Several modal verbs show possibility, including might, may, could, and must. Request could you tell me the way to the libraryplease. Peter might be stuck in traffic when he leaves work. We can use modal verbs for deduction guessing if something is true using the available information. The most commonly used modals are shall, should, will, would, can, could, may, might, must, ought to, used to, need and dare. It could also be used to say that something was true in the past. The everyday grammar team is on the job, explaining how to use these modals to express how certain, or sure, you are of. Future possibility and probability modals exercise 1. You can find modal verb exercises at the bottom of the page for practice. Can, could, may and might exercise online exercise about modal verbs can, could, may and might.
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. Use one of the modal verbs in brackets to fill each gap. You will need a copy of the following for each studentpair of students. Type use modal verbs example 1 to express possibilities for the future could, may, might it may rain tomorrow. Modal verbs pdf worksheets english vocabulary and grammar. If you have run out of ideas for practicing may and might, let busy teacher help you. We are not certain that something will happen, but it is a possibility. Use might most common, may, or could to talk about present and future possibilities use might have, may have, or could have to talk about past possibilities for a possibility that something did not happen, use might not have and may not have youve finished esson 10. You can find links to the exercises at the bottom of the page. This lesson shows you how to use these modals correctly. Modal verbs worksheets, printable exercises pdf, handouts.
We use could to make general statements about the past. Modals are those helping verbs, which express the mode or. When you are sure something is possible or true must when you are sure something is not possible or true cant when youre not sure might may could modals of. They could have won the football match, but john hurt his ankle.
But when we want to say that something was possible but. We use them in lots of different ways but an important one how we use them to express uncertainty when were not sure. There are currently 66 worksheets on may might and they are all free to download, print, and use in class. You note correctly that can means ability and may means permission, but this is not all that they mean. Modal verbs of probability exercise pdf autoenglish. Can could exercises may might must have to shall should will would mixed modals exercises had better home. Modals of ability 1 can, could, be able to, may, might choose the best modal for each sentence. May, might and could are really useful english modal verbs. They express modes such as ability, possibility, probability, permission, obligation, etc. Modals for kids, definition, 10 examples, solved exercise. 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.
Oct 05, 2018 may, might and could are really useful english modal verbs. Can, could, may and might exercise fill in all the gaps, then press check to check your answers. May might exercises may might test may or might quiz may might possibility may might exercises can may might exercises can could. Sprout englishs featured fun grammar lesson on modals of possibility is a simple introduction to these common modals. We recommend updating yours to the latest version for the best experience. Could possibility extreme rain could cause the river to flood the village. Lesson 10 modal verbs for deduction todays lesson will focus on using modal verbs for certainty, probability. You need other verbs to express the same thing in the past, future etc. English esl possibility worksheets most downloaded 16. Present modal verbs of deduction and probability exercise. I couldnt have arrived on time, even if id left earlier. May, might, and could are all used to show possibility in the past. Click here for all the exercises about modal verbs. May and might are modal verbs that are used to show possibility.
May and might english modal verbs woodward english. In this tutorial, you will learn 5 general rules about modal verbs and then i will look in detail at the modals of possibility. A modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb. You use it like an auxiliary in the interrogative and negative forms. Many native speakers disagree on which one expresses. We use can to make general statements about what is possible.
Mixed modal verbs exercises intermediate level esl. English speakers can also use might to make suggestions or requests, although this is less common in american english. Peter might not be stuck in traffic when he leaves work. Could, may and might english grammar today cambridge. Unit 7 possibility and probability oxford living grammar explains how grammar works and when to use it. In this example may is used to express the possibility of me becoming a doctor in the. You may even use double modals especially if you are from the south as in i might could help you i might be able to help you. You can use may might and could with the same simple structure if youre talking about the present or the future. Grammar quiz may and might possibility complete these eighteen sentences by choosing the best answers. For those teachers who have recently had to make the switch to online teaching due to the covid. Must can be used in the same way to show certainty in the past. You may want to give the class a topic, such as health, family.
May have might have something possibly happened but we arent sure if it did they may have left early because of the holiday traffic. To talk about past ability and possibility, we use couldcouldnt or waswere able to. A in general the usual restrictions on the use of modals remain valid. All downloads are in pdf format and consist of a worksheet and answer sheet to check your results. They mean the same thing and youll have no problems. Modals of possibility might may could must cant you must be joking. Auxiliary verbs exercises elementary, intermediate and adavanced level esl. Modals of ability 1 can, could, be able to, may, might. This english modal verbs lesson will help you learn how to use may, might, could, and can correctly.
This modal verbs for possibility lesson shows you how to use them all correctly in english. For preintermediate classes that need some extra practice with can, could, may, and might consider this practice activity. After you use this readymade lesson, try this followup listening activity. I you he she it we they must might could may cant have been at work. A collection of english esl worksheets for home learning, online practice, distance learning and english classes to teach about may, might, could, may might. Modals a maymight permission, possibility learn english. Present modal verbs of deduction and probability exercise check through the different uses. Possibility and probability activity 1 modal verbs 27. Might is a modal verb most commonly used to express possibility. English esl possibility worksheets most downloaded 16 results.
May possibility that may be a better solution for you. They cannot be used with the willfuture, they have no infinitive, no toinfinitive, no ing form, and no past participle. After working with modals of advice, possibility, and obligation, write the following riddle on the board and see if students can answer the question. Can could exercises may might must have to shall should will would mixed modals exercises. Mar 23, 2018 the english modal verbs can, could, may and might are used to talk about possibilities. May and might a modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb. They cannot be used with the willfuture, they have no infinitive, no toinfinitive, no ing form, and no past. Lesson 10 modal verbs for deduction espresso english. Modal verbs of deduction must, may, might, could, cant. Using past modals to speculate and talk about errors and regrets. Expressing certainty we use must to express that something is necessary true or logically true. Future possibility and probability modals exercise 1 choose the correct modal to complete the sentence. 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.
Adam and jo look at how jamie and carolina use will, wont and might to talk about his future. In informal situations might is more common than may when we want to talk about what someone will do in the future. Modal verbs can, could, may, might, should, must, would, will and shall are different from. A collection of english esl worksheets for home learning, online practice, distance learning and english classes to teach about modals, may, might, possibili. Presentfuture possibility we can use may, might and could to talk about things that are possible in the present and future. English modal verbs may, might, could, can talking about. May, might and must are modal verbs that cause confusion for some learners. We can use these modal verbs also called modals of deduction, speculation or certainty when we want to make a guess about something. English esl modals may might possibility worksheets most. Could may might they are auxiliary verbs that provide additional and specific. 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.
May might must worksheet may might handout can could may might. The worksheet has three similar practice activities with answer. May, might, can, could test a1 a2 level exercises 16 multiple choice questions with answers possibility, request and permission. Would you and could you listen and repeat each request in exercise b. Can, could, be able to ability and possibility test. The modal verb we choose shows how certain we are about the possibility. The verbs may and might are used to say that something is possibly 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. We use could, may and might to express degrees of possibility. Grammar verbs modal verbs and modality could, may and might. This is an interactive online exercise about the modal verbs can, could, may and might. The usual restrictions on the use of modals remain valid.
Can, could, may, might, must, have to, shall, should, will, would. Welcome to esl printables, the website where english language teachers exchange resources. We use may have, might have or could have to make guesses about the past. Permission you may buy something, if you wish, said her grandfather might. Esl library may not function properly in older browsers. Then challenge your students to choose their own word of the year and practice using might, could, and may in relation to their words. 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 practise in the context of future plans. Modals are those helping verbs, which express the mode or manner of the actions indicated by the main verbs. Expressing possibility we use may, might and could to express possibility in the past and in the future. English esl may might could worksheets most downloaded. The exercises use reallife situations to practise grammar in context. It can also be used to ask and to give permission although this function is becoming less common. We use may, might and could to say that something is possible, but not certain.
Grammar worksheet modals of probability past find the matching sentences below be careful. Modal verbs of possibility and certainty esl activities. Modals modals in past will might should may must would would have could have might have ought to had better shall could can. Modal verbs of probability perfect english grammar.