Can or Could and May or might
Can
We use 'can' to talk about 'possibility'.
- Can you do that?
- I can't manage to do that.
- You can leave your car in that parking space.
- You cannot smoke in here.
Notice that there
are two negative forms: 'can't' and 'cannot'. These mean exactly the
same thing. When we are speaking, we usually say 'can't'.
We use 'can' to talk about 'ability'.
- I can speak French.
- I can't drive.
We use 'can' to ask for and give permission. (We also use 'may' for this but is more formal and much less common.)
- Can I speak to you or are you too busy?
- You can use my phone.
- You can't come in.
We use 'can' in offers, requests and instructions.
- Can I help?
- Can you give me a hand?
- When you finish that, you can take out the garbage.
We use 'can' with
'see' 'hear' 'feel' 'smell' 'taste' to talk about something which is
happening now . (Where you would use the present continuous with most
other verbs.)
- I can smell something burning.
- Can you hear that noise?
- I can't see anything.
We can use 'can't' for deduction. The opposite of 'can't' in this context is 'must'.
- You can't be hungry. You've just eaten.
- You must be hungry. You haven't eaten anything all day.
- He was in London one hour ago when I spoke to him. He can't be here yet.
Could
'Could' can be used to talk about the past, the present or the future.
'Could' is a past form of 'can'
- When I was living in Boston, I could walk to work.
- He phoned to say he couldn't come.
- I could see him clearly but I couldn't hear him and then the videoconference line went dead.
'Could' is used to make polite requests. We can also use 'can' for these but 'could' is more polite.
- Could you help me, please?
- Could you lend me some money?
- Could I have a lift?
- Could I bother you for a moment?
If we use 'could'
in reply to these requests, it suggests that we do not really want to
do it. If you agree to the request, it is better to say 'can'.
- Of course I can.
- I could help you if it's really necessary but I'm really busy right now.
- I could lend you some money but I'd need it back tomorrow without fail.
- I could give you a lift as far as Birmingham.
'Could' is used to talk about theoretical possibility and is similar in meaning to 'might'.
- It could rain later. Take an umbrella.
- He could be there by now.
- Could he be any happier?
- It could be Sarah's.
may
We can use 'may' to ask for permission. However this is rather formal and not used very often in modern spoken English
- May I borrow your pen?
- May we think about it?
- May I go now?
We use 'may' to suggest something is possible
- It may rain later today.
- I may not have time to do it today.
- Pete may come with us
might
We use 'might' to
suggest a small possibility of something. Often we read that 'might'
suggests a smaller possibility that 'may', there is in fact little
difference and 'might is more usual than 'may' in spoken English.
- She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
- It might rain this afternoon.
- I might not have time to go to the shops for you.
- I might not go.
For the past, we use 'might have'.
- He might have tried to call while I was out.
- I might have dropped it in the street.
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