the use of may, might, must
TRANSCRIPT
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MODALS TO TALK ABOUT
POSSIBILITY, CONCLUSIONS AND ABILITY
May I go to the bathroom?
Call them now, you might kill two birds with one
stone.
I guess that car must cost you an arm and a leg.
Im not able to take the bull by the horns.
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The use of MAY
May I go to the bathroom?
"May" is most commonly used to express possibility. It
can also be used to give or request permission, although
this usage is becoming less common.
Examples:
Cheryl may be at home, or perhaps at work. POSSIBILITY
Johnny, you may leave the table when you have finishedyour dinner. GIVE PERMISSION
May I use your bathroom? REQUEST PERMISSION
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Using "May" in Present, Past, and Future
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Check the chart belowto learn how "may" behaves in different contexts.
Modal UsePositive Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
Negative Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future You canalso use:
may
POSSIBILITY
1. Jack may be upset. I can't really tell if he is
annoyed or tired.
2. Jack may have been upset. I couldn't really
tell if he was annoyed or tired.
3. Jack may get upset if you don't tell him thetruth.
1. Jack may not be upset. Perhaps he is tired.
2. Jack may not have been upset. Perhaps he
was tired.
3. Jack may not get upset, even if you tell him the
truth
might
may
GIVE
PERMISSION
1. You may leave the table now that you're
finished with your dinner.
2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO"
You were allowed to leave the table after you
finished your dinner.3. You may leave the table when you finish your
dinner.
1. You may not leave the table. You're not
finished with your dinner yet.
2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO"
You were not allowed to leave the table because
you hadn't finished your dinner.3. You may not leave the table until you are
finished with your dinner.
can
may
REQUEST
PERMISSION
May I borrow your eraser?
May I make a phone call?
REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE.
NO NEGATIVE FORMS can,
might
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"Might" is most commonly used to express possibility. It isalso often used in conditional sentences. English speakers canalso use "might" to make suggestions or requests, although
this is less common in American English.
Examples:
Your purse might be in the living room.POSSIBILITY
If I didn't have to work, I might go with you. CONDITIONAL
You might visit the botanical gardens during your visit.SUGGESTION
Might I borrow your pen? REQUEST
The use of MIGHTCall them now, you might kill two
birds with one stone.
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Using "May" in Present, Past, and Future
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Check the chart belowto learn how "may" behaves in different contexts.
Modal Use Positive Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
Negative Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
You can alsouse:
might
POSSIBILITY
1. She might be on the bus. I think her
car is having problems.
2. She might have taken the bus. I'm
not sure how she got to work.
3. She might take the bus to get home.
I don't think Bill will be able to give her
a ride.
1. She might not be on the bus. She might be
walking home.
2. She might not have taken the bus. She
might have walked home.
3. She might not take the bus. She might get
a ride from Bill.
could,
may
might
CONDITIONAL OF
MAY
1. If I entered the contest, I might
actually win.
2. If I had entered the contest, I might
actually have won.
3. If I entered the contest tomorrow, I
might actually win. Unfortunately, I
can't enter it.
1. Even if I entered the contest, I might not
win.
2. Even if I had entered the contest, I might
not have won.
3. Even if I entered the contest tomorrow, I
might not win.
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might
SUGGESTION
1. NO PRESENT FORM
2. You might have tried thecheese cake.
3. You might try the cheesecake.
1. NO PRESENT FORM
2. PAST FORM UNCOMMON
3. You might not want to eat the
cheese cake. It's very calorific.
could
might
REQUEST
Might I have something to drink?
Might I borrow the stapler?
REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE.
NEGATIVEFORMS UNCOMMON could,
may,
can
REMEMBER: "Might not" vs. "Could not"
"Might not" suggests you do not know if something happens. "Could not" suggests that it is
impossible for something to happen.
Examples:
Jack might not have the key. MAYBE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY.
Jack could not have the key. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE HAS THE KEY
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Modal Use Positive Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
Negative Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
You can also use:
must
CERTAINTY
1. That must be Jerry. They said he
was tall with bright red hair.2. That must have been the right
restaurant. There are no other
restaurants on this street.
3. NO FUTUREFORM
1. That must not be Jerry. He is supposed to
have red hair.2. That must not have been the right
restaurant. Iguess there is another one
around here somewhere.
3. NO FUTUREFORM
have to
must not
PROHIBITION
You must not swim in that r iver. It's full of
crocodiles.You must not forget to take your malaria
medication while your are in the tropics.
PROHIBITION USUALLY REFERTO THE NEAR FUTURE.
must
STRONG
RECOMMENDATION
1. You must take some time off and
get some rest.
2. SHIFTTO "SHOULD"
You should have taken some time off
last week to get some rest.
3. SHIFTTO "SHOULD"
You should take some time off next
week to get some rest.
1. You mustn't drink so much. It's not good
for your health.
2. SHIFTTO "SHOULD"
You shouldn't have drunk so much. That
caused the accident.
3. SHIFTTO "SHOULD"
You shouldn't drink at the party. You are
going to be the designated driver.
should
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mustNECESSITY
1. Youmust have a permit to
enter the national park.
2. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO"
We had to have a permi
t to enterthe park.
3. We must get a permit to enter
the park next week.
1. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO"
We don't have to get a permit to enter the
national park.
2. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO"We didn't have to get a permit to enter
the national park.
3. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO"
We won't have to get a permit to enter
the national park.
have to
REMEMBER: "Must not" vs. "Do not have to"
"Must not" suggests that you are prohibited from doing something. "Do not have to"
suggests that someone is not required to do something.
Examples:
You must not eat that. IT IS FORBIDDEN, IT IS NOT ALLOWED.
You don't have to eat that. YOU CAN IFYOU WANT TO, BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARY.
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The use of BE ABLE TOThis time, Im not able to take the bull by the horns.
Although we look at be able to here, it is not a modal verb.
It is simply the verb be plus an adjective (able) followed by the infinitive.We look at be able to here because we sometimes use it instead ofcan
and could.
We use be able to: to talk about ability
Check in the chart the structure ofbe able to.
SUBJECT
BE
MAIN VERB
ABLE
ADJECTIVE INFINITIVE
+ I am able to drive.
- She isn't able to drive.
? Are you able to drive?
Notice that be able to is possible in all tenses, for example:I was able to drive...
I will be able to drive...
I have been able to drive...
Notice too that be able to has an infinitive form:I would like to be able to speak Chinese.
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PRACTICE:Fill in the blanks with the correct modal.
1. George has travelled a lot. He ____________ speak many languages.
2. I can hear you quite well. You ____________ not shout.
3. Im not sure where I will go for my holidays but I ____________ go to Italy.
4. She ____________ ride her bike at night without lights. It's not allowed.
5. She ____________ not eat so much chocolate because it's bad for herfigure.
6. I ____________ understand him. He should speak louder.
7. It's later than I thought. I ____________ go now.
8. You ____________ a better trainer if you want to improve yourself.
9. Talk to Ann about your problems. I'm sure she ____________ help you.
10. You ____________ not vacuum the carpets, Carol has already done it.
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Sources:http://www.englishpage.com/modals/might.html
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-modals_can_3.htm
For extra practice go to:
http://www.agendaweb.org/http://www.english-4u.de/grammar_exercises.htm