MODAL VERBS: CAN-COULD-MAY-MIGHT

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ESL forum > Ask for help > MODAL VERBS: CAN-COULD-MAY-MIGHT

MODAL VERBS: CAN-COULD-MAY-MIGHT

Rominamino

MODAL VERBS: CAN-COULD-MAY-MIGHT

Hi everyone!

I �m having a bit trouble teaching to a private lesson student the use of

MAY-MIGHT-CAN-COULD

as a permission/request form.

She doesn �t completely understand the differences and when to use it.

I told her that:

MAY and CAN can be used to ask for permission, and that CAN is informal and stronger than MAY (formal) as in:

MAY I GO TO THE BATHROOM?

CAN I GO TO THE BATHROOM?

Might to be used as a suggestion and possibility, but not very strong, not very likely:

The queen MIGHT come tomorrow.

But what about COULD? I mean, in PRESENT SIMPLE we can also use it in formal and polite permission. Just as MAY!

COULD I GO TO THE BATHROOM? MAY I GO TO THE BATHROOM?

These modal verbs are quiet difficult. Can you please give me advice on how I could possibly teach her in a better and easier way?

19 Apr 2014

Sonn

Could is more polite than can.

If you say "could you" it usually means "please do it for me".

If you say could I=will you let me? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTyOwChDYV0&feature=kp
If you say may I=is it possible? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqhiD494dtw, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhH7pNZn17Q
If you say can I=yes or no http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTFZyl7hfBw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M5QZmxzL7c

20 Apr 2014