MODALS
ABILITY AND POSSIBILITY
ABILITY
CAN
we can dance Tango.
She can't sing. Can you speak English? I can ride a bike you can play basketball
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
ABILITY
BE ABLE TO
I'm sorry, he's not able to come to the phone just at the moment
I was not able to come to the party (past) I am not able to come to the party (present) She is able to speak 7 languages I'm not able to move my leg.
ARE YOU ABLE TO DRIVE? YES? NO?
PAST ABILITY
COULD
I could run ten kilometres when I was younger.
We could see the ocean from our hotel room. She could already swim when she was six.
YESTERDAY I COULD NOT.....
PERMISSION
CAN
Can I leave now?
Can I sit here?
Can we play some music? Can I play videogames?
ASK FOR PERMISSION: YOU WANT TO GO TO THE TOILET
PERMISSION
YOU MAY HAVE ANOTHER COOKIE IF YOU LIKE
MAY
May I borrow your pen, please?
You may leave the class
May I come in?
You DON'T HAVE PERMISSION TO leave the room You _________ the room without permission.
REQUESTS/ PERMISSION (POLITE)
COULD
Could you repeat that again?
Could I have another coffee? You could sit here if you like. Could you close the door please?
YOUR MOBILE PHONE DOES NOT HAVE BATTERY: YOU ASK FOR PERMISSION TO USE YOUR TEACHER'S PHONE.
REQUESTS, SUGGESTIONS
CAN
Can I have the bill?
Can we have more coffee?
You can go wherever you like.
YOU WANT MORE TIME TO FINISH YOUR EXAM
POSSIBILITY
COULD
He could be French, judging by his accent.
This holiday could be really good. Don't eat that. It could be poisonous.
John ___________ be the one who stole the money.
POSSIBILITY
MAY/MIGHT
It might rain later (= it is possible that it will rain)
I might go to the movies tonight. (Though I'm not sure) Peter might come to the party. We may go out later. I’m not sure. It may rain later. They may be late.
THEY ARE INTERCHANGEABLE
MIGHT
OR
MAY
SMALLER CHANCE OF SOMETHING HAPPENING
IT MIGHT RAIN (40% CHANCE)
IT MAY RAIN (70% CHANCE)
MAKE A FULL SENTENCE WITH MAY OR MIGHT BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE
IMPOSSIBILITY
It can't be snowing, it's summer!
CAN'T
This jacket can't belong to Mike. It's too small.
CERTAINTY
You haven't eaten for a day, you must be hungry
MUST
He is a biologist, he must know a lot about animal
Paula is in Hawaii. Now she must be lying on the beach.
Where is your mother/father?
ability and possibility
mmanera
Created on March 14, 2021
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Transcript
MODALS
ABILITY AND POSSIBILITY
ABILITY
CAN
we can dance Tango.
She can't sing. Can you speak English? I can ride a bike you can play basketball
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
ABILITY
BE ABLE TO
I'm sorry, he's not able to come to the phone just at the moment
I was not able to come to the party (past) I am not able to come to the party (present) She is able to speak 7 languages I'm not able to move my leg.
ARE YOU ABLE TO DRIVE? YES? NO?
PAST ABILITY
COULD
I could run ten kilometres when I was younger.
We could see the ocean from our hotel room. She could already swim when she was six.
YESTERDAY I COULD NOT.....
PERMISSION
CAN
Can I leave now?
Can I sit here? Can we play some music? Can I play videogames?
ASK FOR PERMISSION: YOU WANT TO GO TO THE TOILET
PERMISSION
YOU MAY HAVE ANOTHER COOKIE IF YOU LIKE
MAY
May I borrow your pen, please?
You may leave the class
May I come in?
You DON'T HAVE PERMISSION TO leave the room You _________ the room without permission.
REQUESTS/ PERMISSION (POLITE)
COULD
Could you repeat that again?
Could I have another coffee? You could sit here if you like. Could you close the door please?
YOUR MOBILE PHONE DOES NOT HAVE BATTERY: YOU ASK FOR PERMISSION TO USE YOUR TEACHER'S PHONE.
REQUESTS, SUGGESTIONS
CAN
Can I have the bill?
Can we have more coffee?
You can go wherever you like.
YOU WANT MORE TIME TO FINISH YOUR EXAM
POSSIBILITY
COULD
He could be French, judging by his accent.
This holiday could be really good. Don't eat that. It could be poisonous.
John ___________ be the one who stole the money.
POSSIBILITY
MAY/MIGHT
It might rain later (= it is possible that it will rain)
I might go to the movies tonight. (Though I'm not sure) Peter might come to the party. We may go out later. I’m not sure. It may rain later. They may be late.
THEY ARE INTERCHANGEABLE
MIGHT
OR
MAY
SMALLER CHANCE OF SOMETHING HAPPENING
IT MIGHT RAIN (40% CHANCE)
IT MAY RAIN (70% CHANCE)
MAKE A FULL SENTENCE WITH MAY OR MIGHT BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE
IMPOSSIBILITY
It can't be snowing, it's summer!
CAN'T
This jacket can't belong to Mike. It's too small.
CERTAINTY
You haven't eaten for a day, you must be hungry
MUST
He is a biologist, he must know a lot about animal
Paula is in Hawaii. Now she must be lying on the beach.
Where is your mother/father?