Can and Could Worksheet

                                                          Worksheet for Can and Could

a)  He __________ bring work.

b)  She __________ speak German.

c)  I  __________ play Cricket. 

d) They  ____________ swim the river last year.

e)  ________ we talk?

f)  __________ I talk to Sharon, please?

g) ___________ you please give me the keys?

h) He  _________ meet him earlier. 

i) They __________ beat them, if the referee was fair.

j) John  ________ came for the party yesterday.

k) Yes, we ________  .

l) No, they ________ win.

Modals : Can or Could

                                                                Can or Could

                                                           Can or Could expresses 

• Ability in present and past

He can speak many languages. (Ability in the present)

He could speak many languages. (Ability in past)

I can walk this path at night.  (Ability in the present)

I could walk this path at night.  (Ability in past)

                                                         Can or Could for Permissions 

• To seek and give permissions

Can I go? (To seek permissions)

Can we buy the kit? (To seek permissions)

Yes, you can go. (To give permissions)

Yes, you can buy the kit. (To give permissions)

Could is used for general permissions in the past

He couldn't go for a movie, because his parents objected to it.

                                                            Can or Could for Requests 

• Requests

Informal request: Can you give me a pen?

Formal request: Could you give me a pen, please?

                                                   Can or Could are used for Possibilities

• Possibilities

It can be very cold here at night. (Possibility in present)

The storm could have destroyed the forest. (Possibility in past)

It can destroy your ambitions. (Possibility in present)

The war could have harmed wildlife. (Possibility in past)

Modals : May or Might Worksheet

                                                           May and Might Work Sheet


a) _______ I go out with Ajay for a coffee?

b) He ______ come for a party.

c) You _____________ an expensive TV. (purchase)

d) He is still doing a theater. He ______ not come for a dinner.

e) Take your Umbrella as it ______ rain.

f) He ______ be on a leave. 

g) We ______ go for a weekend holiday next month. 

h) They _______________ for the publicity.

i) _________ we ask you a question?

j) You _____________ this song. (sing)

Modals : May or Might

May or Might

    Express Possibility

Ø May is used for Higher Possibility 

When you are 70% to 80% sure about something.

It may rain tonight.
I may go to the party tonight.

Ø Might is used for Lower Possibility 

When you are only 10 to 20% sure about something.

It might rain today.

I might go to a party.

                              Give Permissions

Ø May is used for taking permission

May I come in?

May I go?

Ø May is used for giving permission

Yes, you may come in.

Yes, you may go.

Ø The modal Might is only used for permission

I reckon if I might borrow your pen?

The modal Might is not used for granting permission.

                      May and Might have a different tense


Remember:  May\Might + have + past participle

Past Participle : Verb form 3 or V3

May is the present tense.

Might is the past tense.

We may go for a movie. (Present)

They may have gone for a movie. (Past)

We might have gone for a movie, if we had a cab. (Past)

We may miss the train. (Present)

They may have missed the train. (Past)

We might have caught the train, but we missed it. (Past)

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