Copyright 2018, Red River Press Inc. For use by ESL Library members only. ( INT / VER SION 1.

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Grammar Notes
A. Introduction to Modals

Modals (also known as modal verbs) are words that come

before the main verb. They give the verb an extra meaning,
such as ability, advice, or possibility.

Modals are always followed by a base verb.

A base verb is a verb with no ending (-s, -ed, -ing, etc.) added to it.

Look at the following chart to see examples of different types of modals.

Modals Type Example

can/could ability I can speak three languages.

should advice You should study more often.

must necessity He must apply for the job by Friday.

might/could/may possibility She might go to the movies tonight.

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Grammar Notes cont.

B. Modals of Possibility

Modals of possibility show that something is possible now.

They can also show that something might happen in the future.

Modals of possibility include might, could, and may.

These modals all have the meaning of "possible" and "maybe."
Might and could are very common. May is more formal and not used as often.

Positive Sentences Negative Sentences Questions

might
Alia might go to the party. Alia might not go to the party. (not common)

could
Juan could be late. (not common) Could Juan be late?

may
They may buy a new car. They may not buy a new car. (not common)

Note #1 Note #2
Could not is almost always used to show past ability, The adverb maybe is often used to show possibility.
not present or future possibility. We usually use maybe at the beginning or end of
a sentence. Compare the adverb maybe with the
• Lisa could not go to the party. modal may.
(Past ability = She didn't go to the party.)
• Maybe he is sick today.
• Lisa might not go to the party.
• He may be sick today.
(Future possibility = She's not sure
if she will go to the party or not.) • Maybe they have a cat.
• They may have a cat.

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Exercise 1
FILL IN THE BLANKS

Write might, could, or may in the sentences below to show possibility.

More than one answer might be possible.

Ex. Mina might help me with my homework.

1. John and Amy get a new kitten.

2. I study Japanese next year.

3. Pavel try out for hockey next year.

4. Daniel not go to school because he's sick.

5. she be our new teacher?

6. We try this new restaurant tonight.

7. Louise and Pierre get married in the spring.

8. that be our bus?

9. They not be ready to take the test.

10. Isabella not join the basketball team this year.

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Exercise 2
WHAT COULD IT BE?

Look at the images. Come up with some guesses about what each image
might be. Use might, could, or may in each sentence.

# Image What could this be?

It could be an envelope.
Ex
It might be a wide-screen TV.

MY POSSIBLE FUTURE

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What are your possible future plans and goals? Check all that could apply
to you, and think of two more things to add to the list. Then find a partner
and talk about future possibilities using might, could, or may.

graduate
get a new job
get married
have children
get a new pet
buy a new
home
start a new hobby
make new friends
become fluent in English
learn another language besides
English travel
retire

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Find one error in each sentence.

Ex. She might coming to the concert with us.

She might come to the concert with us.

1. If I finish my assignment, I go could home early.

2. Hiro might calls you tomorrow.

3. My teacher could not gave us homework to do this weekend. We'll find out on Friday.

4. Maybe that be a UFO?

5. He might gets a new puppy.

6. We could not go out tonight. We haven't decided yet.

7. They may moving to another city next year.

8. Fatima might takes a year off school to travel around the world.

9. My children maybe absent from school tomorrow.

10. Francisco isn't in class today. May he be sick?