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Functions of
Modal Verbs - Coggle Diagram
Functions of
Modal Verbs
Expressing
ability
CAN - present action;
COULD/WAS ABLE TO - past repeated action;
WAS ABLE TO - managed to do sth, past single action;
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Expressing
certainty
MUST - positive, I’m sure he is;
CAN’T - negative, I’m sure he isn’t;
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Expressing
possibility
CAN - it is theoretically possible;
COULD/ MAY/ MIGHT - it is possible;
COULD/ MIGHT HAVE BEEN - but he wasn’t;
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Talking about
permission
CAN/ ARE ALLOWED TO - regulation;
COULD/ WAS ALLOWED TO - general permission;
WAS ALLOWED TO - permission for one particular action
Making requests
CAN/ WILL - informal;
COULD/ WOULD - more polite;
CAN - informal;
COULD/ MAY - formal;
MIGHT - very formal;
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