Modals to express future possibility and conclusions
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The document discusses the use of modal verbs to express future possibility and draw conclusions. It explains that "may", "might", and "could" are used to express future possibility, while "must", "have to", and "have got to" indicate nearly certain conclusions. When conclusions are less certain, "may", "might", and "could" are used, and negative conclusions can be expressed by "can't", "couldn't", "must not", or "may not/might not". Questions about possibility often use future tense or phrases like "Do you think", while answers often contain modal verbs.
Modals to express future possibility and conclusions
- 1. MODALS TO EXPRESS FUTURE POSSIBILITY AND CONCLUSIONS Mgs. Paúl González T.
- 2. FUTURE POSSIBILITY: MAY, MIGHT, COULD • Use may not and might not to express the possibility that something will not happen. He has good intentions, but he might not solve the problems. 2
- 3. • Use couldn’t to express the idea that something is impossible. A: Why don’t you cut class tomorrow? B: I couldn’t do that. I have to give a presentation . 3
- 4. • Questions about possibility usually do not use may, might, or could. Instead, they use the future (will, be going to, the present progressive) or phrases such as Do you think…? or Is it possible that…? A:Do you think it will rain tomorrow too? B: It could stop tonight. The answers to these questions often use may, might or could. 4
- 5. CONCLUSIONS: MUST, HAVE (GOT) TO, MAY, MIGHT, COULD, CAN’T • When we are almost 100% certain, we use must, have to, or have got to to state affirmative conclusions. FACT CONCLUSION Wilson has only one His shop must be quite clerk. small Wilson applied for a job. He has to need money. They pay men for It’s got to be a joke. debating with the president. 5
- 6. • When we are less certain about our conclusion, we use may, might, or could to express that something is possible. FACT CONCLUSION His hand is swollen. He may write a lot. Watson knows a lot He might be a doctor. about medicine. Vincent knows a lot He could be a about cameras. photographer. 6
- 7. • To express negative conclusions: • Use can’t and couldn’t when you are almost 100 percent certain that something is impossible. He can’t be dead! I just saw him! • Use must not when you are slightly less certain. He must not have enough money. He never buys new clothes. 7
- 8. • Use may not and might not when you are even less certain. He may not know about the plan. His boss doesn’t tell him everything. • Do not use have to and have got to to draw negative conclusions. CORRECT: It can’t be true! INCORRECT: It doesn’t have to be true! 8
- 9. GRACIAS 9