MODAL VERBS ( ABILITY AND POSSIBILITY)

MODAL VERBS

Modals of ability

MODALS OF POSSIBILITY

MANAGE

CAN/CAN´T

(present)

COULD/COULDN´T

(past)

We use can and can not to talk about someone´s skill or general abilities

We use can to talk about the ability to do something at a given time in the present or the future.

Example:

She can swim like a fish.

They can not sing very well, can they?

Generally we use can and can not in spoken english rather than be able to as it is shorter and less formal.

Example:

You can make a lot of money if you work hard.

We can not see anything.

This is not a modal verb but is used to talk about ability.

Example:

He managed to save money despite his small salary.

BE ABLE TO

(past, present and future)

We use "be able to" to talk about someone´s abilities, but is a form more formal.

We use be able to after modal verbs.

Examples:

I should be able to play tennis of the weekend.

I will be able to speak english.

I was not able to speak english.

We used could to talk about generally about a skill or ability in the past.

We use COULD+HAVE+PAST PARTICIPLE to say that someone had the ability/ opportunity to do something, but did not it.

Example:

She could swim like a fish

Example:

I could have danced all night.(But I did not)

MAY, MIGHT AND COULD:

They are all used to say something is possibility

EXAMPLES OF MAY:

It may be yummy, it may not be yummy.

it may be sunny, it may not be sunny.

*notice"may not" can not be contracted.

Usually may and might are interchangeable, however you can only use might in unreal situations.

Could changes meaning in the negative:

It could be true means that it is possible that is true

It could not be true means its NOT possible that is true and not that it is possible it´s not true

Example:

If I were in your position I might look for another job.

Modals can also be used in the continuous form: So you have:

May be+ ing.

Might be + ing.

Could be + ing.

Example:

I might be watching TV

I may be playing tennis

I could be sleeping

HOW DO I USE MODAL VERBS?

The most importantthing about modal verbs is to understand that their can change their meaning depending on the context in wich they are used.

1.- Modals do not change. They are the same for all pronouns.

5.- Modals have no past form

2.- Modals are followed by the infinitive without to.

4.- In questions the subject and the modal are inversed.

3.- Negative modals use not or n´t

Example:

I must go, you must go, he must go... (correct)

He musts go (incorrect)

Example:

It might rain

NOT It might to rain

Example:

He might not win (correct)

He don not might win (incorrect)

Example:

Could it rain?

NOT Do it could rain?

Example:

I must go (correct)

I musted go (incorrect)