Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs

ability, permission, possibility, offer, invitation or request

Ability

Can / Could

My father can speak Italian.

I can't ride a bike.

John could read and write before he was four.

Anna couldn't swim when she was a child.

Asking for permission

• We use can to ask for permission to do something in informal contexts:

• - Can I open the window, please?

  -Yes, you can! go ahead!

• -Mom, can we go to McDonald's this weekend?

  -No, we can't we are going to your uncle's house

Could is a more formal and polite way to ask for permission

• Excuse me, could I close the window?

• Could you tell me what time is it?

may is the most formal and polite way of asking for permission:

-May I borrow your pen?

-Yes, you may. Here it is!

Possibility

Might / May: can be used interchangeably to talk about possibility. May is often more possible than might.

It might rain later today, so I’m going to take my umbrella.

- Oh, no! My car won’t start. What’s wrong with it?

- It may be out of gas.

Can / Could are also used to talk about possibility

I can help you if you want me to.

It can't be snowing! It's March!

- Where did Rob and Kim go on holiday?

- They could have flown to Poland.

Can / Could are used to make a request (informal), too

Can you help me prepare lunch today?

Could you repeat, please?

Would

• To make an offer

• To make an invitation

• To talk about the future

Complete the sentences with the correct modal verb (affirmative or negative)