Modal Verbs – Part One
Grammar Practice
Modal verbs are verbs that accompany other verbs and help you communicate your purpose more clearly. The table below presents a few modal verbs and shows how they can convey different intentions.
Possibility | Permission | Advice | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Examples | may, might, can, could | may, can, could | should | |
In a sentence | You might need your earphones for class. | Yes, you may turn on your phones now. | You should create stronger passwords. | |
Tip! | “may” and “might” are not completely interchangeable: – use “may” to suggest a higher degree of probability. – use “might” if you want to be clear that you’re making a suggestion and not expressing permission. | The modal verbs in this category can also imply varying levels of formality. Formal: May I use my phone? Less formal: Could I use my phone? Casual: Can I use my phone? | “should” is also often used to express moral obligation. | |
With over 140 million active users every month, Minecraft has become one of the most popular games ever. As a multiplayer game, Minecraft is an effective platform for social networking as players CAN collaborate with each other to complete various tasks and reach a common goal.
Some teams MIGHT even want to build an in-game version of their favourite hangouts!
However, players SHOULD still be cautious of their interactions with others.
After all, the platform COULD easily be connecting you to someone with ill intent.
As such, while players of all ages CAN enter the game, players under 13 years old cannot access the full chat functions in the game.
