Page 77 - New Grammar with a Smile 8
P. 77

Let us understand the use of modals.


                  Modal                    Use                             Example sentence
                 can          to show ability                 I can speak three languages.


                              for permission                  Can I borrow your pen, please?

                              for request                     Can you wait for a moment?


                              for suggestion                  Can we order pizza tonight?

                              for possibility                 It can get cold soon.

                              to offer                        I can look after the pup for you.


                 could        to show ability in the past     I could speak French when I was a child.

                              for permission                  Could I leave early today?


                              for probability                 He could have left it by mistake.

                              for request                     Could I use your phone to make a call?

                              for possibility                 It could get very hot in Jaisalmer.


                              to offer                        I could lend my ladder for a day.

                 may          for possibility                 It may rain today.

                              for permission                  May I sit here, please?


                              for suggestion                  May I help you?

                 must         for force                       We must obey traffic rules.

                              for advice                      You must see a doctor.


                              for surety                      It is quite dark. It must be very late.

                 should       for advice                      You should board the bus carefully.


                              for polite suggestion           Should I call a doctor?

                              for prediction                  Your work should finish in an hour.










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