Can and Could

Can: “Can” is used to express ability, willingness, permission, or possibility. The negative of can
is “cannot” or the contraction “can’t”.

Example: I can cook dinner.

In this example “can” expresses the ability to cook dinner.

Example: Can you pass me the ketchup?

In this example “Can” expresses the willingness pass me the ketchup.

Example: Can I use your pencil?

In this example “Can” expresses the permission to use your pencil.

Example: Intense light can hurt your eyes.

In this example “can” expresses the possibility of intense light to hurt your eyes.

Directions: Say how “can” is used in each sentence. Circle “A” if it is used to express ability,
“W” if it is used to express willingness, “Per” if it is used to express permission and “Pos” if it is
used to express possibility.

1) I can tie my shoes. A W Per Pos

2) Can I have a piece of gum? A W Per Pos

3) If you ride a motorcycle, you can fall. A W Per Pos

4) Can you get me a drink of water? A W Per Pos

5) I can speak English well. A W Per Pos

6) He can use my basketball if he wants to. A W Per Pos

7) Can they clean my car while I am at work? A W Per Pos

8) Can squirrels fly? A W Per Pos

9) It can snow if it gets very cold. A W Per Pos

10) I can help you with your homework if you like. A W Per Pos
Could:
“Could” has at least three functions. First, it can replace “can” and give the phrase a more
conditional tone. Second, it can function as the past tense of “can”. Third, it can function in the
same way as “might” or “may”, suggesting that something is a possibility. The negative of can is
“could not” or the contraction “couldn’t”.

Example: You could have been an astronaut if you wanted to.

In this example “could” expresses the conditional ability to be an astronaut in the past.

Example: He couldn’t let me have his pencil because he needed it.

In this example “couldn’t” expresses the lack of permission to have his pencil in the past.

Example: Jane could be at the store right now.

In this example “could” expresses the possibility that Jane is at the store in the present. “Could”
functions the same way as “might” or “may” in this sentence.

Directions: Circle the correct auxiliary modal verb in each sentence.

1) I (could, can) help you with your homework now.

2) Five years ago, I (cannot, couldn’t) play the piano.

3) I (can, could) get an A on the test.

4) I (can, could) run ten miles if I train hard enough.

5) We (can, could) speak English well.

6) Matt (could, can) be sick today.

7) The volleyball team (can, could) go to the Olympics this year if they are lucky.

8) I think I (can, could) help you learn math if you promise to study hard.

9) (Can, Could) we go to the zoo tomorrow?

10) I (cannot, couldn’t) run that fast when I was six years old.
 May and Might

May: “May” is used to express permission or possibility. The negative of may is “may not”.

Example: I may become a doctor.

In this example “may” is used to express the possibility of me becoming a doctor in the future.

Example: May I have a glass of water?

In this example “may” is used to ask permission to have a glass of water.

Might:
“Might” is used to express possibility. It differs from “may” in that the possibility it expresses is
usually smaller. The negative of might is “might not”.

Example: I might become a doctor when I grow up, but I doubt it.

In this example “might” is used to express the small possibility that I will become a doctor when
I grow up.

Directions: Circle the correct auxiliary modal verb in each sentence.

1) When I grow up, I (may, might) become an engineer.

2) There is a small chance the we (may, might) go to the beach this weekend.

3) There is a good change that we (might, may) have to postpone the meeting.

4) Billy and I (may, might) cook dinner tonight.

5) The airplane (might, may) crash.

6) You never know, I (may, might) become president one day.

7) (May, Might) I have a piece of bread please?

8) It (might, may) snow tonight, but I doubt it.

9) If Jane studied harder, she (might, may) have gotten a better grade on the test.

10) I (might, may) not be coming to your party tonight. I told my mother that I would stay home
and make cookies with her already. I’m sorry.
 Ought to and Had better

Ought to:
“Ought to” is used to express the ideal (best) action. It is different from “should” in that it gives a
sentence a more obligatory tone. The negative of ought is “ought not” or the contraction
“oughtn’t”.

Example: I ought to become a doctor because my father was a doctor.

Had better: “Had better” is used in the same way as “ought” (they are rough synonyms). The
negative of had better is “had better not”.

Example: He had better wash his hands before he eats.

In this example “had better” is used to express the ideal and somewhat obligatory action to wash
his hands before he eats.

Directions: Circle the correct auxiliary modal verb in each sentence.

1) I (had better / ought to, will) wash the dishes before mom gets home.

2) If she wants to, Anne (had better / ought to, could) become a famous actor.

3) I can’t decide if I (had better / ought to, should) go to the movie tonight. I guess I will,
because I don’t have anything else to do.

4) Jerry (had better / ought to, might) mow the lawn before the family picnic.

5) The firemen (would, ought to / had better) extinguish the fire quickly.

6) Drivers (had better / ought to, have to) stop at red lights.

7) Trees (had better / ought to, can) make light into food.

8) They (had better / ought to, may) eat some cookies.

9) The students (had better / ought to, could) finish their homework before class.

10) The war (had better / ought to, used to) end soon.