instruction

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

How to use

• can
  
•  could
  
•  might
  
•  may 

• to talk about POSSIBILITIES

When we want to control the world and what people do

PERMISSION

• May I start this lesson please?
  

To express our attitude and opinions

POSSIBILITIES

• If everyone is ready I could start the lesson.
  

may

• I may have a problem
  

It's possible that I have a problem

Find the modals

Watch the film and try to find at least 5 uses of the modal verbs 

can, could, might and may.

Make a note of them.

1.  I want to know what they might be used for.
   
2. What could this be?
   
3. This might be some kind of tool.
   
4. What could you use it for professor?
   
5. I could use it as a mirror.
   
6. It might be good as a hammer.
   
7. It could be.
   
8. What do you think this might be used for?
   
9. It may take a long time to work this out.
   
10. It can be really complicated being an alien
    

What about can? 

1. What can you do with it?
   
2. I can see myself in it.
3. It can be really complicated being an alien

1. What can you do with it?
   
2. What are you able to do with it.
   
3. I can see myself in it.
   
4. I am able to see myself in it. 

1. It can be really complicated being an alien.
   
2. It is possible that it's really complicated being an alien!
   

In the example above can is used to express ability. 

In the example below can is used to make a general statement about what is possible.

1. What could this be?
   
2. This might be some kind of tool.
   
3. What could you use it for professor?
   
4. It may take a long time to work this out.
   
5. It can be complicated being an alien.

Like all modal verbs the verbs 

can, could, might and may 

are followed by the infinitive without ' to'.  

Make sentences with these pictures.  Part of the picture is hidden. Can you guess what it is?

Modals of Possibility + infinitive with 'to' 

Use could, might or may to say that something is possible but not certain.

We use can to make general statements about what is possible.

Notice the difference in meaning between can & may/might/could.

• It can be complicated being an alien.
  
• Sometimes it's complicated being an alien.  I know.
  
• It could/might/may be complicated being an alien.  
• Perhaps it's complicated being an alien.  I don't know.

In the next video we'll practise using 

may have, might have or could have 

to make guesses about the past.

It might have been very complicated being an alien 100 years ago!