Home »CAN

Content tagged with "CAN"

Displaying 1-7 of 7 result(s)

Modals to express criticism: CAN, COULD, MIGHT, SHOULD

criticism
modals
CAN
COULD
MIGHT
SHOULD

Present and future

Can, could, might and should/shouldn't + infinitive are used to express criticism or disapproval with reference to present or future time:

Modals to express permission / prohibition: CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, BE ALLOWED TO, MUSTN'T, BE TO

modals
permission
prohibition
BE ALLOWED TO
BE TO
CAN
CAN'T
COULD
MAY
MIGHT
MUSTN'T

Present and future

Can and may are used to give permission. May is more formal and less common in everyday contexts:

You can borrow my car if you want.
Children may use the pool with adult supervision.

Modals to express possibility: MAY, MIGHT, CAN, COULD

certainty
modals
possibility
BE LIKELY TO/THAT
CAN
COULD
MAY
MIGHT

Present and future

May and might + infinitive are used to express present or future possibility. May expresses a greater degree of certainty: