Write in the appropriate modal form, then press check to check your answers. Can, could, be able to ability and possibility test. Can, could, be able to ability and possibility test english. Modal verbs of probability exercise pdf autoenglish.
I dont know that the proposition is false and put it forward as a possibility. Ability we use cancould to describe ability, and we use cantcouldnt to describe absence of ability she could play the piano very well children cant concentrate for long periods of time i can speak chinese possibility we also use can to talk about possibility. In english, there are three main modals of possibility. This english modal verbs lesson will help you learn how to use may, might, could, and can correctly. English esl may or might worksheets most downloaded 49. Ability and possibility can could be able to by barbarai there is an explanation of the use of can, could and be able to for ability and possibility followed by a gap fill exercise and the key.
Several modal verbs show possibility, including might, may, could, and must. The worksheet has three similar practice activities with answer keys for each. She might come this evening, but she also had some work to do. It might not rain this afternoon they might win the competition i might not it is possible that i will not. Note that can and may are used in the present tense.
Esl modal verbs of possibility and certainty activity listening and speaking elementary a1a2 20 minutes here is a possibility and certainty guessing game to help students learn how to use the modal verbs could, may and might for possibility and must for certainty. Grammar worksheet modals of probability past find the matching sentences below be careful. May is often used for politeness, to make an order appear as a request. Deduction on a past event joe may might have taken the wrong train. Mar 23, 2018 the english modal verbs can, could, may and might are used to talk about possibilities. C may, might, and could in the negative might not and could not may be contracted, but this is never done with may notjust try it, and you will see why. May 28, 2015 presenting modals by function can help english language learners keep them all straight. A collection of downloadable worksheets, exercises and activities to teach maymight, shared by english language teachers. English grammar practice exercise, intermediate level. Below are some words that might be used or indicate use of will, may andor might. Written by bob wilson robert clifford mcnair wilson 2007 can, could, may and might exercise use one of the modal verbs in brackets to fill each gap.
In this exercise you will practise using modal verbs to express present probability. Remind lowerlevel students that a base verb is one with no endings no ing, ed. Present modal verbs of deduction and probability exercise check through the different uses. Use a form of be able to only if a form of can or could is not possible. Can could exercises may might must have to shall should will would mixed modals exercises had better home. A modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb. There are currently 66 worksheets on maymight and they are all free to download, print, and use in class.
Could, may and might english grammar today cambridge. For preintermediate classes that need some extra practice with can, could, may, and might consider this practice activity. May might possibility may might exercises can may might exercises. We use might, might not when we think something is not or will not be true, but we arent sure. Could for possibility this holiday could be really good. It could also be used to say that something was true in the past. May is used to express what is possible, factual, or could be factual. To talk about past ability and possibility, we use couldcouldnt or waswere able to. Might not and may not mean that it is possible that something is not the case, while could not means that something is impossible. There is a grammar explanation at the bottom of the page. Use might or may to express an opinion that you think has a good possibility of being true. In this example may is used to express the possibility of me becoming a doctor in the. Rob and stephen get stressed, and rob talks about will, could and might.
Im vicki and welcome to the first of two videos about how to use the verbs may, might and could to talk about possibilities. In popular usage and speech, may and might are used interchangeably when referring to possibility and probability, but there is a slight difference between the two. We use may, might and could to say that something is possible, but not certain. May or might can be used to say that something is possible or probable now or in the. May expresses a greater degree of certainty you should ask him. Might tends to be a bit more tentative than may, but both indicate rather probability than possibility. Click here for all the exercises about modal verbs we can use these modal verbs also called modals of deduction, speculation or certainty when we want to make a guess about something. You can find links to the exercises at the bottom of the page. Learn how to make predictions, speak about possibilities, andor to speak about future actions with will, may, and might.
Learn how to use the future with will and may and might in english. This modal verbs for possibility lesson shows you how to use them all correctly in english. Modals of ability 1 can, could, be able to, may, might choose the best modal for each sentence. Rob and stephen look at how must, could and perhaps can be used to speak about certainty and possibility. May and might english modal verbs woodward english. Modal verbs of possibility and certainty esl activities. Welcome to esl printables, the website where english language teachers exchange resources. They express modes such as ability, possibility, probability, permission, obligation, etc.
Could often means that something is possible but unlikely. Modal verbs of probability perfect english grammar. A collection of english esl may or might worksheets for home learning, online practice, distance learning and english classes to teach about. Keep reading to download this free english lesson with exercises. Modal verbs worksheets, printable exercises pdf, handouts. The possibility of melvin having more problems with his health due to the cortisone injectiions was strong in the doctors view, and thats why he used may. Fill in each gap using must, cant, could, may or might. May, might and could are really useful english modal verbs.
Choose the correct form of can, could, be able to affirmative or negative. If you have run out of ideas for practicing may and might, let busy teacher help you. English modal verbs may, might, could, can talking. The speaker wishes to express that something is likely. In this tutorial, you will learn 5 general rules about modal verbs and then i will look in detail at the modals of possibility. The most commonly used modals are shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, must, ought to. Can, could, may, might, should, oughtto, shall, will. May might must worksheet may might handout can could may might.
May expresses possibility epistemic and is often used subjectively. A in general the usual restrictions on the use of modals remain valid. Modals of possibility may, might and could youtube. We are not certain that something will happen, but it is a possibility. This lesson consolidates your students knowledge of expressing possibility and probability with the modal verbs may, might, could, must and cant with the opportunity to. Unit 7 possibility and probability oxford living grammar explains how grammar works and when to use it. Modals of ability 1 can, could, be able to, may, might. The exercises use reallife situations to practise grammar in context.
Auxiliary verbs exercises elementary, intermediate and adavanced level esl. Future possibility and probability modals exercise 1. I you he she it we they must might could may cant have been at work. Future possibility and probability modals exercise future possibility and probability modals exercise 1 choose the correct modal to complete the sentence. When do we use might and might not might not maybe it is not true. Might past form of may used to suggest a smaller possibility than may does actually, might is more common than may in american english. Use one of the modal verbs in brackets to fill each gap. There are currently 66 worksheets on may might and they are all free to download, print, and use in class. May, might, can, could test a1 a2 level exercises 16 multiple choice questions with answers possibility, request and permission. Both may and might are used to express the possibility of some future action. English esl possibility worksheets most downloaded 16. Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb which express the mood of another verb. English modal verbs may, might, could, can talking about. We use may, could or might to say that it is possible that something will happen in the future or is happening now they may be arriving tomorrow.
Auxiliary verbs cancould, maymightmust basic english. Although i tried hard, i could not solve the problem. May and might a modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb. You can use may might and could with the same simple structure if youre talking about the present or the future. Present modal verbs of deduction and probability exercise. Could, may and might english grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary. If you use might or may, you are not making a suggestion. Type use modal verbs example 1 to express possibilities for the future could, may, might it may rain tomorrow. Complete the following sentences using can, may, might or could. Modals are those helping verbs, which express the mode or manner of the actions indicated by the main verbs. May, might and could possibility esl worksheet by dini. Grammar exercises for practicing modal verbs may might 5,104 downloads. They mean the same thing and youll have no problems. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device.
May to suggest a possibility it may rain this evening. Presenting modals by function can help english language learners keep them all straight. May and might learning english grammar collins education. Certainty that something couldnt have happened he couldnt have passed because you hadnt studied enough. The most commonly used modals are shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, must, ought to, used to, need and dare. Modal verbs can, could, may, might, should, must, would, will and shall are different from. Oct 05, 2018 how to use may, might and could to talk about possibilities 1 hi. Future possibility and probability modals exercise 1 choose the correct modal to complete the sentence. We use them in lots of different ways but an important one how we use them to express uncertainty when were not sure. They cannot be used with the willfuture, they have no infinitive, no toinfinitive, no ing form, and no past.