Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 17 views

    Page 17, C-Grammar: May, Might, and Be Able To

    Uploaded by

    Bethany Shaw
    Modal verbs like may, might, must, be able to express possibility, necessity and ability. [1] May and might are used to express possibility and have the same meaning. [2] Must is used to express something that is almost certainly true. [3] Be able to has the same meaning as can and expresses ability or possibility.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Page 17, C-Grammar: May, Might, and Be Able To

    Uploaded by

    Bethany Shaw
    17 views9 pages
    Modal verbs like may, might, must, be able to express possibility, necessity and ability. [1] May and might are used to express possibility and have the same meaning. [2] Must is used to express something that is almost certainly true. [3] Be able to has the same meaning as can and expresses ability or possibility.

    Original Title

    Modals P17

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Modal verbs like may, might, must, be able to express possibility, necessity and ability. [1] May and might are used to express possibility and have the same meaning. [2] Must is used to express something that is almost certainly true. [3] Be able to has the same meaning as can and expresses ability or possibility.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    17 views9 pages

    Page 17, C-Grammar: May, Might, and Be Able To

    Uploaded by

    Bethany Shaw
    Modal verbs like may, might, must, be able to express possibility, necessity and ability. [1] May and might are used to express possibility and have the same meaning. [2] Must is used to express something that is almost certainly true. [3] Be able to has the same meaning as can and expresses ability or possibility.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 9

    Page 17, C- Grammar

    May, might, and be able to


    What is a modal verb?
    • Modal verbs, also called modal auxiliaries or
    simply modals, are a type of auxiliary verb or
    helping verb.
    • Modals express the mood of a verb, such as:
    ability, possibility, necessity, or another condition.
    • They are used with a main verb to form a
    sentence or a question.
    • Modals are not conjugated, have no tense, and
    cannot be used without a main verb.
    May or might for possibility
    Use may or might and the base form to express possibility. They have the same meaning.
    Modal verb (may or might) + verb

    – The dentist may (or might) have some time to see you.
    – Barbara might (may) not need a new filling.

    • Kevin may/might come tomorrow


    • Maybe Kevin will come tomorrow.
    – These two sentences mean the same thing, we’re not sure if Kevin is coming tomorrow.

     modal verb (may or might) + not + verb

    • The negatives are may not/might not


    • NOT comes between (modal) may/might and the verb
    Let’s give it a try:
    • Try creating your own sentences with this
    information

    – Saturday morning, go shopping


    – Sunday afternoon, go to the movies
    Must for conclusions
    Use must and the base form of a verb when something is almost certainly true.

    Modal verb (Must) + verb

    – John just broke a tooth. That must hurt.


    – The dentist told me to come next week. It must not be an emergency.

    • Sarah didn’t come to work. She must be sick.


    • Sarah came to work. She must not be sick.

    ****Use must when you are almost 100% sure.****

    Must + not + verb


    • The negative is MUST NOT
    – She must not well.
    Let’s give it a try:
    A. I didn’t have breakfast.
    B. You must be hungry.

    C. I had a big lunch.


    D. You must not be hungry.

    E. I worked very late yesterday.


    F. You …

    G. I have a fever and a headache


    H. You…

    I. I just broke a tooth.


    J. That... OR You…
    Be able to for ability or possibility
    • Be able to has the same meaning as can.
    She’ll be able to see you tomorrow. = She can see you tomorrow.
    – Be able to and can have the same meaning.
    – However, you cannot use can with will!!
    Can + will= wrong!!
    Note: You can use be able to or have to
    with may, might, or must.
    Dr. Sharp may be able to help you.
    I might not be able to get there till 6:00
    You might have to get a new crown.
    She must not have to go to work today.

    •Brad might be able to be at the office by 8:00.


    •Sue might have to be at the office by 8:00.
     
    There is a difference between “be able to” and “have to”:
    •Be able to expresses ability, it’s possible that Brad can arrive at the office by
    8:00, but no one is demanding it.

    •Have to means that something is necessary. Sue’s boss wants her at the
    office by 8:00.
    Let’s give it a try:
    • What will you be able to do later on today?
    – I will be able to go on Facebook.

    • What will you have to do later on today?


    – I have to cook dinner.

    You might also like