Modal verbsMight, May and Could

Use of Could 1) You use Could to express an abillity or lack of

ability in the past.

Examples:

I could read without glasses last year.

I could not (couldn’t) sleep last night.

2) Making a request (always in the question form)

Examples:

Could you repeat that please?

Could we have a break please?

3) Makin a suggestion (only in the affirmative)

Examples:

what do you suggest we have for dinner?

We could have fish

1) Asking for permission

Examples:

May i use your pen?

May we have a look?

2) A strong possibility in the present or future.

Examples:It may happen again.She may not accept the offer

U s e o f M a y

Use of might1) A possibility in the present or the future

Examples:It might happen again.She might not accept the offer.

2) A possibility in the past (followed by have done)

Examples:

He might have missed his train.

I might not have managed to convince her.

“When we are not sure about

something”

Do not forget

Could:

Is the past form of Can

Describes an ability that someone had

made in the past.

Used to express possibility.

May:

Used to ask for formal permission

Used to suggest something that is

possible.

Might:

Used to suggest a

smaller posibility.