12. MODAL VERBs
• Are called auxiliary or helping
verbs.
• Are special verbs that behave
differently from normal verbs.
• Give additional information
about how the main verb
functions in the sentence.
21. • Used to ask for and give
permission.
• The least formal modal
used to ask permission.
• Also used to say that
someone is allowed to
do something.
CAN
22. Can I help you with those
books?
Example:
The sentence is in the form
of a YES-NO Question.
The speaker is ASKING
PERMISSION.
24. Can you pass me the
pepper?
Examples:
Dogs can play around the
park.
Can I bring my cousin
with me?
25. • used as a more polite and
more formal modal in
asking permission (which
may not be given).
• Less formal than may but
more formal than can.
• This cannot be used to
give permission.
could
26. Could I borrow your book?
Example:
The speaker politely asks
somebody to lend him a
book.
27. Could you help me to fix my
car?
Examples:
I could try to ask my brother
to fix this for us.
28. • Expresses a statement
saying that somebody is
allowed to do something
in the past but not in the
present.
could
29. I remember, we could go
out and play as long as we
want to because the sun
wasn’t that hot back then.
Example:
30. • the most polite and formal
modal used in asking and
giving permission.
may
31. May I go out, Ma’am?
Example:
May I please go out, Ma’am?
The speaker is politely
asking permission to the
teacher.
38. You want to ask your
mom whether she will
allow you to go out with
your friend, Jill, so you
ask her:
Mom, _____ I go out with
Jill to the school play?
can
39. You called your brother’s
office, but you got
directed to his secretary,
so you ask her:
Hello, _____ I speak to Mr.
Santiago, please?
may
40. You are excited to draw and
so you broke the tip of your
pencil, but you forgot to
bring a sharpener. You will
now ask your seatmate to
lend you with an extra
pencil. What will you say?
_______ you lend me an
extra pencil please?
Could
41. You are in a restaurant,
and you want to ask the
waiter for a glass of
water. What should you
say?
Waiter, _____ I trouble
you for a glass of water
please?
may
might
42. After hours of working
with your assignment,
your friend asks you if he
can go home early. What
should you say?
Sure, you _____ go now.
I’ve got it covered.
can
43. 1. “Mom, can I go out with Jill to the school
play?”
2. “Yes! You can go with Jill.”
3. “Hello, may I Speak with Mr. Santiago, please?”
4. “Could you lend me an extra pencil please? I
accidentally broke mine a while ago.”
5. “Excuse me! Waiter, may I trouble you for a
glass of water please?”
6. “Excuse me! Waiter, might I trouble you for a
glass of water please?”
7. “Sure, you can go now. I’ve got it covered!”
This is what we are going to talk about today.
Expressing permission using modals.
They are not like normal verbs like work, talk, eat, run, speak, and sleep.
There are many modals in the English language. But we’ll focus only to few of them.
Check out the following examples…
This is what we are going to talk about today.
Expressing permission using modals.
What is the main verb in the sentence?
This is what the students can do.
What is the modal used in the sentence?
It is used to tell that somebody gave the students permission to do the verb.
Meaning the students are allowed to do so
Notice the place of the modals and the main verbs…
Often, but not all the time.
They are not like normal verbs.
For example… can cannot be cans.
You cans pet my dog.
You can petting my dog.
He tries to ask nicely since they do not know each other that well yet.
He tries to ask nicely since they do not know each other that well yet.
The statement is formal as if it came from the Presidential Spokesperson.
We should always talk politely when we talk to people who are older than us.
Remember: Age is not the only thing to consider we should also show respect to anyone in a formal setting.
“Respect is one of the greatest expressions of love.”
There is another special modal that can be used to ask permission in a very formal way. That is the modal might.
Educated and polite people used it to express respect and politeness because being respectful never gets old.
Educated and polite people used it to express respect and politeness because being respectful never gets old.
Since we are familiar with mom, it is less formal.
You are talking to somebody you are not familiar with.
You are trying to ask your seatmate, however, you are not yet that close to each other
You are trying to ask nicely in a place where people should be polite and respectful.
You are trying to ask your seatmate, however, you are not yet that close to each other
