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Modal verbs (ii)

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This document discusses the use of modal verbs must, may, might, and can't to express levels of certainty or possibility. [1] Must is used to express certainty about something that is surely true. [2] May and might are used to express possibility but with less certainty than must, with might implying something is less probable than with may. [3] Can't is used to express something that is known to be impossible.

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MODAL VERBS (II) Must, may, might, can’t (deduction)
MUST - CERTAINTY Use must when you are sure about something. She must have a lot of money. She drives a Porsche. You have been studying all day. You must be exhausted. The phone is ringing. It must be my father. He told me he needed to talk to me.
MAY, MIGHT - POSSIBILITY Use may and might when something is possibly true but you are not sure. She’s not at home. She may be out shopping (but I don’t know for sure). Have you seen “The King’s Speech”? I think you may like it, it’s a good film. We may go climbing in the Alps next year, but we are not sure yet. We might not be home before midnight.
May and might are similar in meaning. The difference is that might refers to a situation which is even less probable. I may go to London tomorrow (perhaps a 50% chance). Joe might come with me (perhaps a 30% chance).
CAN’T - IMPOSSIBILITY Use can’t when you know something is impossible. He can’t be in hospital, I saw him this morning! 5 euros for a cup of coffee? That can’t be true! It can’t rain today. Look, the sun is shinning.

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Modal verbs (ii)

  • 1. MODAL VERBS (II) Must, may, might, can’t (deduction)
  • 2. MUST - CERTAINTY Use must when you are sure about something. She must have a lot of money. She drives a Porsche. You have been studying all day. You must be exhausted. The phone is ringing. It must be my father. He told me he needed to talk to me.
  • 3. MAY, MIGHT - POSSIBILITY Use may and might when something is possibly true but you are not sure. She’s not at home. She may be out shopping (but I don’t know for sure). Have you seen “The King’s Speech”? I think you may like it, it’s a good film. We may go climbing in the Alps next year, but we are not sure yet. We might not be home before midnight.
  • 4. May and might are similar in meaning. The difference is that might refers to a situation which is even less probable. I may go to London tomorrow (perhaps a 50% chance). Joe might come with me (perhaps a 30% chance).
  • 5. CAN’T - IMPOSSIBILITY Use can’t when you know something is impossible. He can’t be in hospital, I saw him this morning! 5 euros for a cup of coffee? That can’t be true! It can’t rain today. Look, the sun is shinning.