Can and may can both be used to ask for permission, although may is considered more formal. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device. In spoken english, a request for permission is generally answered with can, cannot, or cant, rather than with may or may not, even if the question was formed using may. Apr 29, 2016 complete the following sentences using appropriate modal auxiliaries. Can, could, may and might exercise online exercise about modal verbs of ability. This, of course, was an instructional exercise on the part of the teacher, who was attempting to instill the difference between expressing ones physical ability and a request for permission. I could travel in july because my exams will probably be finished at the beginning of that month. You must not cannot should not smoke in the kitchen. This commonly confused words worksheet directs the student to circle the confusing words can or may that best complete each sentence.
Modal verbs can, could, may, might, should, must, would, will and shall are different from other verbs. Can, could and would exercises watch the video and read the conversation between sophie and mei. Wil is a writer, teacher, learning technologist and keen language learner. Exercise on how to use can, could and may to ask permission or offer something. The uses of can which request permission are seldom found in edited prose. Must, mustnt, have to, dont have to complete these sentences with must, mustnt or the correct or the correct form of have to. English esl may or might worksheets most downloaded 48. The modal takes the tense while the main verb remains in its dictionary form. This is an interactive online exercise about the modal verbs of ability can, could and be able to. There is an easy activity in which students are asked to complete thirty two different sentences with can, cant, must or mustnt. Use can to indicate ability and may to indicate permission. The two words may and might cause a lot of confusion in english and many writers arent sure when to use which one. Pdf worksheets, online exercises with answers and grammar rules with examples on modal auxiliary verbs can, may, must, have to. Although maynt is a word, it looks and sounds strange even to native speakers.
Answers will vary possible answers given on attached answer key. A lot of people use them interchangeably, especially in speech, but is there really no difference between the two. If formality and politeness are of utmost importance, you should use may to denote permission. Modal verbs exercises pdf can, may, must, need not.
Find the activities and write them in the correct boxes. Today i want to clear up any confusion between these two words. The points given below are substantial, so far as the difference between can and may is concerned. Usually, can is used to give options or explain that you have the ability to do something, while should is used to give a personal opinion. A collection of english esl may or might worksheets for home learning, online practice, distance learning and english classes to teach about. If you have run out of ideas for practicing may and might, let busy teacher help you. The present downloadable teaching material is meant for high school at preintermediate a2 level.
May might must worksheet may might handout can could may might. I will outline the traditional rule regarding can vs. Could in the present only expresses weak possibility. In my first year as a teacher, i almost lost my selfconfidence because i. Hes taught english in classrooms and online for nearly 10 years, trained teachers in using classroom and web technology, and written elearning materials for several. Fill in the gaps exercise, students must change modals to negat. The word may means to be allowed to or permitted to. When the main clause is in the past tense, we need a past tense in the subordinate clause as well. Auxiliary verbs exercises elementary, intermediate and adavanced level esl.
Might past form of may used to suggest a smaller possibility than may does actually, might is more common than may in american english. Latest exercises irregular verbs exercise september 16, 2019 tenses exercise september 15, 2019 tenses exercise september 14, 2019 general grammar exercise september 12, 2019 english vocabulary exercise september 10, 2019 dead vs. He was able to arrive at the party on time, even after missing the train, so he was very pleased. Modal verbs worksheets, printable exercises pdf, handouts. Exercise on how to use can, could, may and might to ask permission or offer something. Knowing the difference between may and might will help you understand which one is used in a sentence. Choose the correct form of can, could, be able to affirmative or negative. The negative of can is cannot or the contraction can t. We hope that you find exactly what you need for your home or classroom. Modals of ability 1 can, could, be able to, may, might choose the best modal for each sentence. May and might a modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb. Explanation of can, could, may, might with permission and offering. For preintermediate classes that need some extra practice with can, could, may, and might consider this practice activity. I can play basketball too because we are learning at school.
Complete the following sentences using appropriate modal auxiliaries. Difference between can and may with comparison chart. Although, traditionally, can has meant to be able and may has meant to be permitted or to express possibility, both can and may are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission. May and might complete the sentences by using may not and might not to describe possibility. Can or can t explanations can or can t exercises 1 can wh questions can vs could exercises could or waswere able to modal verbs. This is a free intermediate english grammar quiz and esl worksheet. In this example may is used to express the possibility of me becoming a doctor in the future. May is the older word and has meanings that refer to the ability to do something, the possibility of something, as well as granting permission. Modals can be used alone in response to a question. Can could may might a free english exercise to learn english. That might be possible if we can lower green house gas emissions. If there are two auxiliaries in brackets, choose the correct one. The word can and may are modal verbs, wherein can is used to denote a persons ability in doing something or talking about any kind of possibility.
Use a form of be able to only if a form of can or could is not possible. You can do the exercises online or download the worksheet as pdf. May be freely copied for personal or classroom use. You you he he she should she shouldnt it it we we they they yes, no, i eat. Students english file students site new intermediate grammar file 3 lesson b must, may, might, cant deduct ion 2 grammar. There are currently 66 worksheets on may might and they are all free to download, print, and use in class. May is used to ask permission or to say there is a fair possibility. Choose the correct word for the blank space in each sentence. Fill in the blanks with could, can, couldnt, can t. Complete the following sentences using can or can t. Fill in all the gaps, then press check to check your answers. Modal verbs interactive and downloadable worksheet. For example, according to the american heritage dictionary, the experts on its usage panel were more accepting of using can to mean may in a recent survey than they were in the past. A modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb.
Check your results by clicking on submit worksheet also see. Death september 8, 2019 phrasal verbs exercise september 5, 2019. May and might are modal verbs, so we dont add to after them. Can is used to express ability, willingness, permission, or possibility. Then do these exercises to check your understanding of modal verbs. Lesson b must, may, might, cant deduction 2 english. Can can t worksheets, pdf exercises, printable handouts, grammar lessosn. 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. Some people claim that you can use might have and may have interchangeably, but this is a bad idea. Can and could a modal auxiliary verb is used to modify the mood of a verb. A modal is always used with a verb in its basic form. They have the same form with all pronouns and dont require an auxiliary verb to make negations and questions. The worksheet has three similar practice activities with answer keys for each.
As a result, scientists can t predict when all the ice will melt. Can is commonly used in speech to ask permission, especially in questions and negative sentences. In spoken english, a request for permission is generally answered with can, cannot, or can t, rather than with may or may not, even if the question was formed using may. Can cant worksheets, pdf exercises, printable handouts, grammar lessosn. Grammarquizzes verb phrases verb groups modals may vs. Natural fluctuations in the climate system will continue with global warming.
While may is used in a situation where something is possible to happen, but you are not sure about it. Can could exercises may might must have to shall should will would mixed modals exercises had better home. How to use can vs may correctly grammarist grammarist is a professional online english grammar dictionary, that provides a variety of grammatical tools, rules and tips in order to improve your grammar and to help you. English grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary. Giving permission, making requests and offering suggestions require the speaker to be aware of levels of formality. Many people are confused about when to use can and when to use may. According to the american heritage dictionarys 2012 usage panel survey, the vast majority of experts disagree with using might have and may. Today, i want to highlight the differences between can and may. Can and may are commonly confused when it concerns their meaning. Difference between may and might with examples and.
In general, this use of can belongs in speech, reported or fictional. You you he can he can t she could she couldnt it it we we they they yes, no, i drive. This is a simple and easy worksheet for teaching modal verbs can and must at elementary level. You you he can he cant she could she couldnt it it we we they they yes, no, i drive. Can cant worksheets pdf exercises printable handouts. Auxiliary verbs cancould and may mightmust can used to express ability to be able to do something. Modals of ability 1 can, could, be able to, may, might. We couldnt get to the meeting on time yesterday because the train was delayed by one hour. Might is used to say there is a possibility but that it is not very likely. Use one of the modal verbs in brackets to fill each gap. Make note of the fact that verbs never change after can. I can travel in july because my exams will definitely be finished at the beginning of that month. The use of can in a direct question to request permission is basically an oral use. In this quiz, you will decide if can or may would be the correct word to us in a sentence.
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