Functii ale Verbelor Modale si expresii/ cuvinte modale

echivalente

Verbele modale pot exprima urmatoarele lucruri:

Ability/ Abilitate

- can (prezent): I can speak German well./ I am able to speak German well. (Eu pot sa
vorbesc germana bine.)
- could (trecut): I could speak German well. (Puteam sa vorbesc germana bine.)
I was able to (managed to) go on a trip last year. (Am reusit/ am fost in stare
sa ma duc intr-o excursie anul trecut.)
e.g. My sister ... very beautifully. (Sora mea poate sa deseneze foarte frumos.)
a) must draw b) can draw c) may draw d) mustn’t draw
Possibility/ Posibilitate
-Can (90% certain): Everybody can make mistakes. (Toata lumea poate face greseli.)
-Could (50% certain): She could be at home. (E posibil ca ea sa fie acasa.)
-May (50% certain): She may be at home. (E posibil ca ea sa fie acasa.)
-Might (30% certain): She might be at home. (E posibil ca ea sa fie acasa, dar nu este
sigur.)
Posibilitatea se poate exprima si prin cuvinte sau expresii care pot inlocui verbul modal.
Sensul ramane acelasi.
-it is likely: It’s likely she is at home.=> She may/could be at home. (E posibil ca ea sa fie
acasa.)
-it is possible: It’s possible she is at home.=> She may/could be at home. (E posibil ca ea sa
fie acasa.)
-Perhaps: Perhaps she is at home..=> She may/could be at home. (E posibil ca ea sa fie
acasa.)
-Maybe: Maybe she is at home. => She may/could be at home. (E posibil ca ea sa fie acasa.)

!!! ATENTIE: Atunci cand avem intrebari, posibilitatea se exprima cu might, could sau
will, DAR NU CU MAY:

-Will/ could/ might: May/ Will/ Could/ Might it rain later? = Is it possible to rain later? (E
posibil sa ploua mai tarziu?)
!!! ATENTIE: atunci cand exprimam posibilitatea in limba engleza, trebuie sa tinem cont
de
gradul de certitudine. Unele verbe modale exprima un grad de certitudine mai mare decat
altele si deci sunt folosite in functie de cat de siguri santem ca actiunea este posibila sau nu.
De aceea avem gradul de certitudine aratat in paranteza dupa fiecare verb modal care
exprima
posibilitatea.
!!! ATENTIE: could/ couldn't se folosesc cu adjective la comparativ pentru a exprima
posibilitate sau imposibilitate:
e.g.
e.g. She is the nicest girl I’ve ever met. (Ea este cea mai draguta fata pe care am
intalnito
vreodata.)
a) The girl couldn’t be nicer.
b) The girl may not be nicer.
c) The girl might be nicer.
d) The girl shouldn’t be nicer.
e.g. They ... be sleeping, but I am not so sure. (E posibil ca ei sa doarma, dar nu sunt
sigur.)
a) may b) must c) ought to d) might
It’s possible he likes her. (E posibil ca el o place.)
a) He must like her.
b) He will like her.
c) He may like her.
d) He should like her.
... it rain tomorrow, do you think? (Crezi ca e posibil sa ploua maine?)
a) May b) Can c) Will d) Must
Probability/ Probabilitate
- Will (100% certain): He will be on the plane by now. (El este in avion acum cu siguranta.)
- Should (90% certain): He should be there. (El trebuie sa fie acolo.)