INSTITUTO POLITÉCNICO NACIONAL

SECRETARIA ACADEMICA
DIRECCIÓN DE EDUCACIÓN MEDIA SUPERIOR
CENTRO DE ESTUDIOS CIENTIFICOS Y TECNOLOGICOS NO. 4
“LÁ ZARO CÁ RDENAS DEL RÍO”

Student’s name: Castillo Gómez Luis Fernando Group: 1IV7

Date:____________________________________________ Teacher’s name: Juan David Macías
Sánchez
Act C6 3EV - Modal Verbs – CAN & MAY
In the English language there are different types of Modal Verbs. we are going to study
only two form in this class. Future with “Will” and “Be going to”.
Modal Verb: “can”
Base Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I can I cannot - can’t Can I?

You can You cannot - can’t Can you?
He can He cannot - can’t Can he?
can She can She cannot - can’t Can she?
It can It cannot - can’t Can It?
We can We cannot - can’t Can we?
They can They cannot - can’t Can they?
You can You cannot - can’t Can you?

We use the Modal verb “can” to ask for permissions, request information, and for
expressing abilities.
“CAN” as a Modal verb has the translation in Spanish as puedo, puedes (de poder). We take the
Modal verb and then the base form of the verb.
Can: Asking for permissions
Examples:
Can I go out for a moment?
Can I come in?
Can I borrow your notebook?
Can I use your mobile to make a call?
Can: Request information
Examples:
Can you open the window, please?
Can I have your name, please?
Can you tell me the time, please?
Can you let her come with us?

Can: Expressing abilities

Examples:
I can swim in the sea.
She can speak English, French, German and Spanish.
He can bake delicious cakes.
They can dance Roka and Roll beautifully.
1. Say what you can do or can’t do. Choose can or can’t according to you.

a. I can’t speak Chinese.

b. I can’t sing very well.
c. I can’t run 20 kilometres.
d. I can ride a bicycle.
e. I can play basket.

2. Choose can or can’t according to the situation:

Example: She can’t answer the phone now; she is not at home.
a. I know the answer; I can answer the question now.
b. She is good at the piano; she can play the piano very well.
c. This test is very difficult; I can’t answer any question.
d. Maria can speak English but she can’t speak French.
e. You can’t sleep today because you are very nervous.

3. Write the following words in order:

Example: milk - can - please - I - the - have? Can I have the milk, please?

a. school can’t to she go. She can’t go to school

b. languages can other speak she? Can she speak other languages?
c. can’t he letter a write. He can’t write a letter
d. you under can’t water the run. You can’t run under water
e. vegetarian she because meat eat she’s can’t a . She’s vegetarian, because she can’t eat meat
f. come on Sunday to they lunch can. They can come on Sunday to launch

Modal Verb: “may”

Base Affirmative Negative Interrogative
 I may I may not – mayn’t May I?
You may You may not - mayn’t May you?
He may He may not - mayn’t May he?
may She may She may not - mayn’t May she?
It may It may not - mayn’t May It?
We may We may not - mayn’t May we?
They may They may not - mayn’t May they?
You may You may not - mayn’t May you __?

We use the Modal verb “may” to ask for permissions, request information, and for
expressing possibilities.
“MAY” as a Modal verb has the translation in Spanish as podria (de poder). We take the Modal
verb and then the base form of the verb.
May: Asking for permissions
Examples:
May I go out for a moment?
May I come in?
May I borrow your notebook?
May I use your mobile to make a call?

May: Requesting information

Examples:
May you be so kind to open the window, please?
May I have your name, please?
May you be so kind to tell me the time, please?
May I have your passport and visa, please?

may: Expressing possibilities

Examples:
I may win the lottery.
She may arrive earlier. She is punctual.
He may get crazy with all that work.
They may change their opinion after you help them.
Write MAY and the base form of the verb in parentheses.

1. Take your umbrella, it may rain (rain) today.

2. He is still at work! He may come (come) late I am afraid.
3. Mum! My friends are having a party tonight; may go (go) please?
4. He maybe (be) late because his flight has been delayed.
5. Look at those clouds! It may rain (rain) in a minute.
6. Nowadays, people may rain (travel) very easily all over Europe
7. Children may bring (bring) their teddy bears to school.
8. He may not be (not/be) the murderer.
9. Pupils may go (go) out if they've finished their homework.
10. May I come (come) to your house for tea?
11. She may be (be) in the wrong room.
12. May you please bring (bring) me my notebook?

13. You may not use (not/use) the car tonight.

14. May I open (open) the door?
15. He may come (come) with me tomorrow.
16. David may invite (invite) Jessica to the match.
17. I'm not sure I'll go to the party. I maybe (be) away.
18. We may come see (come-see) her next Friday.
19. I may fly (fly) to Africa this summer.
20. He’s a very good chef and he may make (make) a cake for my son’s birthday.
21.  I need the dictionary on the desk. May you get (get) it for me?
22. She may be (be) back in her office: the lecture finished ten minutes ago.
23. I may go (go) shopping tonight, I haven't decided yet.

24. You may leave (leave) now if you wish.

25. She maybe (be) busy to help you with your homework
26. He maybe (be) at home.
27. He may not know (not/know) about it.
28. It's too late to phone him now. He maybe (be) sleeping.
29. You may call (call) a taxi by telephone.
30. May I call (call) to my mother now?
31. He may come (come) a little later.
32. You may find (find) the book at the library.
33. If I may say (say) so, I think you have treated him very badly.

Rewrite the sentence

1 may / go / June. / I / next 
.
I may go net June
2 leave. /school / ask / may / for /I / a 
.
I may ask a school leave
3 headmaster / may / go. / let / But,/ the / not / you
.
Let the headmaster go. But may not
4 I / your / May / telephone, please? / use
.
May I use your telephone? Please
5 I / dictionary? / borrow / your / Can
.
Can I borrow your dictionary?
6 a / drink? / I / him / May / give
.
May I give him a drink?
7 believe / You / not / me. / may
.
You may not believe me

8. you / yourself. / play / Don't / with / hurt / a / may / knife

Don’t play with a knife. you may hurt yourself
9. suitable. / method / may / The / be
The may be suitable method
10. reduce / the / stress. / It / may
It may reduce the stress