اللغة الإنجليزية — Modal Verbs: can, could, may, might — الثانية متوسط — المنهاج الجزائري

Modal Verbs: can, could, may, might

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that express ability, permission, possibility, and obligation.

Can / Could

• Can: present ability, permission, possibility. I can swim. Can I go out?
• Could: past ability, polite request. I could swim when I was 5. Could you help me?

May / Might

• May: formal permission, possibility (50%). May I come in? It may rain.
• Might: less certain possibility (30%). It might rain later.

Grammar Rules

• Modal verbs are followed by base verb (no to): I can swim. NOT: I can to swim.
• No -s in 3rd person singular: He can swim. NOT: He cans swim.
• Questions: Modal + subject + verb? Can you help me?
• Negatives: Subject + modal + not: I cannot (can’t) swim.

Exercises

Complete with can, could, may, or might.

1. I ________ speak two languages: Arabic and French.
2. ________ you open the door, please?
3. Take an umbrella. It ________ rain later.
4. He ________ run very fast when he was young.
5. ________ I use your phone, please?

See also: Object Pronouns