This document discusses the differences between modal verbs like can, could, may, and might. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used, including their use in questions, negatives, and different tenses. The key differences are that can and may express present possibility while could and might express past or uncertain possibility. It also notes that may should be avoided in third conditional sentences.

1. Can – Could – May – Might

2. All modal verbs have the following features in common :
 They are always followed by the “Infinitive without to”.
 They are the same for all pronouns.
 They do not need auxiliaries. They take direct negative
and question forms .
 They never combine whit another verbal modes.

3. I can to sing I can sing
She could running fast She could run fast

4. She cans swim She can swim
It might rains It might rain

5. Do you can do this ? Can you do this?
He doesn´t may like it He may not like it

6. She will can come tomorrow.
She can come tomorrow.
She will be able to come tomorrow .

7. I can see you at 3 p.m. tomorrow. Can you mange that?
They cannot (can´t) dance

8. You can use my office.
You cannot (can´t) smoke here.

9. I could read without glasses last year.
I could not (couldn´t) last night.

10. Could repeat that please?
Could we have a break please?

11. What do you suggest we have for dinner?
We could have fish.

12. May I use your pen?
May we have a look?.

13. It May happen again
She May not accept the offer

14. It Might happen again. (It cold happen again)
she Might not accept the offer.

15. He Might have missed his train.
(He could have missed his train)
I Might not have managed to convince her.

16. Note:
“May “ can also be used to show a possibility in the past,
but is less common than might and could.
He Might/could/(may) have missed his train.

17. Note:
However, you must avoid using “May “ in a third
conditional sentence:
If a have studied more, I might /could/would/may have
passed my test.

18. In very informal context, we tend to use “can” instead of the appropriate
modal verb. Although this is acceptable, it is always best to use the
correct modal verb in a formal situations and in exams.
 Request: Can you open the door? Could you open the door?
 Asking for permission: Can I use the phone? May I use the phone?
 Suggestion: We can meet next week we could meet next week.
 Possibility: It can happen again It May/might/could happen again.

19. …you speak German?
Yes, I …. I… speak it fluently when we lived in
Germany.
Why do you ask?
I need this letter translated into German, do you think
you… do it?
Let me see , Yes, I … be able to. It … take a little time,
though. And of course, I … need a dictionary too.
… I borrow yours?to

20. Can you speak German?
Yes, I can. I could speak it fluently when we lived in
Germany.
Why do you ask?
I need this letter translated into German, do you think
you Can do it?
Let me see , Yes, I might be able to. It could take a
little time, though. And of course, I may need a
dictionary too. May I borrow yours?

21. Of course, Oh Wait, my sister … have taken it.
Let me go and have a look. No, it is here, you …
borrow it
Oh Yes, your sister is a German teacher, you … have a
Asked her.
She is on holiday at the moment, and this … wait. I
need it for tomorrow.
I … not be able to do it for tomorrow, but I … do it for
Wednesday.

22. Of course, Oh Wait, my sister Might have taken it.
Let me go and have a look. No, it is here, you can
borrow it
Oh Yes, your sister is a German teacher, you could
have asked her.
She is on holiday at the moment, and this can´t wait. I
need it for tomorrow.
I might not be able to do it for tomorrow, but I can do
it for Wednesday.

23. Wonderful. … you e-mail it to me when you have a
finished?
Shure.

24. Wonderful. Could you e-mail it to me when you have a
finished?
Shure.