Auxiliary Verbs "Can/Could" and

"May/Might/Must"
Can
Used to express ability (to be able to do something):
I can make jewelry.
He cant speak French.
an yo! open this jar"
Used to ask #or permission:
an I !se yo!r bathroom"
an I lea$e now"
an I raise the $ol!me"
Used to make re%!ests or s!ggestions:
an I ha$e more napkins"
an I ha$e the bill"
&o! can take this spot i# yo! like.
&o! can do whate$er yo! want.
Could (past form of can)
'escribes an ability that someone had in the past:
I co!ld swim when I was yo!ng.
&o! co!ld see the boat sinking.
(hey co!ld tell he was ner$o!s.
)#ten !sed in a!xiliary #!nctions to express permission politely:
o!ld I take this jacket with me"
&o! co!ld borrow my !mbrella.
o!ld yo! please let me pass yo!"
o!ld I get yo! more water"
Used to express possibility:
*ll o# them co!ld ride in the $an.
&o! co!ld always stay at o!r ho!se.
o!ld it be tr!e"
(his plan co!ld really work o!t.
May
Used to ask #or #ormal permission:
+ay I come in"
+ay I say something now"
+ay I ask one %!estion"
Used to s!ggest something that is possible:
,he may agree with this plan.
(hey may not be happy abo!t what happened.
It may shower tonight.
Might (past form of may)
Used to s!ggest a smaller possibility than may does (act!ally- might is more common than may
in *merican .nglish):
He might ha$e #inished it.
I might go see a doctor.
I might not come this time.
It might be right.
&o! might ha$e lost it.
(he store might ha$e been closed today.
Must
Used to express something #ormally re%!ired or necessary:
I m!st complete the project by this week.
(he go$ernment m!st pro$ide health care #or e$erybody.
.$eryone m!st sa$e the nat!ral reso!rces o# the earth.
(he b!ilding m!st ha$e a #ire alarm.
&o! m!st answer my %!estion right now.
Used to show that something is $ery likely:
He m!st be a geni!s.
&o! m!st be joking/
(here m!st be an accident.
,he m!st be $ery tired.
[Qui !"#"$
hoose the right word #or each blank.
0) ,he (can- co!ld- may- might- m!st) ha$e practiced a lot. Her per#ormance was ama1ing.
2) I cant #ind my watch anywhere. I (can- co!ld- may- might- m!st) ha$e lost it.
3) 4ro#essor- (can- co!ld- may- might- m!st) I ask a %!estion"
5) (can- co!ld- may- might- m!st) yo! please lower yo!r $oice"
6) &o! (can- co!ld- may- might- m!st) be kidding/ How is that possible"
7) I (can- co!ld- may- might- m!st) speak both .nglish and hinese #l!ently.
8e !se should and shouldn%t to gi$e ad$ice or to talk abo!t what we think is right or
wrong.
&ou should means something like ' thin( it is a good idea for you to do it#
&ou shouldn%t means something like ' thin( it is a bad idea for you to do it#
)hould is !sed to express the opinion o# a speaker and o#ten #ollows ' thin( or ' don%t
thin(#
*xamples
You look tired. I think you should take a few days off.
Alice works very long hours. She should to talk to her boss.
- I have an English test tomorrow.
- I shouldn't worry if I were you. You have worked really hard.
- I never have enough money.
- I don't think you should go out so much.
)hould + Quic( ,rammar -ote
(o gi$e ad$ice to someone yo! can also say:
I should do it if I were you.
I shouldn't be so rude, if I were you.
8hen yo! regret not doing something in the past- yo! can say:
I shouldn't have soken to him like that.
I should have aologi!ed earlier.