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NAME :M.Rebal
Class: BSSE (1ST)
ROLL NO:60
GROUP MEMBERS
1:REBAL
2:WAQAS ALI
3:ZOHAIB ZEESHAN
4:UMAR BUTT
TOPIC:MODAL VERBS
A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that
is used to express: ability, possibility,
permission or obligation.
TYPES
 Can/could/be able to
 May/might
 Shall/should
 Will/would
 Ought to/Must/Had Better
 The FIVE main uses of Can are: 1) ability 2)
possibility and 3) permission 4) TO do
something for others 5) something is
forbidden or not allowed. However there are
some other used of Can as we will see below.
1 To express ability :
 Can means to be (physically) able to do
something OR to know how to do something.
 EXAMPLE
 Birds can fly.
 Elephants can't fly.
 I can speak two languages.
2. To express a possibility (in general)
 This refers to a theoretical possibility.
Note: we don't use can to talk about future
possibilities. For this you would use may or
might.
EXAMPLE
 You can catch that train at 10:00.
 He can’t see you right now. He’s in surgery.
 I know you can win the competition.
3. To offer to do something for others
 Can is used when you offer to help someone
or to do something for them.
EXAMPLE
 You don't need to walk home. I can take you
there if you like.
 Can I carry your bags for you?
4. To ask for or give permission / To request
something
 Can is used to ask for / request permission or
to give permission.
Note: Can't is used to refuse permission.
EXAMPLE
 You can use my umbrella, I don't need it right
now.
 Can I sit in that chair please?
 Mary, you can play outside if you like.
 Can I ask you a question?
5. Can't: Something that is forbidden or not
allowed
EXAMPLE
 You can't smoke in the restaurant.
 You cannot drive a car without a license.
6. Can't: when you are sure that something
isn't true or something is surprising
example
 It can't be dark outside! It's only 4.30pm!
 They can't have landed on the moon, I'm sure
it's a hoax.
 Could is similar to Can and often
replaces Can in the past tense (though not
always)
1. To express ability in the past
 I could ride a horse when I was younger but
now I can't.
 She could juggle eight balls when she was only
10 years old.
 He could read when he was three years old.
2. Polite word used to ask for permission or to
request something (in the present)
EXAMPLE
 Could you pass me the salt please?
 I'm busy right now. Could you call back later?
3. General permission in the past
EXAMPLE
 He couldn't go to the concert because his
mother wouldn't let him.
4. A suggestion when asked what to do (choices and
opportunities)
EXAMPLE
 He could try and fix it himself.
 We could go to the movies if you are interested.
5. Couldn't: Sure that something is untrue
Just like can't, you can use couldn't when you are
sure that something isn't true or real.
EXAMPLE
 That couldn't be my cat meowing outside, it was
hit by a car last week.
 He couldn't have painted that. He has no artistic
ability at all.

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Modal Verbs

  • 1. NAME :M.Rebal Class: BSSE (1ST) ROLL NO:60 GROUP MEMBERS 1:REBAL 2:WAQAS ALI 3:ZOHAIB ZEESHAN 4:UMAR BUTT TOPIC:MODAL VERBS
  • 2. A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that is used to express: ability, possibility, permission or obligation. TYPES  Can/could/be able to  May/might  Shall/should  Will/would  Ought to/Must/Had Better
  • 3.  The FIVE main uses of Can are: 1) ability 2) possibility and 3) permission 4) TO do something for others 5) something is forbidden or not allowed. However there are some other used of Can as we will see below. 1 To express ability :  Can means to be (physically) able to do something OR to know how to do something.  EXAMPLE  Birds can fly.  Elephants can't fly.  I can speak two languages.
  • 4. 2. To express a possibility (in general)  This refers to a theoretical possibility. Note: we don't use can to talk about future possibilities. For this you would use may or might. EXAMPLE  You can catch that train at 10:00.  He can’t see you right now. He’s in surgery.  I know you can win the competition.
  • 5. 3. To offer to do something for others  Can is used when you offer to help someone or to do something for them. EXAMPLE  You don't need to walk home. I can take you there if you like.  Can I carry your bags for you?
  • 6. 4. To ask for or give permission / To request something  Can is used to ask for / request permission or to give permission. Note: Can't is used to refuse permission. EXAMPLE  You can use my umbrella, I don't need it right now.  Can I sit in that chair please?  Mary, you can play outside if you like.  Can I ask you a question?
  • 7. 5. Can't: Something that is forbidden or not allowed EXAMPLE  You can't smoke in the restaurant.  You cannot drive a car without a license.
  • 8. 6. Can't: when you are sure that something isn't true or something is surprising example  It can't be dark outside! It's only 4.30pm!  They can't have landed on the moon, I'm sure it's a hoax.
  • 9.  Could is similar to Can and often replaces Can in the past tense (though not always) 1. To express ability in the past  I could ride a horse when I was younger but now I can't.  She could juggle eight balls when she was only 10 years old.  He could read when he was three years old.
  • 10. 2. Polite word used to ask for permission or to request something (in the present) EXAMPLE  Could you pass me the salt please?  I'm busy right now. Could you call back later? 3. General permission in the past EXAMPLE  He couldn't go to the concert because his mother wouldn't let him.
  • 11. 4. A suggestion when asked what to do (choices and opportunities) EXAMPLE  He could try and fix it himself.  We could go to the movies if you are interested. 5. Couldn't: Sure that something is untrue Just like can't, you can use couldn't when you are sure that something isn't true or real. EXAMPLE  That couldn't be my cat meowing outside, it was hit by a car last week.  He couldn't have painted that. He has no artistic ability at all.