MODALS AND ASSOCIATED VERBS
VERB USE EXAMPLE
BE ABLE TO
Ability / Capability
(past, present, future
After the operation John was able to
walk again.(single past occasion)
I’m able to play tennis twice a week.
(circumstances permit me to do this)
I will be able to visit Paris next
year. (nothing should prevent me from
doing this)
MANAGE TO
Ability / Capable of
doing something with a
degree of difficulty
(past, present, future)
I managed to get two tickets for the
concert. (a degree of difficulty was
involved)
I manage to play tennis twice a week.
I hope you will manage to come. (even
though you may encounter difficulty
in doing this)
CAN
Ability / Capability
(present)
I can swim.
Permission You can go to the cinema.
Possibility Smoking can cause cancer.
Request Can I have a biscuit, please?
Offer Can I help you, madam?
Negative deduction
(present)
You can’t be hungry, you have just
eaten two pizzas.
Prohibition You can never tell anyone.
COULD
Ability / Capability
(past)
I could swim when I was seven.
Permission We could go to the cinema once a
week.
Possibility This vase could be very valuable.
Request Could I use your phone, please?
Offer Could I be of any help?
Suggestion You could buy Mary some flowers.
Negative deduction (past) It couldn’t have been John because he
has an alibi.
MAY
Permission You may leave the room.
Possibility He may be waiting for us when we
arrive.
Request May I use your phone, please? (formal
request)
Offer May I help you, sir?
Prohibition You may not use this computer.
Speculation John may have gone to Spain.
MIGHT
Possibility John might come to your party.
Speculation Someone might have already told his
wife.
Suggestion You might not want to drink this
because it’s very bitter.
Conditional If you invite him he might come.
If you had invited him he might have
come to your party.
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