Topic 25

Topic 25         Modal Verbs

1.  Can  /  Could

‘Can’ is used to show ability, permission or  possibility now.

‘Could’ is used to show ability  permission or possibility in the past.

The negative form ‘can’t / couldn’t’ to express prohibition. 

       [ S]    can / could V

                can’t / couldn’t  V          

  

a)     My father can drive well.

        He can go home now.

        I can take part in sports this year.

        You can’t go out to play now.

        Dora can’t borrow the book now. 

b)     Tom could help us yesterday.

         Peter could visit his uncle last year.    

         Jack could attend my birthday last year.

         Francis couldn’t travel to Singapore last month.

         Hassan couldn’t ride a motorcycle last year.

*’Could’   is   also  used in the polite request .

       Could you pass me the salt bottle?

       Could you lend me your ruler for a while?

2.  May / Might

‘May / Might ’ is used to show permission or possibility now.

But ‘might’  shows less likely than ‘may’.

The negative form ‘mayn’t / mightn’t’ is to express prohibition.

           [ S ]      may      / might   V

                       mayn’t / mightn’t V

a)  May I borrow your eraser?

     Jean may pass up the work tomorrow.

     Tom may not come to school next Monday.

b)  He might leave for Hong Kong next Wednesday.

     She might call me up this afternoon.

     I might not go jungle-trekking with them.

    (A modal verb like ‘can / could / may / might’ is to be followed by a root

    verb.)                                                                                     (61)

Topic 25      Can /  Could                              

Exercise 106         

Fill in the blanks with ‘can’ or ‘could’

1.  Peter ____________ lift up the box.

2.  John ______________ go there yesterday.

3.  I _______________ cycle well.

4.  You and Aminah ________do the homework yesterday afternoon.

5.  Hui Hui and I _______________run very fast.

6.  Jack and his friends _____________ not come last Friday.

7.  Birds ____________ fly.

8.  Hassan _____________ go out last night.

9.  San San ____________ attend the dinner party last Sunday.

10. Ashiah ___________ visit us this Sunday.

11.  My grandmother ______________ not work in the garden yesterday.

12.  That little boy _____________ speak English well.

Exercise 109

Fill in the blanks with ‘may/ might’.

1.  Rita seldom comes here but she _________ come this time.  She has

     told me many times that she would like to come.

2.  It _________rain heavily.  There are so many dark clouds in the sky.

3.  She seldom lends others things.  She ________ lend you.

4.  Sheila _________ take part in sports this year.  She never likes sports.

5.  Peter ______ attend the party if you invite him.  He quite likes parties.

6.  Mrs Yong’s car is very old already.  She ________ buy a new car soon.

7.  Mr Wong’s motorcycle is quite new.  He _________ buy another if the

    price is low enough.

8.  My aunt ________ visit us this coming holidays.  She has not visited

    us for a long time. 

9.  Tom has a cold.  He ________ go to see a doctor.  He dislikes to take

     medicine.

10.  Elizabeth is always busy on Sunday.  She ________ go on a picnic.

       But she has not decided yet.