» não possuem a partícula to no infinitivo; » não tem conjugação regular ou completa; » não recebem s ou es na 3ª pessoa do singular no presente; » são seguidos de verbo no infinitivo sem to; » não precisam de outros verbos auxiliares para as formas interrogativas e negativas.

habilidade - Mary can ski very well.
capacidade - Tony can’t lift that heavy box. Can - percepção - I can see a car coming by.
possibilidade - Can you get back home in less than 20 minutes?
permissão informal - Can I borrow your book for a while, Julie?

Could - habilidade (passada) - I couldn’t speak English when I was 9.

pedido polido (presente) - Could you open the window, please?
possibilidade (provável) - They say it may snow tonight. May - permissão formal - May I go to the restroom?

Might - possibilidade (remota) - His itinerary might be the same as yours.

► Can ( habilidade) – pode ser substituído por to be able to

She ’s/was able to speak French. - I’ll be able to dance in a couple of years.

► May / Might ( permissão) – podem ser substituídos por to be allowed to

They will be allowed to leave early. - Tina’ s not allowed to go out alone.

MODAL VERBS ( I I )

obrigação - You must fasten your seat belts. Must - conclusão lógica - Mary must be home by now. She left early.
proibição - You mustn’t park your car over there.
conselho / sugestão - You look tired. You should take a break and get some

rest. Should - expectativa - I should be back to work by the end of the day. Ought to - obrigação moral - We ought to pay him back.

► Must ( obrigação ) – pode ser substituído por to have to

They must make their beds every day. - They have to make their beds every day. -Tina must keep her room neat. - Tina has to keep her room neat.
Must you do the dishes? - Do you have to do the dishes?

Past Modals ► ____________ + have + past participle

(modal)

- I shouldn’t have called her this morning.

What could they have done to help you?
Oliver must have left for work. He’s not answering the phone.

Activities

01. Rewrite the sentences. Use may to express possibility or permissson.

a) I am going with you.

b) He’s trying to explain it to her.

c) Is she playing tennis this evening?

d) The boys will go to the movies tonight.

e) I have given him my address.

02. Fill in the blanks with could, can, couldn't, can't****.

a) In my first year as a teacher, I almost lost my self-confidence because I _________ teach big groups. b) Mary tried hard to persuade her friend but she ___________ change her mind. c) Brian says he _______ speak four languages but he ____________ talk to some customers yesterday as he was a bit nervous. d) Adam and her mother____________ open the door because it was locked. e) I ______ finally talk to John after I tried to reach him on the phone for hours.