LESSON 5 - POSSIBILITY, REQUEST, OFFER, CERTAINTY & SUPPOSITION

In English, we can use certain modal verbs to give the sentence a new meaning.

POSSIBILITY

We use CAN, COULD, MAY and MIGHT to express a chance or possibility.

-We can go to the park after the class. -You could rest before we leave. -He may talk to her if you go to the party. -She might like the new movie.

REQUEST

We use CAN and COULD to make requests.

-Can you give some water? -Could you bring some food? -Can Anna bring me a pencil? -Could Ray get me some planks? -Would you give me a fresh towel, please?

We use MAY and MIGHT in a request to be more polite.

-May I have your number? -Might I get some ice cream? (I ask the person to give me some ice cream)

OFFER

We use WOULD CAN, COULD, MAY and MIGHT to make offerings. We can either use a question or an affirmative conditional sentence.

-Can I get you some tea? -I can get you some tea if you want me to. -Could I bring some clean sheets? -Rona could bring you some clean sheets if you need. -May I help you with that? -I may help you if you tell what you are doing. -Might I lend you some money? -I might lend Richard some money if he needs some. -Would you like to go to the cinema?

SUPPOSITION & CERTAINTY

We use modal verbs to talk about thing of which we have some degree of certainty.

-Richard left the school an hour ago. He must be home right now. (we know that he is supposed to be at home) -The teacher feels better. He may be coming to class tomorrow. (we are not sure if that is going to happen) -Why don't you visit your aunt. She may be glad to see you. (we are not sure if that is true.) -Andy is really mad at us. Gary must have told him what we did to his car. (we are almost sure of the possible cause for Andy's anger with us) -Haven't you reached Sarah? She might have gone to her mother's work. (we are not sure where Sarah has gone.) -I'm worried about Max. He might have not passed the admission exam. (we do not have any news from Max's results)

Let's summarize the expressions we have seen so far.

-We can / could / may / might go to the restaurant tonight - possibility -Can / could / would you tell me the time, please? – Request -May / might I speak with Diana, please? – Request -Can / could / may / might I help you, sir? – Offer -I can / could / may / might help you with that. - Offer -Frank must be taking care of the children – certainty. -Frank may / might be doing shopping -  supposition.

Try this video to learn more about modal verbs:

EXERCISES

1.Tell what type is each sentence.

Example:  I don’t see Ana anywhere. She must have left. Certainty

1.Can Mark help you with the baggage? _____ 2.Could you tell Dina to turn down the volume? _____ 3.If the Peters are not at home, they must be on vacations. _____ 4.Lena may not be able to call when she get to New York. _____ 5.I am afraid that Robert might have been kidnapped. He has not answered the phone in a week. _____

2.Use the words to build a sentence in the form asked in parenthesis.

Example:  I / go to the movies / if the park is closed (possibility) I can / could / may / might go to the movies if the park is closed.

1.Mark / help / his friends with History / They got excellent marks (certainty) 2.The girl / go to the garden / when we were calling because nobody answered the phone. (supposition) 3.Jonas / take / Rob to the stadium / if he needs to. (offer) 4.You / tell / me where Laura is? (request) 5.I / sing / you / a song / if you ask me to. (offer) 6.You / tell / Andrea that I am waiting for her? (request) 7.The course / finish / because it is August already. (certainty) 8.Sandra / be / walking in a London park right now. (supposition)