Modals of possibility

Modals of possibility

• 1.
  MODALS possibility
• 2.
  Can • I canride a horse. ability • We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris. opportunity • She cannot stay out after 10 PM. permission • Can you hand me the stapler? request • Any child can grow up to be president. possibility
• 3.
  • Anyone canbecome rich and famous if they know the right people. Learning a language can be a real challenge. • a generalization or a supposition.
• 4.
  • It can'tcost more than a dollar or two. You can't be 45! I thought you were about 18 years old.
• 5.
  Could • Extreme raincould cause the river to flood the city. possibility • Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. past ability • You could see a movie or go out to dinner. suggestion • Could I use your computer to email my boss? request • We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. conditional
• 6.
  possibility • 1. Johncould be the one who stole the money. • 2. John could have been the one who stole the money. • 3. John could go to jail for stealing the money. • 1. Mary couldn't be the one who stole the money. • 2. Mary couldn't have been the one who stole the money. • 3. Mary couldn't possibly go to jail for the crime. • You can also use might, may
• 7.
  "Could not" vs."Might not" • Jack might not have the key. Maybe he does not have the key. • Jack could not have the key. It is impossible that he has the key.
• 8.
  Must • This mustbe the right address! certainty • Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. necessity • You must take some medicine for that cough. strong recommendation • Jenny, you must not play in the street! prohibition
• 9.
  certainty • That mustbe Jerry. They said he was tall with bright red hair. • That must have been the right restaurant. There are no other restaurants on this street. • You can also use “have to”
• 10.
  prohibition • You mustnot swim in that river. It's full of crocodiles. • You must not forget to take your malaria medication while your are in the tropics. • Prohibition usually refers to the near future.
• 11.
  strong recommendation • (Americans preferthe form "should.") • You must take some time off and get some rest. • You should take some time off next week to get some rest. • You mustn't drink so much. It's not good for your health. • You shouldn't have drunk so much. That caused the accident. • You shouldn't drink at the party. You are going to be the designated driver.
• 12.
  necessity • (Americans preferthe form "have to.") • You must have a permit to enter the national park. • We had to have a permit to enter the park. • We must get a permit to enter the park next week. • We don't have to get a permit to enter the national park. • We didn't have to get a permit to enter the national park. • We won't have to get a permit to enter the national park.
• 13.
  "Must not" vs."Do not have to" • You must not eat that. It is forbidden, it is not allowed. • You don't have to eat that. You can if you want to, but it is not necessary.
• 14.
  May • Cheryl maybe at home, or perhaps at work. possibility • Johnny, you may leave the table when you have finished your dinner. give permission • May I use your bathroom? request permission
• 15.
  possibility • Jack maybe upset. I can't really tell if he is annoyed or tired. • Jack may have been upset. I couldn't really tell if he was annoyed or tired. • Jack may get upset if you don't tell him the truth. • Jack may not be upset. Perhaps he is tired. • Jack may not have been upset. Perhaps he was tired. • Jack may not get upset, even if you tell him the truth
• 16.
  might • Your pursemight be in the living room. possibility • If I didn't have to work, I might go with you. conditional • You might visit the botanical gardens during your visit. suggestion • Might I borrow your pen? request
• 17.
  possibility • She mightbe on the bus. I think her car is having problems. • She might have taken the bus. I'm not sure how she got to work. • She might take the bus to get home. I don't think Bill will be able to give her a ride. • She might not be on the bus. She might be walking home. • She might not have taken the bus. She might have walked home. • She might not take the bus. She might get a ride from Bill.