This document discusses modal verbs used to express possibility or permission. It covers the simple modal verbs "may", "could", and "might" and their uses to indicate possibility in the present or past, or to ask for permission. Examples are provided to illustrate uses of each modal verb. The document also contains practice questions to choose the correct modal verb for given sentence contexts.

1. Modal Verbs
May – Might – Could
to express possibility

2. Section 1
Simple Modal
Verbs
“May”

3. 1. to express possibility
2. to ask or to give a permission (formal)
3. to make requests

4. EXAMPLES:
He may come late today.
You may use my Computer now.
May I make a phone call?

5.  Today is cloudy, it ________________ rain.
Choose the best answer
MayDoes

6. “Could” “Might”
Section 2
Past forms of
Modal Verbs and
their functions

7. 1. to express general ability in the past, because
it is the past form of the “Can”
2. to express possible future actions similar to
“May and Might” in meaning
3. to make a request or ask something
4. to express unreal or impossible actions

8. EXAMPLES:
We tried hard but we could not
persuade them to come with us.
My grandfather could not swim.
Could you tell me what time it is?
I don’t know how she works 14
hours a day in front of the computer,
I could not do this.

9. 1. to give or ask permission, or possibility in the
past, because it is the past form of “May”
2. to express future or present possibility and
probability
3. Interchangeably with “May” quite often with no
difference in meaning.

10. EXAMPLES:
He might be having lunch now.
It might rain tomorrow.
There may/might not be a meeting
tonight, because the director is ill.
I may/might go to Italy this summer.

11.  Your brother was ill, therefore he _____
go out for a walk.
Choose the correct modal verb
Can’t Mustn’t Couldn’t

12.  If he were here, he ____ help you.
Choose the correct modal verb
May Could

13.  This house ____ look better if they
painted it and cut the grass and planted
flowers.
Choose the correct modal verb
May Would

14.  He said that I ____ play any CD from his
collection while he was gone.
Choose the correct modal verb
May Might

15.  Don’t call me at 8:30. I ____ be watching
the football match on television.
Choose the correct modal verb
CanMight