It's no secret that English is international. According to statistics from the Council of Europe, seventy percent of the residents of countries within the European Union speak it. Also, competent, beautiful English is appreciated when hiring many managers of large Russian and foreign companies. In addition, knowing the language, you can safely travel around the globe. But in order to speak English fluently, you need to study the grammar in detail. After all, it is she who is the basis of every language.
This article describes what modal verbs are and the features of their application, and also presents the features of using such "relationship verbs" as can / could, may / might.
What are modal verbs?
Modal verbs are “verbs of relationship” that do not indicate specific actions, but only reflect the person’s participation in the process that he performs, that is, permissibility, approval, desirability, the obligation to commit an act. Examples for comparison:
- My daughter is walking in the garden. - My daughter walks in the garden (the verb expresses the commission of an action).
- My daughter can walk now. - My daughter knows how to walk (a modal verb determines the ability to perform any action).
The following verbs belong to the group of “verbs of relationship” and semantic words:
- can / could (be able to);
- may / might;
- must
- ought to (should, should);
- need (necessary, necessary);
- should (should, should);
- to have / has to
- to be able to (be able to);
- to be to
- have / has got to
In colloquial speech, modal turns are usually rarely used.
Features of the use of "relationship verbs"
Like every grammar rule in English, there is a whole group of minor but characteristic exceptions in the use of modal verbs.
- Modal verbs can be entered into a sentence only with the infinitive of the semantic verb.
- “Relationship verbs” are inherently inferior because they do not have the forms that other verbs can have. Only can and may apply in the past tense and have forms - could and might. The difference between might and could is only that the first verb can also be used in the meaning of permission, and both verbs are translated into Russian as “can, be able to”.
- Own forms (gerund, participle, etc.) are not used for modal verbs (the exception is the verb to need).
- The infinitive that follows the modal verb in the sentence is introduced into the sentence without the particle to, exceptions may be semantic turns.
- Unlike others, the ending verb s is not added to “relationship verbs”.
- Interrogative sentences are drawn up without the additional verb to do, in which case the modal is put first in the beginning of the sentence (Can you do it for me?).
- In negative sentences, a notional particle is added to the verb, which follows after the “relationship verb”. Can and not are not written separately (cannot).
These are common distinguishing characteristics of all “relationship verbs”. Of course, each of them also has special properties.
The difference between may and might and features of their use
The verb may has two meanings. The first is permission to perform some action. In this sense, the verb may corresponds to the Russian “can” or “allow” in affirmative and interrogative sentences. For negative statements, the verb may expresses the meaning of prohibition or even unconditional disagreement.
- May I call my parents? - May I call my parents?
- May I go home? - May I go home?
The main difference between may and might is that might, in fact, is a past form of the verb may.
I was told that I might go home. - I was told that I can go home.
The verb may also has the meaning of an assumption or the possibility of an act. In this sense, may cannot be used in interrogative sentences.
He may know that girl. “Perhaps he knows that girl.”
There is another difference between may and might, which is that the form might might have the meaning of an assumption, but as a rule it shows a greater degree of doubt than the verb may.
Your friend might still call you back, but I'm not sure. “Your friend may still call you back, but I'm not sure.”
Concluding the topic of the difference between may and might, it should be noted that the might form may also have the meaning of accusation or reproach, in which case the verb is translated into Russian as “could” (could, could).
Modal verbs can and could
These verbs, in addition to the main meaning, can also convey feelings of doubt, amazement and mistrust. Moreover, the past form could could have the same meaning, but in a less acute form. Also, the verb can is translated into Russian as "can" or "be able to." There is no difference between can and may regarding their meaning.
The forms of these words are often used in interrogative sentences in order to express a request. And the difference between could and may is that the negative form couldn't couldn't be more respectful than the verb may. Compare:
- May you pass me the salt, please? “Can you please pass the salt?”
- Couldn't you close the window, please? -Could you close the window, please?