Modal Verbs - Vannesa Arevalo

1. Could

1.1. Permission

1.1.1. Could I borrow your pen?

1.2. Request

1.2.1. Could you say it again more slowly?

1.3. Posibility

1.3.1. We could have another chance.

1.4. Future

1.4.1. I wish I could meet her next week.

1.5. Ability

1.5.1. He could play the piano when he was 6.

2. May

2.1. Permission

2.1.1. May I have another glass of water?

2.2. Possibility

2.2.1. I may finish my task.

3. Might

3.1. Possibility

3.1.1. They might get better results.

4. Ought to

4.1. Saying what's right or correct

4.1.1. She ought to finish by next week.

5. Must

5.1. Obligation

5.1.1. She must wear a uniform at school.

6. Should

6.1. Saying what's right or correct

6.1.1. We should study harder.

7. Structure

7.1. subject + modal verb + main verb(infinitive) + complement

8. Rules

8.1. Most modal verbs cannot be used in past / future tenses.

8.2. When used in third person person present tense modals do not have '-s' ending.

8.3. Use "not" to make modals negative.

9. Examples

9.1. Simple

9.1.1. He could work.

9.2. Continuos

9.2.1. She could be running.

9.3. Perfect

9.3.1. I could have slept.

9.4. Perfect continuos

9.4.1. He could have been playing.

10. Can

10.1. Ability / Possibility

10.1.1. They can pass their exams

10.2. Impossibility

10.2.1. I can't do it

10.3. Asking for permission

10.3.1. Can I go there?

10.4. Request

10.4.1. Can you help me?