Modals of Possibility and Certainty: M AY , M IGHT , C OULD ! T , et"# AY OULD , M UST UST / C A ! T
A) In General •
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The usual restrictions on the use of modals remain valid: They cannot be used with the will-future, they have no infinitive, no to-infinitive, no -ing form, and no past participle. Neither do the ones dealt with here, in these meanings, have a past form. There can only be one modal in a verb group. For the purposes of questions and negations, the modal auxiliary is “the” auxiliary. e may use modals of possibility and certainty to tal! about the future, and sometimes MAY MAY, MIGHT and COULD can be used indiscriminately: "#t $ay / $i%&t / rain later.$ "o'ld rain e may use a continuous form after all of these: "%ac! $ay/$i%&t/"o'ld/$'st/"an!t be playing squash right now.$ For possibility and certainty in the past &may have done etc.', consult this this paper. paper.(
Combinations with other modals, Perfet Tenses, All !ses of the "in# form, To"infiniti$e%
Para&hrases 'LI(LY, PO**I+L, PHAP*%%%)
+) MAY , MIGHT , and C OULD
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MIGHT tends to be a bit more tentative than MAY MAY, but both indicate rather probability than possibility: The spea!er wishes to express that something is li!ely. COULD often means that something is possible but unli!ely.
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Consider-
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)omeone*s !noc!ed the door. door. #t $ay / be the postman. $i%&t be ( = Perhaps it's the postman.) e $ay / $i%&t go go out tomorrow night. ( = Perhaps we'll go out.)
( http: http:elt-one elt-one.webs.com .webs.comoreod oreodals/0ast. als/0ast.pdf pdf
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#t "o'ld be be true, # suppose. ( = Possibly it's not a lie.) +ou "o'ld win win a million quid ( = It is possible for you to win that money.)
C) MAY , MIGHT , and C OULD in the .e#ati$e •
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MIGHT .OT and COULD .OT may be contracted, but this is never done with MAY .OT -1ust try it, and you will see why. MIGHT .OT and MAY .OT mean that it is possible that something is not the case, while COULD .OT means that something is impossible. Consider◦
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2ave $ay not get the 1ob. ( = It is possible that he won't get the job.) e still $i%&t not lose the match. ( = It's unlikely but possible for us to win.)
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%ane is afraid of heights 3 she "o'ldn!t climb the roof. ( = It's impossible for her...) #*m totally unfit 3 # "o'ldn!t run a marathon. ( = It's impossible for me...)
D) MU*T and CA./T •
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MU*T and CA./T are opposites. 4oth indicate certainty, but while MU*T means that we are certain that something is true, CA./T expresses our conviction that something is impossible. Consider◦
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)he isn*t answering the phone 3 she $'st be out. & 5 #*m certain she is out.' +ou*ve had a long 1ourney 3 you $'st be tired. & 5 #*m certain you*re tired.'
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Nic! "an!t be in )cotland 3 # saw him this morning. & 5 #t*s impossible for him to be there.' 6ife "an!t be easy if you have to spend it in a wheelchair. & 5 #t*s impossible for life to be easy...'
) 0erises
Fill in the gaps with the correct modal of possibility and certainty, using the verb in brac!ets. )ometimes, you may have to use the continuous, and some gaps permit more than one solution. (. 7: here*s Natasha8 # haven*t seen her all day. 4: )he might be &49' in the music room. )he may be practising &07;T#)9' for the concert tomorrow. 7: No, she can't be &49' 3 we*d hear her, wouldn*t we8 4: ell, so she must be &49' at the conservatory already. 7: +eah, # guess. <. #*m not sure, but it ////////////////// & 7#N' later on.
=. hat are you saying8 +ou ////////////////// & 49' serious about that
>. #t ////////////////// & 49' wonderful to be gliding down to earth on a parachute.
?. 2ave ////////////////// & @A ' as a taxi driver 3 he can*t drive.
B. 2an 1ust ////////////////// & #N' the match 3 he*s really good at chess.
C. %enny ////////////////// & 49' in the office 3 # can*t reach her at home.
D. 7: hat are you doing tonight8 4: #*m not sure, but # ////////////////// & E@' to the cinema with %im.
. Gow can you wor! with that noise8 #f # were you, # ////////////////// & ;@N;9NT7T9' li!e this
(H. e*ll have to get more glasses for the party 3 we ////////////////// & G7I9' enough.
((. e ////////////////// & E@' to 9gypt in summer, but we*re not sure yet.
(<. 2on*t 1ust drop by tomorrow, but call beforehand 3 # ////////////////// & 49' in.
(=. hat did you do that for8 +ou ////////////////// & 49' out of your mind
