Mastering the Use of 'Can' and 'May' in English

The video tutorial explains the use of the words 'can', 'cannot', and 'may' as helping verbs. 'Can' is used to express ability, while 'cannot' indicates inability. 'May' is used to ask for permission or to suggest possibility. Examples are provided to illustrate each usage.

What does the modal verb 'can' indicate?

• Ability to perform an action

• Request for permission

• Suggestion of possibility

• Impossibility of an action

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1C

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

How is 'cannot' correctly used?

• To make a polite request

• To express inability

• To suggest something is likely

• To ask for permission

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1C

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

What role do 'can' and 'cannot' play in a sentence?

• Adjectives

• Nouns

• Helping verbs

• Main verbs

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1E

CCSS.L.1.4C

CCSS.L.2.6

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.4.1B

How do we use 'may' when asking for something?

• In a polite request

• To deny permission

• To make a demand

• To express certainty

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1C

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

What does 'may' suggest about the likelihood of an event?

• It is unlikely

• It is certain

• It is possible

• It is impossible

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1C

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

In what context is 'may' considered a helping verb?

• When it is used to ask for permission or suggest possibility

• When it is used to express ability

• When it is the main verb of a sentence

• When it is used to make a statement of fact

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1E

CCSS.L.1.4C

CCSS.L.2.6

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.4.1B