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Modals of Ability, Posibility and Permission

The document discusses five modal verbs - can, could, be able to, may, and might - that are used to express ability, permission, and possibility in English. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used in the present, past, and with negation. Key uses include: can, could, be able to for ability; may, might, could for possibility; and may, could, can for permission. The document emphasizes that the verb following a modal must be in its base form, and provides practice questions for readers to test their understanding.

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427 views

Modals of Ability, Posibility and Permission

The document discusses five modal verbs - can, could, be able to, may, and might - that are used to express ability, permission, and possibility in English. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used in the present, past, and with negation. Key uses include: can, could, be able to for ability; may, might, could for possibility; and may, could, can for permission. The document emphasizes that the verb following a modal must be in its base form, and provides practice questions for readers to test their understanding.

Uploaded by

sabam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Modals of Ability: Can, Could, Be able to, May,

Might
Introduction

These five verbs are examples of modal verbs.

 can

 could

 be able to

 may

 might

Modal verbs are helping/auxiliary verbs that express ideas like ability, permission, possibility,


and necessity. Many modal verbs have more than one meaning. They are always followed by the
simple form of a verb. For example,

Alan can swim well.

This shows that Alan has the ability to swim.

1. Modals for Ability

Let’s start with expressing ability! We use can, be able to and could to show that someone has (or
doesn’t have) an ability to do something.

Look at these examples:

Present/Future Negative Past Ability Negative


Ability

Alan can swim Jackie cannot play piano. Paul could speak Chinese Mary couldn’t finish her
well. when he was a child. homework last night.

I can meet you We can’t visit Vancouver Last night, there were no You couldn’t find the
after school. this weekend. clouds in the sky and they website this morning,
could see all the stars. could you?

I am able to I am not able to speak When I was a young child, I I wasn’t able to finish my
speak two Arabic. wasn’t able to tie my test yesterday.
languages. shoes.

Brenda is able to Stacey isn’t able to finish a Shaun was able to Paula wasn’t able to pass
run quickly. marathon. complete the assignment. the class.

You are able to We aren’t able to make a They were able to catch six You weren’t able to
program a reservation tonight. fish on their trip. understand the answer,
Present/Future Negative Past Ability Negative
Ability

computer. were you?

Did you notice that the verbs after “can/could/be able to” are always in the simple form? V1 For
example:

Alan can swim well.    (subject + auxiliary verb + simple verb + ...)

Do NOT change the modal auxiliary OR the main verb for he/she/it subjects. In addition, do not add
“ing” or “ed”.

Alan can swims well.   Wrong! Alan can swim well

Alan can to swim well.   Wrong! Alan can swim well

Alan can swimming well.   Wrong! Alan can swim well

Alan could swam well.   Wrong! Alan COULD SWIM WELL

How can we make questions about ability? It’s easy!

Modal auxiliary + subject + main verb + ... ?

Can she play guitar? Yes, she can. No, she can’t


Could you speak English when you were a child? Yes, I could

BE + subject + able to + main verb + ... ?

Are you able to understand the homework? Yes, I am able to understand. Yes, I am.


Were you able to finish the test? No, I wasn’t able to finish the test. No, I wasn’t
Was he able to pass the exam? Yes, he was able to pass the exam. Yes, he was.

Notice that we do not need the verbs “do/does/did” when we make questions!
The modal verb “be able to” includes the word “to”; the “to” is not an infinitive.

2. Modals for Possibility

Let’s learn about expressing possibility now.

The verbs may, might and could show possibility now and in the future. In this case, they have the
same meaning.

Look at this conversation:

A: My mother said that it may snow tomorrow.

B: Really? It might snow?! That’s great! I could make a snowman or go for a “snow” walk.

A: Don’t get too excited. If the temperature is high, it may not snow. It may rain.

B: Well, I guess I could still go for a walk in the rain.

Be careful with may + “be” and “maybe”. Compare these sentences. Both are correct.


Ann is not here today. She may be sick.   “may be” is a modal.
Ann is not here today. Maybe she is sick.   “Maybe” is an adverb.

3. Modals for Permission

Finally, let’s look at ways to ask for and give permission. We use may, could and can to do this.

Formality Example

most formal/polite May I go to the washroom?


*only used with “I” and “we”

medium formal Could I borrow your dictionary?


Could he pay you tomorrow?

casual Can I call you back later?


Can she have a cookie?

Now, look at the (main) verbs that come after the subject. They are always in the simple form, just
as with other modal verbs.

Again, the most polite/formal way to answer these questions is with “may.”

Examples:

May I go to the Yes, you may (go to the washroom). No, you may not.
washroom? Yes, you can. No, you cannot.

Can she have a cookie? Yes, she can. No, she can’t.

Notice that we do not “contract” may + not = mayn’t.   Wrong!


Can’t and couldn’t are common contractions, however.
LET’S PRACTISE!

1. ____________ you play the piano when you were a child?

A.   May

B.   Could

C.   Can

2. Peter ____________ swim when he was a child, but now he


____________. In fact, he swims every day!

A.   couldn't / can

B.   could / can't

C.   couldn't / can't

3. My cat ____________ jump, but it ____________ talk.

A.   can't / can

B.   can / can't

4. The family can't decide where to go on vacation. They ____________ go


to Los Angeles or they ____________ go to Hawaii.

A.   may / are able to

B.   might / may

C.   could / couldn't

5. I'm going to bring an umbrella today because it ____________ rain.

A.   can

B.   is able to

C.   might

6. When Vera was young, she ____________ type quickly. She took a typing
class and now she ____________ type very quickly!

A.   could not / can to

B.   could not / can

C.   can / could
7. Sara ____________ Italian food and she ____________ French food too!

A.   can cook / is able to cook

B.   can cooks / can cooks

C.   can cooking / can cooking

8. The little girl asked, "Mommy, ____________ I have a cookie?" The


mother said, "Yes, you ____________."

A.   can / can

B.   may / might

C.   can / are able to

9. ____________ dogs fly? No, of course not!

A.   May

B.   Do can

C.   Can

10. She ____________ understand Korean very well, but she ____________
speak it perfectly.

A.   is able to / is able to

B.   be able to / cannot

C.   is able to / cannot

11. Kevin was disappointed because he ____________ get tickets for the
football game.

A.   weren't able to

B.   wasn't able to

12. George is absent from class today. He ____________ be sick.

A.   can
B.   is able to

C.   could

13. ____________ I borrow your dictionary?

A.   Might

B.   Am I able to

C.   May

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