Can, Could, May & Might (usos y diferencias)

Son varios los usos que pueden tener estos cuatro verbos modales, pero bsicamente nos vamos a centrar en:

REQUESTS (peticiones) Utilizamos tanto can y could como may y might para peticiones. May, might son bastante formales, could lo es algo menos. Tambin podemos utilizar will y would. Fjate en los diferentes grados de formalidad. - Can/will you help me with my French homework? (Informal) - Could/would you help me with this exercise? (More polite) - May I have a pen and some paper, please? (Formal) - May I come in? (Formal) - Might I have one of those leaflets? (Bastante formal)

ASKING PERMISSION (pidiendo permiso) Usamos can, could, may o might para pedir permiso para poder hacer algo. Could y may son ms formales que can. - Can I go swimming? (informal) - Could I ask you another question? (more polite) - May/might I have a look at this report? (formal)

GIVING/REFUSING PERMISSION (dando o negando permiso) Usamos may y can, pero no might o could para dar permiso. May es muy formal. - You cant see Kim tonight, but you can see her tomorrow if you like.

- You can leave your luggage here (informal) - You may not leave your luggage here. (formal) (Por ejemplo, un panel en la terminal de un aeropuerto) - Passengers may take only one item of hand luggage on board (formal)

OFFERS (ofrecimientos) Para ofrecimientos utilizamos generalmente can y could (could es ms fomal que can). Shall tambin es posible, aunque es mucho ms formal. - Can/could I get you anything from the store? - Shall I help you cross the road?

SUGGESTIONS (sugerencias) - Speaker A: What shall we do tonight? - Speaker B: We can/could go to the movies. - We can/could go out for a meal later.

ABITLITY (capacidad) Usamos can y could para expresar que alguien puede hacer algo en el presente y/o en el futuro. - After months of lessons, she can finally drive! - Ive called off my appointment so I can come shopping with you on the weekend (Recuerda que en Ingls britnico se dice at the weekend, at weekends) - I could see you next week if thats easier. Tambin usamos could para expresar que alguien poda hacer algo de forma general en el pasado, de manera repetida.

- I could swim quite well when I was at school. - When she was three, she could count to ten. Para expresar que alguien hizo algo en una determinada ocasin no utilizamos could, sino succeed, manage, able to - He succeeded in his ambition of becoming a pilot. - Did you manage to climb the mountain in three days? - We were able to see him before he left for Amsterdam.

POSSIBILITY (probabilidad) Usamos can y could para expresar una probabilidad de manera general. - Everyone could come if they wanted. - You can shop online to save time. Usamos could, may o might para expresar que algo puede suceder o est sucediendo. - We may see him when we are in Rome. - The weather could be good by March. - I might pop in later if Ive got a minute. - I might not be able to come on Friday.