MODALS

MIGHT, MAY, CAN, COULD, SHOULD Lic. Jos Carlos Yoctun

MIGHT
Might + base form I might = it is possible that I will I might go to the movies tonight. (= it is possible that I will go) A: When is Valeria going to call you? B: I dont know. She might call this afternoon. Take an umbrella with you. It might rain.

Study the difference:

Im playing football tomorrow. (sure) I might play football tomorrow. (possible) Karina is going to call later. (sure) Karina might call later. (possible)

The negative is might not.

I might not go to work tomorrow. (= it is possible that I will not go) Heidy might not come to the party. (= it is possible that she will not come)

MAY
You can use may in the same way. I may = I might I may go to the lab this afternoon. (= I might go) Christian may not come to the party (= Christian might not come)

May I ? = Is it ok to ? / Can I ?
May I ask a question? (= Can I ask?) May I sit here? Sure

MAY HAVE (DONE) or MIGHT HAVE (DONE)

A: I wonder why Katherine didnt answer her phone. B: She may have been asleep. A: I cant find my phone anywhere. B: You might have left it at work.

A: Why wasnt Claudia at the meeting yesterday? B: She might not have known about it.

A: I wonder why Johnny was in such a bad mood yesterday. B: He may not have been feeling well.

I can do something = I know how to do it or it is possible for me to do it. I can play the guitar. My brother can play the guitar too. Christian can speak English, but he cant speak French. Can you swim? Yes, but Im not a very good swimmer. Im having a party next week, but Miguel and Heidy cant come.

CAN and COULD

For the past (yesterday / last week, etc.), we use could / couldnt. When I was young, I could run very fast. Before Giuliana came to Canada, she couldnt understand much English. Now she can understand everything. I was tired last night, but I couldnt sleep. I had a party last week, but Josselyn and Richard couldnt come.

Can you? Could you? Can I? Could I?

We use Can you? or Could you? When we ask people to do things. Can you open the door, please? or Could you open the door, please? Can you tell me the time, please? or Could you tell?

We use Can I have? or Could I have? To ask for something? (in a store) Can I have change for a dollar, please? or Could I have? Can I? or Could I? = is it OK to do something? Gustavo, can I borrow your pen? or Gustavo, could I borrow your pen? (on the phone) Hello, can I speak to Celina, please? or could I speak?

COULD HAVE (DONE)

I am so tired, I could sleep for a week. I was so tired, I could have slept for a week.

The situation is bad, but it could be worse. The situation was bad, but it could have been worse.

SHOULD
You should do something = it is a good thing to do or the right thing to do. You look tired. You should go to bed. The government should do more to improve education

SHOULD HAVE (DONE)

You missed a great party last night. You should have come. Im feeling sick. I shouldnt have eaten so much. She shouldnt have been listening to our conversation.

MUST
We use must when we believe that something is true. You worked ten hours today. You must be tired. My brother has worked at your company for years. You must know him. (on the telephone) This isn the Smiths? Im sorry. I must have the wrong number.

We use must not when we believe that something is not true. The phone rang eight times and Raul didint answer. He must not be at home. Lucero takes the bus everywhere. She must not have a car.

Must also has another meaning. You must do something = it is necessary to do it. You must be careful with this knife. Its very sharp. Workers must wear safety glasses at this machine. In the U. S., you must be 18 to vote.

For the past (yesterday, last week, etc.), we use had to (not must) They were in a dangerous situation. They had to be very careful. We had to wear safety glasses when we visited the factory last week.

You must not do something = it is necessary not to do it, it is the wrong thing to do. Bicyclists must not ride on the sidewalk. (they must ride in the street) You must not use your cellphone in the classroom.