This document discusses the uses of could, may, and might in the English language. Could is used to talk about ability in the past or possibility. May suggests something will happen in the future or is used to make polite requests. Might suggests smaller possibility and is more common than may when uncertainty is involved. It can also be used as the past tense of may for requests or conditional form. The key difference between can and may is that can is used for ability while may requires permission.

1. Could

2. COULD
 Ability
 I could speak China when I was seven.
 Could you swim when you was nine?
 She couldn’t get a job anywhere.

3. COULD
 Possibility
 This team has good performance this
season. They could be a champion.
 You should take an umbrella, it could rain
later.
 Mary couldn't be the one who stole the
money.

4. COULD
 Request
 Could you please open the window?
 Could you give me a ruler, please?

5. May

6. May
 For suggest something will happen
- There may not be many people there.
- We may be late for the meeting.
 Use may to suggest situation that happen in
the past
- May / Might + have + V.3 (Past Participle)
- She may have gone out when I phoned her

7. May
 use may not for a refusal it is emphatic
- You may not borrow the car until you can be
more careful with it.
 to make polite requests or ask for permission
- May I borrow the car tomorrow?
- May we come a bit later?
- May I ask you a few question?

8. Can or May ?
 When you ask for a permission….
 Can I ask you a few questions? wrong
 May I ask you a few questions?
 Can should only be used in expression to do
with ability.

9. Might
 More usual than may
When we are not sure about something.
Structure: S + might(not) + infinitive/V.ing
Examples:
- I might not be there tomorrow.
- It might rain today.

10. Might
 Use might to suggest small possibility.
- We might have a party next week.
 As the past tense of may for requests
Example:
- She asked if she might borrow the pen.
 As the conditional of may
Example:
- If I entered the contest, I might win.

11. Might
 For permission
Examples:
- Might I sit here?
- Might I ask you a question?

12. Might
 Might not
 It suggests you don’t know if something
happens.
 Example:
- She might not be at the school today.