most common constructions for expressing the future are “will” and “be going
to”. Both are used interchangeably to express a statement about a future actio:
- I will send this letter tomorrow.
- I am going to* send this letter tomorrow.
However, “going to” is usually used when we have a plan or an intention for the future,
and “will” is used when we want to express an action in the future without any premeditation
or prior thought.

- B¨c is going to study agricultural engineering next year. (future plan)
- I’ll get the phone. (spontaneous action)
N.B. In a sentence where there are two clauses of which one is a time clause beginning with
“when”, “after”, “before”, “as soon as”, “until”, the future tense is not used in that clause.
- After we finish the work, we will watch television.
- As soon as he comes, I will give you a call.
1.1.10. The Future Continuous
NOW

PAST

§Ò c¬ng híng dÉn «n tËp. §HNN1 -.2006

FUTURE

10


The Future Continuous is used :
(i) to express an activity that will start at a future time and be in progress at a certain
time in the future.
- At this time tomorrow, we will be taking the test.
(ii) when an action will take place at an indefinite time in the future. In this case the
simple future form can also be used.
- We will be seeing you there. or We’ll see you there.
1.1.11. The Future Perfect
NOW

PAST

FUTURE

The Future Perfect is used to express a future action which will be finished before another
action or time in the future. The time expression “by …..”, “by that time”, “by then”, “in a few
hours”, etc. are common with this form.
- By the time he comes, we will have finished our work.
- By twelve o’clock we will have arrived there.
1.1.12. The Future Perfect Continuous
NOW

PAST

FUTURE

The Future Perfect Continuous is similar to the future perfect and is used:
(i) to emphasize the duration of an activity that will be continuing before another activity
or time in the future.
- By the time we get home, I will have been driving for five hours.
- By the time we take the test, we will have been taking English for a year.
(ii) with verbs like “work”, “teach”, “live”, “study” in place of the future perfect.
- By the end of the year, she will have been working here for twenty years.
or
- By the end of the year, she will have worked here for twenty years.

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Each different tense form in English has a different meaning. The chart below summarizes

these verb tense meanings.
TENSE FORM
Simple present :

TENSE MEANING
Expresses an event or situation that exists now or that
USUALLY, ALWAYS, or OFTEN exists.
- He always eats dinner at 19 hours.
- Water boils at 100 degrees centigrade.

Simple past :

Expresses an event or situation that began and ended in the
past.
- He ate dinner last night at 19:30 hours.

Simple future :

Expresses an event or situation that will happen at one
particular time in the future.
- He will eat dinner tomorrow at 19:30 hours.
Give the idea that an event or situation is in progress during
a particular time.
- While he was eating, the doorbell rang.

The continuous tenses :

The perfect tenses

Give the idea that one event happens or happened before

another time or event.
- He had eaten before she arrived.

The meaning of a tense used in an English sentence must agree with the time meaning of the
rest of the sentence. The time meaning of a sentence is often determined by words or
expressions that act as TIME MARKERS. Some of the most common English time markers are
:
SINCE

Often used with the perfect tenses – to indicate a particular time.

FOR

Often used with the perfect tenses or the simple tenses – to indicate a
duration of time.

YET

Often used with the perfect tenses – in negative meanings and in
questions.

ALREADY

Often used with the perfect tenses – in affirmative meanings.

YESTERDAY

Often used with the past tenses

TODAY

Often used with the present tenses

TOMORROW

Often used with the future tenses or with the present continuous tense
when it refers to the future.

DURING

Often used with the simple and continuous tenses to show a duration of
time. Not usually used with the perfect tenses.

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OVER THE PAST Often used with the present perfect tense to indicate time starting in
FEW …
the past and continuing to the present.
USUALLY

Often used with the simple tenses to indicate habitual actions.

NOW

Often used with the present continuous tense.

Verb Tense Forms

The English verb has five principal parts. These principal parts are used in forming English verb
tenses. The principal parts of some English verbs are given in the chart below :
PRINCIPAL PARTS OF SOME ENGLISH VERBS
Base form
start
hope
study
eat
give
have
be

Present

Present

start(s)
hope(s)
study(ies)
eat(s)
give(s)
have (has)
am/is/are

Participle
starting
hoping
studying
eating
giving

having
being

Past

Past

started
hoped
studied
ate
gave
had
was/were

Participle
started
hoped
studied
eaten
given
had
been

When parts of the verb BE (am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being) are used to form active
verb tenses, they are followed by a PRESENT PARTICIPLE as, for example, in the continuous
tenses. ( Sometimes the verb BE is used to form passive sentences. When this happens, it is
followed by a past participle.
I am living here now.
BE + Present Participle

I have been living here for a long time.
BE + Present Participle
When parts of the verb HAVE ( have, has, had, having ) are used to form verb tenses, they are
followed by a PAST PARTICIPLE as, for example, in the perfect tenses.
I have lived here for a long time.
HAVE + Past Participle
- I have been living here for a long time.
HAVE + Past Participle
The - ING form of the verb can NEVER function as the finite verb of a clause.
- Incorrect :
- *George having had his paper finished for a few days.
- Correction : - George has had his paper finished for a few days.
- Incorrect :
- *Bill feels that we making too much noise.
- Correction : - Bill feels that we are making too much noise.
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1.2. c¸ch nãi bÞ ®éng (THE PASSIVE VOICE)
Sentences in English can be either active or passive.
Active :
- Nam ate the whole cake.
S
V
dO
Passive 1 :
- The whole cake was eaten by Nam.
S

V
O of Prep
Passive 2 :
- The whole cake was eaten .
S
V
Follow the steps below to form passive sentences :
1. Change the direct object of an active sentence into the subject of a passive sentence;
2. Change the verb to include a form of BE and the past participle of the active verb; and
3. Delete the active sentence subject or place it after the preposition BY.

2. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
2.1. We can use IF with many different structures. Here are the most common:
2.1.1. Open present or future conditionals :
IF + present simple + will + infinitive
- If he asks me, I’ll help him. (perhaps he will ask me)
2.1.2. Unreal present or future conditionals:
IF + past simple + would + infinitive
- If he asked me I would help him ( but he won’t ask me, or he probably won’t )
2.1.3. Unreal past conditionals
IF + past perfect + would have + past participle
- If he had asked me I would have helped him ( but he didn’t me )
2.1.4. General conditionals:
IF + present simple + present simple
- If he asks me, I always help him. ( = Whenever he asks me … )
- If we heat metal, it expands.
2.2.

An IF-clause can go at the beginning or end of a sentence.
- If it rains, we’ll stay at home.

- We’ll stay at home if it rains.
We often write a comma ( , ) after the IF- clause when we begin with this clause.

2.3.

We can use conditional clauses without IF :

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-

Unless we hurry, we’ll be late.
Suppose you won a lot of money, what would you do ?
I’ll go to the party as/so long as, provided/providing (that) you go too.
Should we have enough time, we’ll visit Sapa. (inversion)

3. c¸c d¹ng kh«ng chia cña ®éng tõ:
3.1. Danh ®éng tõ vµ ®éng tõ nguyªn thÓ (GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES )
3.1.1. Gerunds and infinitives occur in many English sentences. Infinitives can function as
nouns, adverbs, and adjectives. Gerunds function only as nouns.
- Smiling is good for you.
Gerund (noun)
- You like to smile.
Infinitive (noun)
- The thing to do is to pass the exam.
Infinitive (adjective); Infinitive (complement)
- He ran to meet her.

Infinitive (adverb)
3.1.2. Although both gerunds and infinitives can function as subjects, objects, and
complements in English sentences, infinitives cannot function as objects of prepositions. Only
gerunds can function as objects of prepositions.
Correct :
Today’s weather is perfect for swimming.
Incorrect :
* Today’s weather is perfect for to swim.
3.1.3. While some verbs can be followed by either gerunds or infinitives, others cannot be
followed by both forms.
Correct :
I enjoy eating.
Incorrect :
* I enjoy to eat.
3.1.4. Gerunds and infinitives that come from intransitives verbs (verbs that have objects) can
be followed by objects; nouns cannot.
Correct :
Contemplating life is a favourite human pastime.
Gerund
Noun object
Incorrect :
* The contemplation life is a favourite human pastime.
Noun
Noun object
3.1.5. Some adjectives can be followed by infinitives. These adjectives usually describe a
person, not a thing, and often express feelings or attitudes. These adjectives are not normally
followed by gerunds.
Correct :
I was sad to learn that he had gone.
Incorrect :

* I was sad learning that he had gone.
3.2. The gerund is the verb + ing form used as a noun. It can function as a subject, subject of
a complement, object, object of a preposition.
- Writing essays in English requires practice. (subject)
- My hobby is collecting stamps.
(subject of a complement)
- I like fishing.
(object)
- She is afraid of walking alone at night. (object of a preposition)
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PREPOSITIONS
NOUNS + PREPOSITIONS
ADJECTIVES + PREPOSITIONS
GERUND
VERBS + PREPOSITIONS
IDIOMS + PREPOSITIONS
VERBS

(1) Gerunds as subjects
If a sentence begins with a gerund (verb + ing) the verb in the sentence must be
singular:
- Worrying is not going to help.
- Walking has become a popular sport recently.
(2) Gerunds after prepositions
Every time a preposition is followed by a verb, the verb is in the gerund form.
- Before going to the university, he stopped by at his friend’s.

- By listening carefully, he quickly picked up the language.
(3) Gerund after certain nouns + prepositions.
The following is some nouns + prepositions which take the gerund:
choice of
possibility of

excuse for
intention of

reason for

- I do not have the slightest intention of working this weekend.
- She has no excuse for behaving in that manner.
(4) Gerund after certain adjectives + prepositions.
The following is some adjectives + prepositions which take the gerund:
accustomed to
afraid of
interested in

fond of
tired of
good at

successful in
capable of

- She is fond of working with animals.
- I am interested in reading that article.
(5) Gerund after certain verbs + prepositions.
The following is some verbs + prepositions which take the gerund:

approve of
worry about
think about
insist on
depend on
count on
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succeed in

think of

rely on

- He succeeded in getting the job.
- I insist on seeing the manager.
(6) Gerund after certain idioms.
The following is some adjectives + prepositions which take the gerund:
look forward to …
It’s no use …
It’s worth …
It’s not worth …

take to …
can’t stand …
can’t resist …
can’t help …

- We are looking forward to seeing you soon.
- It’s not worth going there now, it’s too late.
(7) Gerund after certain verbs.
The following is a list of verbs which take the gerund:
appreciate
enjoy
keep on
tolerate
mind
imagine

avoid
escape
mention
suggest
recommend
resent

consider
excuse
miss
understand
finish
quit

delay
forgive
pardon
deny

prevent
discuss

detest
give up
practice
postpone
admit
regret

dislike
go on
put off
risk
defer
recollect

- I miss seeing my friend.
- He postponed going to the dentist because of his test.
(7) Gerund or Infinitive after certain verbs.
The following is a list of verbs which can take either the gerund or the infinitive:
advise
dislike
like
prefer
study

agree
dread
love

propose
try

allow
forget
mean
regret

attempt
hate
neglect
remember

or

- We tried telling her not to do it.
- We tried to tell her not to do it.
- It began raining just as we went out.

or

- It began to rain just as we went out.

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begin
intend
permit
start

continue
leave
plan
stop

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4. MODALS AND MODAL-LIKE VERBS (§éng tõ chØ t×nh th¸I ...)
Many English sentences contain modals and modal-like verbs. Modal-like verbs have similar
meanings to modals, but they have different forms.
MODALS

MODAL-LIKE VERBS

may
might
can

be able to

could

be able to

shall
should
would

be to/ought to/had better/

be supposed to
Used to

must

Have to/have got to

will

be going to
would like to
would rather

* In English sentences, modals and modal-like verbs are followed by the base form of the main
verb.
- Nam must go to Nha Trang this week.
- Nam has to go to Nha Trang this week.
4.1. CAN/COULD
4.1.1. Can : We use can to say that something is possible or that somebody has the ability
to do something.
- We can see the lake from our bedroom window.
- Can you speak any foreign languages?
- I can come and see you tomorrow if you like.
4.1.2. (Be) able to is possible instead of can, but can is more usual.
- I can’t sleep.
But
- I haven’t been able to sleep recently. (can has no present perfect)
4.1.3. Both can and could are used to express requests. Could is a little more polite:
- Can I have a glass of water, please?
- Could you open the door for me, please?

4.1.4. Could and was able to:
Sometimes could is the past of can. We use could especially with:
see,
hear, smell, taste, feel, remember,
understand
- When we went into the room, we could smell burning.
- She spoke in a very low voice, but I could understand what she said.
4.1.5. Can refers to the future if it is followed by a time word (tomorrow, next week, etc. )
- I can do it for you next month.
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4.1.6. The negative of can is
cannot or can’t.

could is could not or couldn’t.
4.1.7. We also use could to say that somebody had the general ability or permission to do
something:
- My grandfather could speak five languages.
- We were complete free. We could do what we wanted.(= we were allowed to do … ).
N.B. We use could for general ability. But if we are talking about what happened in a
particular situation, we used was/were able to … or managed to … (not could).
- The fire spread through the building quickly, but everybody was able to escape.
or

everybody managed to escape.

4.2. MAY/MIGHT

4.2.1. We use may or might to say that something is a possibility:
- It may be true. or It might be true. (= perhaps it is true).
- She might know. or She may know. (= perhaps she knows)
4.2.2. For the past we use may have (done) or might (have (done).
- A: I can’t find my bag anywhere.
- B: You might have left it in the shop. (perhaps you left it in the shop).
4.2.3. We use may and might to talk about possible actions or happenings in the future:
- I haven’t decided yet where to spend my holidays. I may go to §µ L¹t. (= perhaps I
will go to §µ L¹t).
- Take an umbrella with you when you go out. It might rain later (= perhaps it will rain).

4.2.4. May I…? or May we … ? are used for polite requests, in the same way as Can I ...? or
Can we …?. It is a very polite form.
- May I ask you a question?
- May I have a glass of water, please?
N. B. * may is occasionally used in formal English to mean to be allowed to :
- Guests may bring husbands of wives if they wish.
* may and might are usually used in question form only with I or we. Other persons more
often use the positive with Do you think …?:
- He might be late. 
Do you think he might be late?
* The negative of may is
may not .

might is might not or mightn’t.
4.3. MUST / HAVE TO
4.3.1. We use must and have to to say that it is necessary to do something. Sometimes it
doesn’t matter which you use.
- Oh, it is later than I thought. I must go. or I have to go.
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* But there is a difference between must and have to and sometimes it is important.
Must is personal. We use must when we give
our personal feelings.
‘You must do something’ = ‘I (the speaker) say it
is necessary’:
• She’s really nice person. You must meet
her. (= I say this is necessary).
• I haven’t phoned Lan for ages. I must
phone her tonight.
Compare:
- I must get up early tomorrow. There are a lot of
things I want to do.

Have to is impersonal. We use have to for
facts, not for our personal feelings.
‘You have to do something’ because of a rule or
the situation.
• You can’t run right here. You have to
turn left. (because of the traffic system)
• My eyesight isn’t very good. I have to
wear glasses for reading.
• T©m can’t come out with us this
evening. He has to work.
- I have to get up early tomorrow. I’m going
away and my train leaves at 6.30.

4.3.2. We can use must to talk about the present or the future, but not the past.
- We must go now.
- We must go tomorrow. (but not “We must go yesterday’).
4.3.3. We can use have to in all forms. For example:
- I had to go to hospital. (past).
- Have you ever had to go to hospital? (present perfect).
- I might have to go to hospital. (infinitive after might).
4.3.4. In questions and negative sentences with have to, we normally use do/does/did.
- What do I have to do to get a driving licence?
- Why did you have to go to hospital?
- Nam doesn’t have to work on Saturdays.
N.B.

Mustn’t and don’t have to are completely different.

You mustn’t do something = it is necessary You don’t have to do something = you don’t
need to do it (but you can if you want)
that you do not do it (so, don’t do it)
4.4. WILL/WOULD – SHALL/SHOULD
4.4.1. will and would for predictions:
* We use will for prediction:
- B¨c has walked a long way. He will sleep well tonight.
- We are going to Sapa for the holidays. – Oh, that will be nice.
* We use would for a past prediction or a prediction about a possible situation:
+ Past : - B¨c had walked a long way. He would sleep well that night.
+ Possible : - How about going to Sapa next weekend?  That would be fine.
4.4.2. The modal WOULD is often combined with LIKE TO or RATHER to form a modal-like
verb. The modal-like verb WOULD LIKE TO means WANT TO. The modal-like verb WOULD
RATHER means PREFER TO.
- I would like to go to the cinema tonight.

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- I would rather go to the cinema tonight than go to the theatre.
4.4.3. We can use SHALL instead of WILL and SHOULD instead of WOULD – but only after
I and we – not after other persons.
- I will/shall be twenty-five next August. NOT : *Nam shall be twenty-five ….
- We should/would like to meet your family. NOT : * My friend should like …
4.4.4. Other meanings of WILL and WOULD:
+ We can use WILL for a decision or an offer:
Decision :
- Tea or coffee?  I will have coffee, please.
Offer:
- I’ll wait for you if you like.
4.4.5. We use WILL and WOULD in the negative for refusal:
- They won’t go back to work until they get a wage increase.
- The key goes in the lock, but it won’t turn.
* I won’t … expresses a strong refusal.
- I won’t listen to any more of this nonsense.
4.4.6. SHALL and SHOULD
• We use Shall I …? for offers and Shall we …? for suggestions:
Offer :
- Shall I wait for you?
 Oh, thank you.
Suggestion:
- Shall we go to the park?  Good idea.
•

We use should to say what is the right thing or the best thing to do :
- People should exercise regularly.
- You shouldn’t spend all your wages as soon as you get them.

•

We use either shall or should to ask for advice:
- I am in terrible trouble. What shall/should I do?
- What shall we have for dinner?

4.4.7. Modals and modal-like verbs used in passive sentences are followed by BE and the past
participle of the main verb. These forms are called modal passives.
- The man could be identified with his passport.
- The man was able to be identified with his passport.

5. DIRECT AND INDIRECT (REPORTED) SPEECH
5.1. When we want to report what someone said, we can use “direct speech’ or ‘reported
speech’.
In direct speech, we give the exact words that the person said, and we use quotation mark
( ‘ ….. ‘ or “ ….. “ )
- Direct speech : Nam said “ I’m hungry”.
In reported speech, we change some of the words that the person said and we do not use
quotation marks.
- Reported speech : Nam said (that) he was hungry. OR : Nam says (that) he’s hungry.
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5.2.

SAY and TELL

3.2.1.

After TELL we normally use a personal object ( e.g. Nam, me, us … ) to say who is
told.
We normally use SAY without a personal object. Compare :
SAY + something

TELL + someone + something

- I said I was going home.

- I told Nam I was going home.

- He says he can speak French.

- He tells me he can speak French.

5.2.2. If we want to put a personal object with SAY, we use TO .
- I said to Nam that I was going home.
5.2.3. In a few expressions we can use TELL without a personal object :
e.g. tell a story, tell the time, tell the truth, tell a lie, ….
5.3. REPORTED STATEMENTS
5.3.1. Tenses :
a. When the reporting verb is in the past (e.g. he said, you told me ), the tense in reported
speech normally ‘moves back’ :
• Verbs in the present change into the past.

•

SPEAKER’S WORD

REPORTED SPEECH

‘
‘
‘
‘

He said he was gong home.
You told me you wanted to stop.
She said she didn’t like tea
You said that Nam had finished his exercises.

I’m going home.’
I want to stop.’
I don’t like tea.’
Nam has finished his exercises.’

Verbs already in the past, change into the past perfect or they do not change.
‘ I spoke to them.’
‘ We arrived late.’

•

Verbs already in the past perfect, do not change.
‘ I had seen the film before.’

•

I said I had spoken to them./
I said I spoke to them.
They said they had arrived late./
They said they arrived late.

I told you I had seen the film before.

Modal Verbs

Note the past forms of these modal verbs :
can  could ; will  would ; shall  should ; may  might .
SPEAKER’S WORD

REPORTED SPEECH

‘ I can swim.’

He said he could swim.

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‘ I will be at home.’
‘ We may go by train.’

She said she would be at home.

They told me they might go by train.

The past modals could, would, should and might do not change in reported speech.
‘ You could be right.’
He said you could be right.
‘ You should see the film.’
They told me I should see the film.
Must either does not change or it takes the past form (of have to ) had to .
‘ I must go’

He said he must go./ He said he had to go.

b. We do not always change the tenses in reported speech when we use a past reporting
verb. If we report something that is still true now, we sometimes use the same tense as the
speaker.
SPEAKER’S WORD

REPORTED SPEECH

‘ The population of HCM City
is around four million.’
‘ I live in Hanoi.’

He said that the population of HCM City is
around four million.
She told me that she lives in Hanoi.

But even when something is still true, we often change the tense in reported speech.
- He said that the population of HCM City was around four million.
We always change the tense when there is a difference between what was said and what is

really true.
- She said that she was 25 years old, but in fact she’s only 20.
5.3.2. Pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, etc
a. Pronouns (e.g. I, me … ) and possessive adjectives e.g. my, your .. ) often change in
reported speech. Compare :
- Direct speech:
Lan said, ‘ I’m on holiday with my friend’.
- Reported speech : Lan said (that) she was on holiday with her friend.
b. People use words like here, now, today, … to talk about the place where they are speaking
and the time they are speaking. If we report those words in a different place or at a different
time, they often change. For example :
SPEAKER’S WORD

REPORTED SPEECH

here
this
now
today
tonight
tomorrow
yesterday
next Monday
last Monday
the day after tomorrow
ago

there
that/the
then

that day
that night
the next day/ the following day
the day before/ the previous day
the following Monday
the previous Monday
in two days’ time
before / previously

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Compare :
- ‘ I see him here today.’

- She said she saw him there that day.

- ‘ I’ll see you tomorrow.’

- He said he would see me the next day.

That
We often use THAT to join a reported clause to the rest of the sentence.
I said that I was feeling tired.
You told me that you would be careful.
After SAY and TELL ( + person ), we often leave out that, especially in an informal style.
I said I was feeling tired.
You told me you would be careful.

5.4. REPORTED QUESTIONS
5.4.1. Tenses, adjectives, pronouns, etc in reported questions change in the same way as in
reported statements.
SPEAKER’S WORD

REPORTED QUESTION

‘ What are you doing?’
‘ How is your brother ?’

The teacher asked the students what they were doing.
She asked how my brother was.

In reported questions, the word order is the same as in statements (e.g. they were doing, my
brother was) , and we do not use a question mark ( ? ) .
5.4.2. In reported questions, we do not use the auxiliary verb DO ( DO, DOES, or DID).
SPEAKER’S WORD

REPORTED QUESTION

‘ What do you want?’
‘ Where does she live ?’
‘ Why did you say that ?’

I asked what she wanted.
They asked where he lived.
He asked why I said that.

5.4.3. When there is no question word (e.g. what, where, why … ) we can use IF or

WHETHER to introduce a reported question.
SPEAKER’S WORD

REPORTED QUESTION

‘ Are you cold?’
‘ Do you want a drink ?’
‘ Can you speak French ?’

I asked if he as cold.
She asked if I wanted a drink.
They wanted to know whether I could speak French..

5.4.4. After ASK, we often use an object (e.g. Nam, me, … ) to say who was asked.

5.5. USING THE TO - INFINITIVE IN REPORTED SPEECH
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5.5.1. We often report orders, requests, warnings, advice and invitations using the structure
VERB + OBJECT + TO INFINITIVE .
SPEAKERS WORD

REPORTED QUESTION

She told the man to get out of her room.
I asked Nam to carry some bags.
He warned them to stay away from him.
She advised him to phone the police.
They invited me to have dinner with them.

Get out of my room.
Could you carry some bags, Nam?
Stay away from me .
You should phone the police.
Would you like to have dinner with us ?

5.5.2. We often report offers, promises and threats using the structure
VERB + TO - INFINITIVE
SPEAKERS WORD

REPORTED QUESTION

Can I help you ?
Ill be careful.
Ill hit you

The woman offered to help me.
You promised to be careful.
She threatened to hit me.

5.5.3. In negative orders, promises, etc. we use NOT TO + INFINITIVE.

SPEAKERS WORD

REPORTED QUESTION

Dont touch my camera.
I wont be late.

He told me not to touch his camera.
You promised not to be late.

6. Đảo ngữ .. (INVERTED SUBJECT-VERB WORD ORDER WITH SPECIAL
EXPRESSIONS AND IN CONDITIONAL SENTENCES)
Ngoài 05 phần chính nh đã hớng dẫn, trong thực tế ta còn thờng hay gặp một hiện tợng khác
trong các bài thi, đó là hiện tợng đảo ngữ hay hoán vị vị trí của chủ ngữ và vị ngữ trong trật tự
câu tiếng Anh.
The standard word order of the principal parts of English sentences is:
SUBJECT + VERB (+ OBJECT and/or + COMPLEMENT) .
The subject comes before the verb. The verb comes before its objects and/or before the
complement of the sentence.
- Lan is eating.
S
V
- Lan is happy.
S V Comp.
- Lan is eating chocolate.
S
V
dO
However, this standard word order is not followed in all English sentences. In certain situations,
inverted subject-verb word order is used. That is, the subject of a sentence is placed after the

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