can,could,may/might - 88

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                       Can, could may/might 

Can, could, may/might are called modal auxiliaries because they are used to express moods of a person

Can is usually used to express ability or capacity

She can speak French. (Statement)

She can’t speak French. (Negative statement)

Can she speak  French? (yes/no  question)

Can’t she speak French? (yes/no negative question)

What language can she speak? (wh question)

Can as a permission word

Can I have some salt please?

Can I get this sheet of paper?

Can I leave now for lunch?

Could as a permission word (More formal than can)

Could you move a little ahead please.

Could you meet me tomorrow?

Could you help me lift this bag.

Could as possibility in the past

She could run fast when she was young.

I could spend money freely when I was a student.

The previous government could borrow money from IMF

Couldn’t as an inability in the past

She couldn’t attend the office work yesterday.

I couldn’t see the dentist last night.

They couldn’t meet the boss this morning.

May as a permission word.

May I use this pen?

May I get in?

May I park  my car here?

May/might as a possibility in negative or positive sense

It may/might rain tonight. (likely to rain)

It may not rain tonight. (unlikely to rain)

She may/might visit us tomorrow. (likely to visit)

She may not visit tomorrow.(unlikely to visit)

I may see Joe this evening. (likely to see)

I may not see Joe this evening (unlikely to see)

END OF THE POST

Would/could/should/might + have - 87

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Structure and Context 

Would have

If she had seen me yesterday I would have given her the book (or)

Had she seen me yesterday I would have given her the book.

If you had given them proper guidance they wouldn’t have committed mistakes. (or)

Had you given them proper guidance they wouldn’t have committed mistakes.

If Alice had consulted me,  I would have prevented her (From buying the new apartment) – (or)

Had Alice consulted me, I would have prevented her ………….

If you hadn’t told him (about the bad weather last week)), he would have boarded the plane to…..(or)

Hadn’t you told him (about the bad weather), he would have boarded the plane to…..

Should have

You should have consulted me before joining the job. (I would  have guided you to some better ones.)

She should have quit smoking long back. ( Now the doctor say that, she must take medicines for a long time.)

You shouldn’t have met the boss in the morning. (He used to be busy in the morning.)

The US Should have consulted UN before air strike.

They shouldn’t have invested such a huge capital when the economy is stagnant.

Should have been

(The Plane skid while landing) The pilot should have been careful while landing in bad weather.

(She missed the exam) She should have been serious about the time.

(The robbers escaped from the police van) The police should have been extra careful

Could have

The President could have avoided the shutdown (I don’t know why didn’t he act  in time .)

She couldn’t have finished the work without the help of David.

They could have nabbed the thieves, I don’t know how did they miss the opportunity.

“You could have avoided this carriageway at the beginning.” ( The present one is bumpy and narrow)

I could have turned down his request. (but I didn’t do that)

Might have

Where is Shane? She might have gone home.

Where are the keys? Clara might have taken the keys upstairs.

Who has done this (Some mistake) ? Jim might have done this

Where is my laptop? Your son might have taken it.

Where is your pen? Oh, I might have left it at Boss’s cabin

NOTE: After have only past past participle verb (seen, written, called etc.) is used

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