Uses of can, could, may & might

Uses of can, could, may & might

Unit 9 "Screen grab"

Uses of "Can"

Ability

• Tom Morello can play the guitar so well.

• Mum can cook Chinese food.

• My students can write excellent essays.

Theoretical possibility

• Lamborghini Diablo can reach up to 250 m/h.

• Microwaves can even heat roasted chicken.

• Higgs' Boson can explain the origins of the Universe.

100% certainty something is true or not

• 9 people can't fit in a bocho. It's very tiny.

• Chabelo can't be dead. He's still appearing on TV.

• My students can pass their exams. They're so capable of!

Uses of "May", "Might" & "Could"

Speculation: 50% possible something is true or not.

• Ramiro may be the CEO of an important company in the future.

• All political parties could be honest, but they prefer incomes.

• We might come back to in-person lessons, but it depends on the circumstances.

Past possibility

• The guys could have got higher grades, but they decided not to study.

• We may have gone on vacations but the pandemic didn't allow us.

• I might have been accepted, but I didn't send my application form.

Strong possibility

• You may well learn a language if you practise every day.

• People might well be healthy if they have balanced diets.

• People could well feel happier if they do what they love.

Multiple Choice

Which one has a stronger possibility?

• We may well have better grades if we pay attention to the lessons.

• We may have good grades if we study hard.

• We could have what we want if we fight for it.

Past possibilities that never happened

• We could have been a couple, but I was so shy.

• Ricardo Anaya might have been a good President, but he didn't win the elections.

• Germany may have won the war, but they were defeated so badly.

Multiple Choice

Example of past possibility

• You could win the match!

• Danna may have had better grades this period.

• Colosio might have been an honest President.

Multiple Choice

Example of 100% certainty

• Michael Jackson can't be alive. He died years ago.

• Carlos Santana can play the guitar perfectly.

• Danny may have failed her driving test.

Multiple Choice

Example of past possibility that never happened.

• Light can travel at 300,000 km/s.

• JFK could have been an excellent president.

• I may not pass my test, but I trust myself.

Multiple Choice

What sentence expresses theoretical possibility?

• One of my students can play the drums.

• Temperatures in summer can reach up to 40 degrees.

• Leo might win the elections this year.

Multiple Choice

What sentence sounds like a speculation?

• Gina, a 6 year-old girl, can speak three languages.

• I could have won the lottery, but I didn't hit 2 numbers.

• Viry may be a demanding principal in the future.