MODAL VERBS

Present yourself
Name, Age, Why you study English ?, Strong
and weak points
¿How are the Modal Verbs used?
Can- Could- May- Might- Must- Should- Would

“ Generally , the modal verbs communicate abilities , necessities,

“
obligations, allowance an probabilities. The do not have an infinitive,
participle or past form; an neither they can be conjugated*.

We will focus on:

Could, May & Might

 Could May Might
Expresses a capacity in the Expresses a possibility, a Communicates a possibility
PAST or is used for asking permission or a wish in the present or in THE
permission* in the PRESENT FUTUR
(-) May not
(-) Could not Mayn´t (-) Might not
Couldn't

 I could go to the  They may start to  We might go to

movies, but I don’t go out Canada in December
have money.
 It may not rain  Se might not play in
 He couldn't pass tomorrow the next game, she
his exam broke her arm.
? May I borrow your
? Could you speak umbrella? ? Who might you be?
slowly, please?*

Weak possibility
Where to place the Modal Verb?
 =Subject, MV= Modal Verb, V=Verb & COMPL= Complement

In a simple sentence.
01 + MV+V+COMPL
I could play Tennis
In a question
02 MV++V+COMPL+?
Could I play Tennis?

With interrogative Pronouns (IP)

03 IP+MV++V+COMPL+?
Where could I play Tennis?
Can-Could
Is important to notice that “could” is no other than the past tense of
the verb “can”, both are modal verbs that expresses a capacity, one in
the present (can) and one in the past (could), but do not forget that
could is also used in the present when you ask for something, ex:

Could I come in?

In this cases you have to you use the verb in past tense, even when
you are asking something in the present and that it´s more polite than:

Can I come in?

Both sentences are correct, it will depend of your way of talking to the
other person, or your on way of speaking, witch one you choose
May & Might
May & Might are to modal verbs used very similarly, the way to
know which one to choose depends in the context of the
sentence. It’s easier to know when to use “might”. Ex:

They might buy a car next year.

In this sentence we use “might” because we are talking about a
FUTURE possibility.

There might be cases where may can be used as well as might,

ex:
Alison might be in the restaurant.
Alison may be in the restaurant.
 Exercise
Correct the sentence Order

postpone our Mr. George may meeting couldn't chores She her finish.

 

see ? the you could bird borrow umbrella may ? your I

 

next Sam travel to Africa might year be love He in may

 
 Choose
• I (could/may) play
the
correct
Modal
Verb
Thank you
May the force be with you 