1. MODALS TO EXPRESS FUTURE POSSIBILITY
AND CONCLUSIONS
Mgs. Paúl González T.

2. FUTURE POSSIBILITY: MAY, MIGHT, COULD
• Use may not and might not to express the
possibility that something will not happen.
He has good intentions, but he might not
solve the problems.
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3. • Use couldn’t to express the idea that
something is impossible.
A: Why don’t you cut class tomorrow?
B: I couldn’t do that. I have to give a
presentation .
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4. • Questions about possibility usually do not
use may, might, or could. Instead, they use
the future (will, be going to, the present
progressive) or phrases such as Do you
think…? or Is it possible that…?
A:Do you think it will rain tomorrow too?
B: It could stop tonight.
The answers to these questions often use
may, might or could.
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5. CONCLUSIONS: MUST, HAVE (GOT) TO,
MAY, MIGHT, COULD, CAN’T
• When we are almost 100% certain, we use
must, have to, or have got to to state
affirmative conclusions.
FACT CONCLUSION
Wilson has only one His shop must be quite
clerk. small
Wilson applied for a job. He has to need money.
They pay men for It’s got to be a joke.
debating with the
president.
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6. • When we are less certain about our
conclusion, we use may, might, or could to
express that something is possible.
FACT CONCLUSION
His hand is swollen. He may write a lot.
Watson knows a lot He might be a doctor.
about medicine.
Vincent knows a lot He could be a
about cameras. photographer.
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7. • To express negative conclusions:
• Use can’t and couldn’t when you are almost
100 percent certain that something is
impossible.
He can’t be dead! I just saw him!
• Use must not when you are slightly less
certain.
He must not have enough money. He never
buys new clothes.
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8. • Use may not and might not when you are
even less certain.
He may not know about the plan. His boss
doesn’t tell him everything.
• Do not use have to and have got to to draw
negative conclusions.
CORRECT: It can’t be true!
INCORRECT: It doesn’t have to be true!
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9. GRACIAS
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