Questions and Answers
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'can' y 'could'?
Can se usa para expresar habilidad y permiso, mientras que could se usa para expresar cortesía, duda y posibilidad.
¿Qué función comparten 'may' y 'might'?
'May' se usa para expresar posibilidad, cortesía y obligación, mientras que 'might' se usa para expresar posibilidad de manera más enfática.
¿Cuál es la función principal del verbo 'must'?
Expresar necesidad, deber y obligación.
¿Cómo se forma el verbo 'could'?
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Which modal verb is used to express obligation, necessity, and certainty?
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Which modal verb is the negative form of 'can'?
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Which modal verb is used to express intention, future time, and to make direct requests?
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Which modal verb is used to express advice, warning, suggestion, and to make indirect requests?
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Which type of request is being made in the statement 'Could you close the door, please'?
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In the sentence 'She needs to study for the exam', what is being expressed?
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What does the sentence 'We must finish this project by Friday' indicate?
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What function does 'will' serve in the statement 'She will be here at 10:00'?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb that help to express various aspects of meaning such as possibility, permission, advice, ability, and necessity. They are used to create different tenses and moods, which are the grammatical forms of a verb that indicate the time of action, the speaker's attitude, or the type of action. Some of the most common modal verbs include can, could, may, might, and must.
Can and Could
Can
Can is used to express the ability to do something, permission, and possibility. It is formed using the base form of the verb, which is the same as the infinitive form. For example:
- She can speak French.
- They can go to the party.
Could
Could is the past tense and past participle of can. It is used to express politeness, doubt, possibility, or to ask for permission or advice. It is formed by adding the past tense suffix "d" to the base form of the verb. For example:
- She could be tired.
- They could come with us.
May and Might
May
May is used to express permission, possibility, and politeness. It is formed by adding the modal word "may" before the verb. For example:
- He may go home now.
- She might be right.
Might
Might is also used to express possibility, but it is more emphatic than may. It is formed by adding the modal word "might" before the verb. For example:
- He might go home now.
- She might be right.
Must
Must
Must is used to express necessity, duty, and obligation. It is formed by adding the modal word "must" before the verb. For example:
- He must come to the meeting.
- She must study for the exam.
Conclusion
Modal verbs are an essential part of the English language, and understanding their functions and uses can greatly improve your grammar and communication skills. By using can, could, may, might, and must correctly, you can express various aspects of meaning and create more accurate and effective sentences.
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