English Modal Verbs - May, Might, Could, Can - Talking About Possibilities

This video tutorial explains how to use English modal verbs may, might, can, and could to express possibilities in the present, future, and past. It covers specific and general possibilities, including how to form negatives and the differences in usage. The tutorial also provides examples and practice exercises to reinforce learning.

Which modal verbs can be used to express possibilities in English?

• Have, has, had, and do

• Is, are, was, and were

• May, might, can, and could

• Will, shall, must, and should

What is the difference between 'may be' and 'maybe'?

• 'May be' is an adjective, 'maybe' is a noun

• 'May be' is a modal verb plus 'be', 'maybe' is an adverb

• 'May be' is a noun, 'maybe' is a verb

• 'May be' is an adverb, 'maybe' is a verb

Which modal verb cannot be used to express negative possibilities?

• May

• Could

• Might

• Can

Which modal verbs can be used to express specific possibilities in the present or future?

• Shall and will

• May, might, or could

• Can and will

• Should and must

Which modal verb is used to express general possibilities?

• Could

• Can

• Might

• May

What is a specific possibility?

• A possibility that applies to one person, place, or time

• A possibility that applies to many people

• A possibility that is always true

• A possibility that never happens

What does 'can' express when talking about possibilities?

• Past possibilities

• General possibilities

• Specific possibilities

• Future possibilities

How do you express a possibility in the past?

• Use 'should' plus have plus a past participle

• Use 'can' plus a past participle

• Use 'might', 'may', or 'could' plus have plus a past participle

• Use 'will' plus a past participle

Which modal verbs can be used to express negative possibilities in the past?

• Can and could

• May and might

• Must and should

• Will and shall

In which case can 'could' be used to talk about past possibilities?

• In neither case

• When you know what happened

• When you don't know what happened

• In both cases