Modal Verbs
May, Might, Can, Could, Will, Would, Ought, and Should
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May, Might, Can, Could, Will, Would, Ought, and Should
Modal verbs are verbs used in combination with other verbs and which alter their meaning.
May, might, can, and could signify that something is possible, and you can often use them interchangeably. That coffee may/might/could be the best I’ve ever tasted. Or That story he told us the other night may/might/could be true.
In another usage, may and might also indicate that something is true -- but so is something else. That computer may/might cost more than that other brand, but it has twice the memory and double the processing speed.
Using ‘could’ in that sentence introduces doubt. That computer could cost more than that other brand, but it has twice the memory and double the processing speed. That implies it’s possible the computer costs more; then again, it might not. Whatever, it has twice the memory and double the processing power.
‘May,’ ‘can,’ and ‘could’ are also polite ways to make requests.
May I please have the salt? Can I borrow your bicycle?
Could I borrow a cup of sugar?
‘Might’ also functions as the past tense (expressed in the past participle) of ‘may.’
She asks if she may be of service. She asked if she might be of service.
It may take weeks to travel to Timbuktu. It might take weeks to travel to Timbuktu.
‘Could’ is the past tense of ‘can.’
Present tense: I can understand why you would be upset. (The person is presently upset.)
Past tense/past participle: I could understand why you would have been upset. (The person was upset in the past. Hopefully he’s gotten over it.)
‘Would’ is the past tense of ‘will.’ We use ‘will’ to talk about the future, i.e. what will happen.
We’ll be late if the train doesn’t come soon.
I will see you next summer in Denver. She will take the GREs next month.
For past tense: Last summer, they would stay up late and eat s'mores by the campfire.
‘Will’ and ‘would’ are also used in conditionals, which involve ‘if’ and ‘unless.’
I will pick up a rotisserie chicken on my way home from work, unless you would rather order Chinese food.
If you don't arrive at the gate in time, you will likely miss your flight to Cancun.
My daughter won’t sleep unless I tell her a bedtime story and bring her a cold drink of water.
‘Would’ is used in hypotheticals, that is, in events that have not occurred.
It would cost a fortune to renovate that brownstone.
You won’t get into NYU unless you got good grades in college and did well on the GREs.
‘Ought to’ is the same as ‘should.’ Both are used to express advice.
You ought to try to get some sleep v. You should try to get some sleep.