modal verbs of possibility

Modal verbsofpossibility

can will shall may mustcould would should might -

It can rain a lotin Rome in November.

It can rain a lotin Rome in November.

sometimes it rains a lot

He can arrivevery late.

He can arrivevery late.

sometimes he arrives very late

compare:

It may rain this evening.

It may rain this evening.

it’s possible that it’ll rain

He may arrive late.

He may arrive late.

it’s possible that he’ll

arrive late

It can rain a lotin Rome in November.

It may rain this evening.

It can rain a lotin Rome in November.

It may rain this evening.

present repeated possibility

It can rain a lotin Rome in November.

It may rain this evening.

futureone-time possibility

N.B.

requests / permission

possibility

can Can I have… ? It can rain…

may May I have… ? It may rain…

requests / permission

possibility

can Can I have… ? It can rain…

may May I have… ? It may rain…

can = may can ≠ may

may / might / could

Itmay

mightcould

rain later.

Itmay

might could

not rain later.

Itmay

might could

not rain later.

don’t use ‘could’ in negatives

meaning ‘maybe not’

contrast with the indicative

It can rain a lotin Rome in November.

It rains a lotin India in July.

It can rain a lotin Rome in November.

It rains a lotin India in July.

sometimes

always

It can rain a lotin Rome in November.

It rains a lotin India in July.

It can rain a lotin Rome in November.

It’s raining a lotthis month.

It can rain a lotin Rome in November.

It’s raining a lotthis month.

sometimes

this time

It can rain a lotin Rome in November.

It’s raining a lotthis month.

I may play tenniswith John later.

I’m going to play tenniswith John later.

I may play tenniswith John later.

I’m going to play tenniswith John later.

it’s possible

it’s my intention

I may play tenniswith John later.

I’m going to play tenniswith John later.

We may watch the match this evening.

Perhaps / maybe we’ll watchthe match this evening.

it’s possible-modal-

it’s possible-adverb-

We may watch the match this evening.

Perhaps / maybe we’ll watchthe match this evening.

these sentences express ‘possibility’

convert them to modal sentences using

may and might

the meaning is always ‘possibility’

indicative etc modal may / might

It’s possible that he has a car. He may ...

He probably doesn’t understand. He …

Perhaps she wants to dance.

Maybe they are asleep.

Perhaps he can’t see us.

It’ll probably be a nice day.

It probably won’t be a nice day.

Perhaps it won’t happen.

Maybe she loves him.

Maybe they’re at home.

indicative etc modal may / might

It’s possible that he has a car. He may have a car.

He probably doesn’t understand. He might not understand.

Perhaps she wants to dance. She may want to dance.

Maybe they are asleep. They might be asleep.

Perhaps he can’t see us. He may not be able to see us.

It’ll probably be a nice day. It might be a nice day.

It probably won’t be a nice day. It may not be a nice day.

Perhaps it won’t happen. It might not happen.

Maybe she loves him. She may love him.

Maybe they’re at home. They may be at home.

introduce or remove ‘possibility’ in these sentences

convert indicatives to modal sentences and modals to

indicatives.

indicative etc modal may / might

I’m going to buy a phone. I might buy a new phone.

He needs … He might need some help.

She doesn’t want to study. She …

We might be able to pass the exam.

It isn’t going to rain.

She may be angry!

They are hungry.

I might have a pen you can borrow.

He certainly knows the answer.

She may like to go shopping.

indicative etc modal may / might

I’m going to buy a phone. I might buy a new phone.

He needs some help. He might need some help.

She doesn’t want to study. She may not want to study.

We are able to pass the exam. We might be able to pass the exam.

It isn’t going to rain. It might not rain.

She will be angry! She may be angry!

They are hungry. They may be hungry.

I have a pen you can borrow. I might have a pen you can borrow.

He certainly knows the answer. He might know the answer.

She wants to go shopping. She may like to go shopping.

module 6, part 22

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