Can, could, may, might — how to use modal verbs of possibility in English

Contents

1. Modal verbs of possibility — how to use them in English?
     1.1 Can
     1.2 Could
     1.3 May
     1.4 Might
2. Practice exercise
3. FAQ

In everyday life, we constantly balance between what we can actually do, what is potentially possible, and what is only slightly likely. In English, all these nuances are expressed with the help of modal verbs of possibility — can, could, may, and might. They make our speech more flexible and precise when we talk about different options, assumptions, or levels of certainty.

In this article, we’ll explore the rules of using can, could, may, and might in English and learn how to apply these modal verbs in practice.

Modal verbs of possibility — how to use them in English?

Modals of possibility in English are used to express the chance that a certain action or event might happen, even if we don’t know how likely it actually is. The key idea behind these verbs is that the possibility of an event exists on its own — independent of certainty.

There are four main modals in English that allow us to talk about different degrees of likelihood:

• Can
• Could 
• May 
• Might 

• It can be dangerous to drive fast. 
• We could meet tomorrow in the afternoon.
• The news may shock you. 
• Kate might join us if she finishes her work in time.

Important to know: in English, these modals are often confused with modal verbs of probability because of their similarity. Both groups deal with uncertainty, but they are not the same. There are several important differences that help us distinguish between them. Let’s take a closer look:

Can

Can is one of the most common modal verbs in English. It has several core meanings: 

• expressing ability; 
• permission; 
• general possibility. 

Can describes something that is generally possible or something that happens under certain conditions.

Let’s see how can works in real sentences:

• People can be very rude. 
• It can be dangerous to walk alone at night. 
• It can be really hard to find a partner to practice English with.

Important to know: the negative form can’t is not used as a modal of possibility but rather as a modal of probability, expressing impossibility.

• This can’t be true, it’s a lie!

Could 

Could shows that something is possible in the present or future, but it sounds more uncertain than can. Could often suggests that the situation mentioned is just one of several possible outcomes, rather than a regular or definite fact.

• We could meet tomorrow after work. 
• If you wait near this door, you could see Mr Shevchenko leaving. 

May 

May is used to express the possibility that something will happen in the present or future. When we use this modal we don’t know for sure whether the event will occur — we simply have a suggestion or assumption that it could happen.

• It may snow tonight.
• I may need to borrow your car. 

Important to know: In addition to expressing possibility, may is also used in English in greetings, wishes, or formal expressions. 

• May all your dreams come true!
• May this year bring you the success you deserve!

Might 

Might expresses that something could happen, but the likelihood is lower than with may. This verb makes the sentence sound more uncertain, cautious, or hypothetical.

• Nastya might arrive before lunch.
• Don’t touch the iron, it might be hot.

Important to know: When we talk about may and might the difference between them is quite subtle. May usually suggests a possibility with relatively higher likelihood, while might indicates a possibility with lower likelihood.

• We may go on holiday in December. — There’s a real chance we’ll go on holiday in December.
• We might go on holiday in December. — There’s also a chance we’ll go on holiday in December, but it sounds less certain.

Exercise for practice 

To make sure you’ve fully understood the topic, try this short practice exercise. Choose the best verb to complete the sentence:

And if you’d like to improve your knowledge of other modal verbs in English, we recommend checking out our related articles on the topic:

• Modals of Willingness
• Modals of Permission
• Modals of Probability
• Modals of Deduction
• Modals of Ability
• Modals of Advice
• Modals of Necessity

FAQ

1. What are the modals of possibility in English?

2. What is the difference between could and might?

The main difference between could and might in English lies in the degree of possibility they express. Might usually indicates a less likely possibility than could.

3. Is can a modal verb of possibility?

Yes, can is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It is used when talking about:

• expressing ability;
• giving permission;
• general possibility. 

It is in the context of possibility that the modal verb can is used to describe something that is possible in itself or happens under certain conditions. 

• Noisy coworkers can be a big problem if you're working in the office.