Modal Concept Example

Julie can
swim.
Ability:
Can I come
Can Permission:
with you? English Grammar and
('May' is
also used.)
Exercises for ESL learners.
Offers : English Modal Verbs
Can I help
you? Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary
verb which express the mood of
That story
another verb.
could be
They are used to express ideas such
true - who
as:
knows!
possibility, prediction, speculation,
deduction and necessity.
Charlie
could swim
Possibility: Modal verbs have the following
when he
characteristics:
was four
Past ability :
Coul years old.
1) They do not have participle or
d
Permission : infinitive forms
Could I use
2) They do not take the ending -(e)s
your phone
Requests : in the third-person singular.
please?
3) They do not have a past form: He
can/he canted. She must/she musted.
Could you
4) The negative is formed by the
tell me the
addition of not/nt: He cannot/ He
way to the
cant. NOT He dont can.
station
5) Questions are formed by inversion
please?
with the subject: Can you? NOT Do
The you can?
President
may come
to our
offices if the
Possibility :
meeting
May
finishes
Permission :
before 5 pm.

May I
borrow your
dictionary?
We might
win a prize
Slight possibility :
but I doubt
it.
Past form of
Might
'may'
The
in reported
President
speech.
said he
might come.
Dogs must
be kept on a
lead.
Must Obligation :