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Modals

modals

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8 views2 pages

Modals

modals

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mamabelle TV
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MODAL AUXILIARY VEBS (will, would, shall, can, could, ought, may, might and must)

USES OF MODALS
✶ to talk about things which we expect, which are or are not possible, which we think are necessary,
which we want to happen, which we are not sure about, which tend to happen, or which have not
happened.
Let’s talk about COULD, MAY AND MIGHT
CHANCES: may, might, could (we often use them to talk about chance (possibility) that something
will happen, or is happening.
Ex: “We may go driving to Tohoku this summer vacation.”
“My friend might come today, if she does please entertain her.”
“They’ve agreed, but they could change their minds.”

Note: might and may are less definite and more hesitant than could.
Ex: “I may have my hair cut tomorrow.” (perhaps 50% chance) “She could go with you tomorrow.
“Gary might come with me today.” (perhaps 30% chance) (perhaps 70% chance)

MAKING QUESTIONS: may, might, could (may is not used to ask questions about the chance of
something happening, but possible in indirect questions like (ex: Do you think) ‘Do you think you
may learn many things in this lesson?’ (might can be used in direct question, but it’s too formal and
less natural) (best to combine them with, Do you think you may/might..?)

MEANING: might and could meaning (“would perhaps") (ex: “Don’t play with fire. You might/
could get burn. =perhaps you would get hurt

AS PAST INDIRECT SPEECH: might/could is not normally used to talk about past possibility, but
can be used in past tense when may was used in direct speech. (ex: I may go to Hokkaido. ‘What?’
‘I said I might go to Hokkaido.’)

MAY/MIGHT/COULD HAVE: to say that something happened or was true in the past. (may/
might/could have + past participle (ex: “What was that noise? It might/could have been a cat.)
Also possible in the future: (ex: “By the end of this month, you might have learned a lot of English.)
Also possible but did not happen: (ex:”If he hadn’t been poor, I might/could have married him.)

COULD/MIGHT IN INSTRUCTION, REQUEST, SUGGESTION:


Could/instruction: ‘Could you lend me ten thousand yen until tomorrow?
Could/request: ‘Do you think you could help me for a few minutes?’
Could, might/suggestion: “When you’ve finished your meal, you could order some ice cream if you
like.” “She likes cake better than ice cream, so she might order a cake instead.”

AS PERMISSION: could, may, might (could/may=used to ask permission; (more polite than can)
(ex: “‘Could/May I ask you something?” or “Could you make me some coffee?”) (may and might
are also used to ask permission; may to give permission.(more formal than could and less common)
(might is used in indirect question.) (ex: “May I switch the air con?”) (“I wonder if I might have
another cup of tea?”)

COULD AS ABILITY: we use could to talk about ability in the past and “softer” form of CAN.
PAST: Ex: “In my younger days, my mother could sing like an angel.”
SOFTER: “You could get a better job if you spoke a foreign language.”

COULD HAVE: used to talk about ability that did not happen, choice, not a regret, a thing you
could have done but did not do, not showing negativity or disappointment. (ex: “I could have slept
early last night, but instead I studied English.”)

COULD AS PERCEPTION: when verbs refers to perception(receiving info through the eyes, ears
etc.) we don’t use progressive form. (ex: “I could smell my mother is cooking my favorite dish.”)
another use of could is when guessing or telling. (ex: I could tell she’s sick just by looking at her
eyes.) is also often used with the word understand. (ex: I couldn’t understand what she’s talking
about.)

SOME SPECIAL USES: may and might in wishes and hopes. (may is used in formal expressions of
wishes and hopes.) (ex: ‘May you both be very happy!’)

TYPE MODAL EX: SENTENCE


ASK AND GIVE PERMISSION/ may • Karen may be busy that’s why she’s
PRESENT/FUTURE not replying to my text.
POSSIBILITY(POLITE FORM) • May I sit down?
• You may put your bag under the
table.
PRESENT/FUTURE POSSIBILITY/ might • My sister might pet a dog.
ASK PERMISSION(INDIRECT) • The restaurant might be full right
now, so we could just go there in
about an hour or two.
• Do you think I might get a reward for
my piece of art?
PAST ABILITY/SUGGESTION/ could • Before, we could walk in the dark
ASK AND GIVE PERMISSION/ streets without having fear.
FUTURE POSSIBILITY/ • She could get a discount if she
PERCEPTION download this app.
• Could you bring the documents
tomorrow?
• Dan could be a rock star with that
amazing talent on playing the guitar.
RULES TO FOLLOW: (when making sentences w/modals)
1) Use as “is” - no change/ don’t add “s” or “es” to the modal verb.
2) Use with base verb - no “to”/ don’t add “to”
3) Use “not” after modals when the sentence is negative.

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