Class 11 English Unit 14: Grammar: Modal Verbs: may, might, must & can't

 

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skqj4jOSQU4

Grammar (page 134)

Modal Verbs: may, might, must, can’t

Ø May or Might is used to talk to express how sure we are about something that happens in the present or future.

a.     I may pass the exam. I don’t feel very confident.

b.     He might be in France.

Ø Must is used to talk about certainty.

a.     He has been working all day. He must be tired.

b.     My mother must be a great cook. She always prefers cooking.

Ø Can’t is used to say we are certain that something is impossible.

a.     He can’t be in Kathmandu. I saw him this morning.

b.     You can’t hate Nepali food. It’s delicious.

A.   Study the following sentences.

a.      She may be in France.

b.     You've had a long journey. You must be tired.

c.      Niraj can't be in Gorkha - I saw him this morning.

Ø We use may or might to talk about the possibility of something in the present or in the future.

Ø We use must and can’t to express certainty in the present. 

B.    Fill in the blanks with may, must, or can’t.

a.      Matthew must be at home. I can see his bike in front of his home.

b.     They may be coming tomorrow.

c.      She can’t speak French very well. She's only lived in Paris for two weeks.

d.     My key is not in my pocket or on my desk, so it must be in the drawer.

e.      I saw him yesterday. He can’t be abroad.

f.       You got the job? That's great. You must be very delighted.

g.     I may finish it by tomorrow if I stay at work all night, but I'm not sure.

h.     Somebody is knocking on the door. It must be Sabina – she promised to come today.

Quiz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HBffV9DB90&t=242s

C.    Rewrite the following sentences using may/might, must, or can’t.

Example: Maybe they went away.

They may have gone away.

a.      I’m sure he’s not going to the cinema today.

He can’t be going to the cinema today.

b.     Perhaps she knows the answer.

She may know the answer.

c.      I’m sure he has a car.

He must have a car.

d.     I doubt if it rains later on.

It may rain later on.

e.      Perhaps she wants to be alone.

She may want to be alone.

f.       I’m sure Harina is in her office.

Harina must be in her office.

Quiz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olXG5_RNvFo

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