Use of may must. Modal verbs – CAN, MUST, MAY and others

Use of verbs can And may in modern English language often causes difficulty. It is sometimes difficult to immediately say which sentence will be correct: “May we expect you tomorrow?” or “Can we expect you tomorrow?”

Once upon a time according to strict rules English grammar can expressed physical or mental ability, A may– permission And OK. It was considered wrong to use can in the meaning of permission. There was a verb for this may:
- May I accompany you to the concert, Miss Smith
- Why of course you may, honey.

And this young lady could ask about her dancing abilities like this:
- Can you do the tango?

And get, for example, such a positive answer:
- Why of course I can, Miss Smith.

Today the rules of language are not so defined. Already from the second half of the 19th century can used in informal speech to express permission. For example, you might hear the following:
Can I go to the party? -Can I go out for the evening?

And these days, can also used in informal context for expressing permission. Teachers primary classes often heard
Can I go to the garden?

and persecutes parents
Can I have a doll?

Children repeat what they hear from adults, and the latter, as can be seen, are increasingly moving away from may, which sometimes sounds too prim.
Linguist Weichman also separates these verbs, noting that the question with may“sounds more polite.”
Therefore, we can conclude that only in formal and official communication situations should this verb be used to request permission. For example, in a conversation with a restaurant waiter it would be more advantageous to sound
May I have more salt, please?

than
Can I have more salt, please?

And if you knock on the door, it’s better to ask
May I come in?

As for prohibitions, then use may not highly not recommended. This applies to all styles.
You can't go to the disco.

Use may in such cases, although formally acceptable, it sounds unnatural. Educated people would rather say “Can’t I?” rather than “Mayn’t I?” or “May I not?” And even according to the strict rules of English grammar, the question “Why mayn’t I go to the disco?” sounds wrong, you can say “not in English” So, in the near future the verb may not, most likely, will become archaic, if it hasn’t already.

Now let's return to the question asked at the beginning of the article. Which option would be correct: “Can or may we see you tomorrow?” First you need to understand what the speaker means: ability or permission. To do this, you can replace the verb, for example, with its equivalent:
Are we allowed to see you tomorrow?

It is immediately clear that the resolution value is not appropriate.
But also the ability to in this case also does not imply:
Are we mentally able to see you tomorrow?

If you think about it a little, you come to the conclusion that in this case the best option will might:
Might we see you tomorrow?

For the difference in the use of may and might, see.

Meanwhile, “Are you coming tomorrow?” may also be suitable in this case. But if you had to choose between can And may, then it is still advisable to give preference to the first:
Can we see you tomorrow?

So, in an informal setting, the use can instead of may allowed and widely used in speech, while in formal style it is recommended to use may.

In English, they differ from other verbs in that they are not used independently and do not denote a specific action or
state, they reflect its modality, that is, the speaker’s attitude towards it. Together, the modal verb and the infinitive of the meaningful verb form a compound modal predicate.

I can swim. I can swim.

The speaker can evaluate the action as possible, necessary, permitted, requested, prohibited, ordered, unlikely, very probable, etc.

Can or May?

The use of the verbs can and may in modern English is often confusing. Once upon a time, according to the strict rules of English grammar
can expressed physical or mental ability, A
may – permission and approval. It was considered incorrect to use can in the meaning of permission.

Today the rules of language are not so defined. Already from the second half of the 19th century
can used in informal speech to express permission. IN
formal and official in communication situations the verb should be used may to request permission.

For example, in a conversation with a restaurant waiter it would be more advantageous to sound

May I have more salt, please?

As for prohibitions/denials , then use may not extremely NOT recommended. This applies to all styles.

Use may in such cases, although formally acceptable, it sounds unnatural. Educated people are more likely to say
"Can't I?" rather than “Mayn’t I?” or “May I not?” And even according to the strict rules of English grammar, the question “Why mayn’t I go to the disco?” sounds
wrong, one might say "Not
in English".

When is what used? Can or could, may or might?

CAN is used:

1. When expressing capabilities or possibilities
do something. (Indefinite Infinitive)

I can swim. You can play. / I can swim. You can play.

2. When do something.

I cannot swim. He cannot see / I can't swim. He can't see.

3. When the possibility that an action could have been denied
come true in reality. (Perfect Infinitive)

You cannot have done it. / It can’t be that you did this.

COULD is used:

1. When expression capabilities or abilities
in past . (Indefinite Infinitive)

They could swim. / They didn't know how to swim.

2. When expression denial of possibility or ability
taking any action in past .

She couldn't swim. / She didn't know how to swim.

3. When consumed indirect speech , depending from a verb in the past tense . (Indefinite Infinitive and Perfect Infinitive)

I said that you couldn't have done that. / I said you couldn't do it.

4. In the main part of conditional sentences.

In conditional sentences of the second type and third type (Indefinite Infinitive and Perfect Infinitive).

If he tried, he could do

If he had tried, he could have done it. / If he tried, he could do it.

MAY is used:

1. To express permission for any action (Indefinite Infinitive)

You may go home now. / Now you can go home.

2. To express an assumption: relating to the present and future (Indefinite Infinitive) or to the past (Perfect Infinitive)

It may rain today. / It might rain today.

She may have returned to Moscow. / She may have returned to Moscow.

MIGHT is used:

1. When using indirect speech depending on the verb in the past tense.

to express permission (Indefinite Infinitive) or express assumption (Indefinite Infinitive and Perfect Infinitive)

She said that he might take her cellphone. / She said he could take her phone.

He said that she might know their address. / He said that she might know their address.

2. In the main part of conditional sentences: in conditional sentences of the second (Indefinite Infinitive) and third type (Perfect Infinitive)

Using the phrase to BE ABLE TO

As you probably already noticed when considering the verb can , it has only two forms, these are - can and could , i.e. when expressed in the present or past tense. But how can we convey the meaning of this modal verb in other tenses?
forms? For this it has a synonym expressed by the combination "to be able to" . This phrase, like the verb can, denotes ability, ability.

I can swim = I am able to swim - I can (able) to swim.

BUT it wouldn't be that simple! When using this phrase it is necessary
consider the difference between a modal verb can and the expression itself
to be able to.

The point is that if we use to be able to in the present or past tense as a direct replacement can or could, then the very meaning of the entire sentence changes! In such a case, the combination shows that a person can or cannot do something in a particular case in question, at a certain point in time. Let's try to figure it out using an example, say, with the same verb swim. Let's say I can swim. And this morning, while going down the stairs, I twisted my leg, and that’s why today I can’t swim. But the fact that I twisted my leg did not change my ability to swim.

I can swim. But I’m not able to swim today. / I can swim. But today I am not able to swim.

What about other temporary forms? For example, how we will do something in the future.

I will be able to go to you tomorrow. / I can come see you tomorrow.

To give denial , particle is used not
by joining.

I am not able to... I will not (won’t) be able to... I was not (wasn’t) able to... etc.

It is necessary to remember

— With all personal pronouns, the modal verb does not change.

I,WE,YOU,THEY,HE,SHE,IT - can (cannot/can’t), could (couldn’t) - verb “ability” (do, play, see, come..)

— Between the modal verb and the verb “ability”
absent TO!

Statement of a question

In an interrogative sentence, the first place comes
, followed by 2.Modal verb, then 3.Agent and finally 4.Action verb.

(1)When (2)can (3)you (4)get home? / When can you come home?

Will you be able to give me your book? – Can you give me your book? (As you can see, in the case of the phrase be able to, the formulation of the question remains unchanged, as with a regular verb.)

1. For expression possibilities or capabilities perform an action (with Indefinite Infinitive*).
   I can do it now. → I can do it now.
2. When possibility not allowed that the action actually took place (with Perfect Infinitive**).
   He cannot have done it. → It can't be that he did this.

COULD is used:

1. For expression possibilities or capabilities perform an action in the past (with Indefinite Infinitive).
   He could swim very well when he was young. → He could swim well when he was young.
2. IN indirect speeches depending on the verb in past time (with Indefinite Infinitive and Perfect Infinitive).
   I said that he could speak English. → I said that he can speak English.
   I said that he couldn't have done that. → I said he couldn't do it.
3. IN
   
   If he tried, he could do
   
   If he had tried, he could have done it. → If he tried, he could do it.

MAY is used:

1. For expression permissions(with Indefinite Infinitive).
   You may go home now. → You can now go home.
2. For expression assumptions:
   a) relating to the present or future (with Indefinite Infinitive).
   It may rain today. → It might rain today.
   b) relating to the past (with Perfect Infinitive)
   He may have returned to London. → He may have returned to London.

MIGHT is used:

1. IN indirect speeches depending on the verb in past time:
   a) to express permission (with Indefinite Infinitive).
   She said that he might take her doc. → She said that he could take her dictionary.
   b) to express an assumption (with Indefinite Infinitive and Perfect Infinitive).
   He said that she might know their address. → He said that she might know their address.
   He said that she might have lost their address. → He said that she might have lost their address.
2. IN main part of conditional sentences:
   a) in conditional sentences of the second type (with Indefinite Infinitive).
   If you tried, you might get the boo k. → If you tried, you could get this book.
   b) in conditional sentences of the third type (with Perfect Infinitive).
   If he had been here, he might have helped us. → If he were here, he could help us.

Difference in the use of CAN (COULD) and MAY (MIGHT)

In English there is a group of verbs that do not denote an action, but only express an attitude towards it. These are modal verbs.

Features of modal verbs are easy to remember:

1. They have only one form.
2. The semantic verb is placed without the particle to.
3. They are also called “insufficient” due to the absence of a number of forms.
4. They do not have an infinitive or participle form.

The most common verbs are: MAY (MIGHT), CAN (COULD) , MUST.


Let's look at the verbs MAY (MIGHT), CAN (COULD) and use examples to see all the features of modal verbs. If you find it difficult to choose the correct verb CAN or MAY, remember just one little hint:

1. CAN (I CAN do it “physically”, I can write, say, do, look, etc.
2. MAY (this is a request, opportunity, permission).

She can do it. She can do it. ( Action)

You may take the book. You can take the book. ( Permission).

CAN

We use the verb can when we talk about the opportunity to do something, or someone can do something (opportunity, skill):

• We can see the lake from our window. We can see the lake from our window.
• I can come in time. I can be on time.
• I can write. I can write.

A sentence with the Perfect Infinitive in an affirmative sentence is translated by the word “possibly.” In this case, the semantic verb is translated by a past tense verb:
She can have done it. She may have done it.

In interrogative and negative sentences, can in combination with Infinitive or Perfect Infinitive is translated by the words really, cannot be:

• Can she do it? Is she really doing this?
• Can she done it? Did she really do this?

4. Negative sentences use the form can’t (cannot). I’m afraid I can’t come to the party on Friday. I'm afraid I won't be able to come to Friday evening.

COULD

Could is the past form of the verb can. Especially could is used with the following verbs: see, hear, smell, taste, feel, remember, undersrand. She spoke in a very low voice, but I could understand what she said.
She spoke in a very quiet voice, but I was able to understand what she said.

We use could to talk about something that is possibly happening now or will happen in the future. The phone is ringing. It could be Tim. The phone rings. It might be Tim calling.

I don’t know when they’ll be here. They could arrive at any time. I don't know when they will be here. They can come at any time.

Sometimes could means “would be able to...” (... able to...). We could go away if we had enough money. - We could go away if we had enough money. OR We would be able to go away... - We are able to leave...

The missing forms of past and future tense are replaced by the equivalent:

• to be able to (to be able to).
• She will be able to do it. She can do it.

MAY, MIGHT

Request in interrogative sentences:
May I take it? Can I take it?

Resolution in affirmative sentences:
You may take the pen. You can take a pen.

Assumption, possibility with Infinitive or Perfect Infinitive and is translated by the words perhaps, maybe.

• She may do it. She might be doing it.
• She may have done it. She may have done it.
• It may be true (This may be true) or It might be true (Perhaps this is true).

May, might are used when talking about possible upcoming actions in the future:

Take an umbrella with you, when you go out. It might rain later. Take an umbrella with you when you go out. It might rain later.

Usually in situations that have not yet happened, it is possible to use both verbs may, might.

• I may go to London. I can go to London.
• I might go to London. I could go to London.

Negative form may not and might not (mightn’t): It might not be true. Perhaps this is not true.

We only use might, when the situation is not real.

Example: If I knew them better, I might invite them to dinner. - If I knew them better, I could invite them to dinner. (Meaning of the phrase: The situation is not real because I don’t know them well, so I’m not going to invite them).

The missing forms of the past and future tenses of the modal verb may are replaced by the equivalent: to be allowed to, to be permitted to. He is permitted to go there. He can go there.

Modal verbs are those that characterize the responsibilities, capabilities, desires and necessity of action. They directly convey the speaker’s attitude to what is happening.
Despite the fact that modal verbs are strong and do not require the use of an auxiliary verb, when constructing interrogative and negative sentences, they cannot be used independently without a semantic verb:

I cannot fly. - I can not fly.
You may go. - You can go.

In English, modal verbs are used independently only when they form a short answer, or the meaning of the statement is clear from the previous context in which semantic (weak) verbs are used:

- Can you read this?
- I can.

Most people cannot run as fast as animals, but some can.

In English for expression possibilities/impossibility or abilities/inabilities to do something, two modal verbs are most often used - can And may.

They do not change in persons and numbers, as evidenced by the absence of an ending -s- in the present simple tense, do not have all the usual forms for weak verbs (for example, the ending -ing) and do not require the help of an auxiliary verb do/ does/ did.

Can vs. May

Can And may have a meaning in Russian be able/ be able/ allow. It is immediately worth noting that in most cases they are not interchangeable. In the image accompanying the illustration of the article there is a saying:

Do as you may if you can’t do as you could.

This aphorism uses three modal verbs at once and all three will have different shades meanings. The sentence itself is translated as follows:

Do as you are allowed, if you are prohibited from doing as you could.

There are certain criteria when choosing a particular verb.

Can has two forms in English - the present tense form and the past tense form could, which will also be used in the subjunctive mood.
However, in English it is possible to use a modal verb can in the future tense. In this case, it will be replaced by an equivalent verb to be able to do smth.

I can read English.- Present Simple
He thought he could do it alone.- Past Simple
I wish I could see it.
He told me he could have seen it earlier.- Perfect

She will be able to finish the painting in Summer.- Future

May used in English in the form of present and past tense might, which can also be found in sentences in the subjunctive mood.

May I come in?- Present Simple
They might come yesterday.- Past Simple
He might be at home. - Subjunctive mood(subjunctive mood)

Use of Can and May

Modal verb can has a wider range of applications compared to the verb may.

1. For expression ability or ability to do something use can:

I can swim. Can you?

2. Can also used to indicate possibilities(theoretical or according to some rules):

You can find it in any dictionary.
Russian Railways can change the fares seasonally.- Russian Railways may change tariffs depending on the season.

3. When prohibited used for something cannot (can't). You can also find prohibitions with may, but they will sound too “soft”:

You cannot talk too loud in the library.- You can't speak loudly in the library.
You may not talk loudly in the library.- You are not allowed to speak loudly in the library.

4. Request can be expressed through can or could. The latter in this case will have emphatically polite treatment:

Can you pass me some butter?
Could you pass me some butter?

5. When expressing surprise in interrogative sentences or reproach the narrative often uses a modal verb can. Its shape could will reflect the extreme degree of the condition:

How can you be so rude?- How can you be so rude?
You could tell me in the end.- In the end, you could have told me!

6. Cannot (can't) used to denote strong mistrust:

She can't work there.- Yes, she can’t work there.
They couldn't have done it.- They just couldn't do it.

Please note that in almost all cases of use could, verb emphasizes exaggerated attitude speaking to current events.

In situations where you ask permission to do something can be used both modal verbs. Offers with may at the same time they will sound more formally:

You can come in.- You can come in.
You may come in.- Come in./ You can come in.

Modal verbs may/might contain character speaker's uncertainty regarding the events described. As with could, past form might transmits greater degree of uncertainty:

Somebody's calling. It may be Mary.- Someone is calling. Perhaps it's Mary.
It may rain. Take an umbrella.- It can start raining. Take an umbrella.

Modal verb may most often used when especially polite treatment:

May I sit down?- Can I sit down? / Let me sit down?
Can I sit down? would rather be translated “Can I sit down?”

Often might used when expressing reproach. The sentence sounds especially caustic:

You might have told me beforehand.- I could have warned you in advance.

In this article we started a big important topic on modal verbs and talked about two of them. In future publications we will definitely try to highlight the remaining representatives of this category.

We wish you to be able to master this grammar material! May success be with you!

Victoria Tetkina