43. Focus on: modals and present perfect phrasal verbs

Remember that the present perfect is formed with have or the contraction 've and the past participle. The only difference is that has is not used for the third person singular:

He has run up a big bill. He would have run up a big bill.

The meanings of the modal and semimodal auxiliaries are unchanged in the present perfect, except for may and might.

Past speculation and you do not know what happened: might have or may have

When discussing something that was possible in the past and you do not know what happened, either might have or may have can be used:

l wonder where Jim is. He might have stopped off at the bar. I wonder where Jim is.

He may have stopped off at the bar.

Because you do not know whether Jim stopped off at the bar, either might have or may have can be used.

Past speculation and you know what happened: only might have

When discussing something that was possible in the past and you know what happened, only might have can be used:

Climbing that tree was stupid. You might have fallen out. Climbing that tree was stupid. You may have fallen out.

Because I know that the person I am talking to did not fall out of the tree, only might have can be used.

1. blow... out p.v. When a flame blows out or is blown out by a strong wind, it stops burning. When you blow out a flame, you use your breath to make the flame stop burning.

Don't open the window — the candles will blow out.

I couldn't light my cigarette; the wind kept blowing the match out.

The stove isn't working. Maybe the pilot light has blown out.

2. blow ...out (of) p.v. When something is moved outward away from where it was by an explosion or a very strong wind, it is blown out or blown out of where it was before.

The force of the explosion blew all the windows out.

Look, there's a dead bird. The wind might have blown it out of its nest.

blowout n. When a tire bursts and suddenly loses its air while you are driving, you have a blowout.

Maria had a blowout while she was driving, lost control of her car, and hit a tree.

3. blow... out p.v. When a piece of electrical equipment or a fuse blows out, it fails because too much electricity is passing through it.

Don't be surprised if the fuse blows out — you have seven lights, your computer, and your TV all plugged into one outlet.

When lightning hit our house, it blew all the telephones out.

1. give ...out (to) p.v. When you distribute something to other people, you give it out or give it out to them. Hand out is similar to give out.

They gave out free hats to the first 5,000 fans to enter the stadium.

The aid workers would have given more food out to the famine victims, but they didn't have enough.

2. give out (on) p.v. When a mechanical or electrical device stops working, it gives out or gives out on you. When a supply of something is completely used, it gives out or gives out on you.

The explorers tost their way in the desert and died after their water gave out.

I bought a Chevrolet in 1964 and drove it more than 300,000 miles before it finally gave out on me.

1. gross ...out p.v. [informal] When something grosses you out, it upsets you or makes you sick because you think it is disgusting.

You had to dissect a cadaver in your biology class? Yuk, that would've really grossed me out.

Alex hates changing his little brother's diapers — it grosses him out.

grossed out part.adj. When something upsets you or makes you sick because you think it is disgusting, you are grossed out.

l was eating an apple, and I found half a worm in it. I was so grossed out that I almost threw up. head toward

1. head toward p.v. When you head toward a certain location, you move toward it. When you say that you are headed toward or are heading toward a certain location, you mean that you are planning to go there or that you are going there but have interrupted your journey and will resume it. Head for is the same as head toward.

The escaped convicts must have headed toward Mexico.

I'm heading toward Portland. Where are you going?

1. run up (to) p.v. When you run to a higher level or place, you run up or run up to that place.

Run up and answer the phone if it rings, okay?

If I'd heard the baby crying, I would have run up to his bedroom.

2. run ... up p.v. When you accumulate a number of debts, resulting in a total debt of a certain amount, you run up a bill for that amount.

Giving my son a credit card was a mistake — he ran up a $2,500 bill in only one month.

Calling your family every week from Australia must have run a big phone bill up.

run-up n. A large, sudden increase in the price, value, or cost of something is a run-up.

Bill was lucky to buy 500 shares of the stock just before the big run-up.

3. run up (to) p.v. When you run toward people, you run up or run up to them.

The prince didn't have any bodyguards. Anyone could have run up and attacked him.

After the explosion, a man covered with blood ran up to me and asked for help.

1. shut up (about) p.v. [informal] When people stop talking, they shut up or shut up about something they are talking about. When you are angry and want people to stop talking, you tell them to shut up.

Marvin talks and talks and talks — he never shuts up.

I said I was sorry about crashing your car. Now will you please shut up about it!

1. shut... up p.v. [informal] When people or things cause you to stop talking, they shut you up.

Toad was making jokes about his wife at the party until she gave him a look that shut him right up.

I can't hear the TV — can you shut those kids up?

1. stop off (atlin) p.v. When you stop off at a place or stop off in an area on the way to another place, you stop there briefly before continuing your journey.

l would have stopped off at Sally's house this morning, but I was late for work.

Stopping off in Cairo on our way to India would be fun.

1. try... on p.v. When you try on an item of clothing before deciding whether you will buy it or borrow it from someone in order to see if it fits or to see if you like it, you try it on.

She must have tried on twenty pairs of shoes before making up her mind.

Would you like to borrow this dress for the dance tonight? Here, try it on.