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may and can forPermission
(in the present or future)• First person
I/we can is the most usual
form.e.g: I can take a day off whenever
I want .
I/we may meaning ‘I/we havepermission to ...’ is possible.
e.g: I may leave the office as soonas I have finished.
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may and can forPermission
(in the present or future)• Second person
may is used when the speaker
is giving permission.e.g: You may park here. (I give you
permission to park here)
can is used as an informalalternative to may. It can also beused to express the idea of
having permission.
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could for Permission
(in the past)è could expresses general
permission in the past
e.g: On Sundays we could get uplate. (we were allowed to get uplate)
We could not bring our dog intothe restaurant. (we were not allowedto bring dog)
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Request for Permissionè can I? could I? may I? might I? are
all possible and can be used for thepresent or future.
è can I? is the most informal.e.g: Can I have a sweet? Yes, you
canè could I? is the most general and
can express for formal andinformal requests.
e.g: Could I have two tickets, please?
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Request for Permission
è may I? is a little more formalthan could I? but can be used forboth types of requests.
e.g: May I speak to him? Yes, youmayè might I? is more diffident than
may I? and indicates greateruncertainty about the answer.
e.g: Might I have a copy of the
letter? Yes of course
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may and might forPossibility
è may/might used for present orfuture possibility, but might slightly increases the doubt.
e.g: Tom may lend you the money .(maybe Tom will lend you the money)è might used in the conditional
e.g: If you invited him, he might come.
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can and could forPossibility
è can means ‘it is possible’e.g: You can ski on the hills. (there is
enough snow)
We can’t bathe here because of thesharks. (it isn’t safe)
Can you get to the top of the
mountain in one day? (is it possible?)
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can and could forPossibility
è can also express occasionalpossibility.
e.g: Measles can be quite
dangerous. (sometimes they are quitedangerous)
The Straits of Dover can be very
rough. (it is possible for the Straits tobe rough)è could is used in the past.
e.g: He could be very unreasonable.sometimes he was unreasonable
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can and could for Ability
can – could
è
can used for present ability.e.g: I can’t pay you today.
She can dance.è
could used for past ability.e.g: He could run as fast as a tiger .
Either Billy or his sister could play
tennis.
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will and would
will è Instant decisions
e.g: I don’t see any taxi, so I’ll walk .
è Offere.g: She will do that for you if you
like.
è Promisee.g: I’ll get it back to you on
Monday .è
Certain prediction
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will and would
would è Asking for permission
e.g: Would you mind if I brought a
colleague with me?è Request
e.g: Would you pass the salt please?
Would you mind waiting a moment?è Invitation
e.g: Would you like to play golf this
Friday?
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will and would
would è Making arrangements
e.g: Would three o`clock suit you?That’d be fine.è Preferences
e.g: Would you prefer tea or coffee?
I’d like tea please.
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ought to, should forObligation
è ought to and should can be usedfor present and past.
e.g: I ought to write to him.
John knew he ought to go there.
You should paint your door.
should can replace ought to and
have the same meaning, but should is the more usual form.
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must and have to forObligation
è must/have to used for present,future, or past. The future tense issupplied by will have to and the
past tense is supplied by had to.e.g: You must get up earlier in the
morning.
We will have to walk slowly here.Karen and her family had to leave
London.
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must and have to forObligation
è must expresses obligationimposed by the speaker.
e.g: You must wipe your feet when
you come in. (mother says)è have to expresses external
obligation.
e.g: I have to wipe my feet everytime I come in. (a child says)
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Difference betweenought to/should and
must/have toè must and have to have the
impression that the obligation is
being or will be fulfilled.è ought to and should do not
necessarily feel that the obligation
is being or will be fulfilled.
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Exercise