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07-23-2009, 12:34 PM
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'..
• He was in London one hour ago when I spoke to him. He can't be here yet.
• You can't be hungry. You've just eaten.
• You must be hungry. You haven't eaten anything all day.
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 leave now?
• May I borrow your dictionary?
• May we think about it until tomorrow?
We use 'may' to suggest something is possible.
• Philip may come to stay with us
• I may not have time to do it straightaway.
• It may snow later today.
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.
• It might rain this afternoon.
• She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
• 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 you while you were out.
• I might have left it in the taxi.
SHOULD
We use 'should' for giving advice.
• You should speak to him about it.
• You should see a doctor.
• You should ask a lawyer.
We use 'should' to give an opinion or a recommendation.
• We should invest more in China.
• They should do something about this terrible train service.
• He should resign.
'Should' expresses a personal opinion and is much weaker and more personal than 'must' or 'have to'. It is often introduced by ' I think'.
• I think they should replace him.
• I don't think they should keep the contract.
• Do you think I should tell her?
Phúc đáp
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'..
• He was in London one hour ago when I spoke to him. He can't be here yet.
• You can't be hungry. You've just eaten.
• You must be hungry. You haven't eaten anything all day.
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 leave now?
• May I borrow your dictionary?
• May we think about it until tomorrow?
We use 'may' to suggest something is possible.
• Philip may come to stay with us
• I may not have time to do it straightaway.
• It may snow later today.
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.
• It might rain this afternoon.
• She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
• 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 you while you were out.
• I might have left it in the taxi.
SHOULD
We use 'should' for giving advice.
• You should speak to him about it.
• You should see a doctor.
• You should ask a lawyer.
We use 'should' to give an opinion or a recommendation.
• We should invest more in China.
• They should do something about this terrible train service.
• He should resign.
'Should' expresses a personal opinion and is much weaker and more personal than 'must' or 'have to'. It is often introduced by ' I think'.
• I think they should replace him.
• I don't think they should keep the contract.
• Do you think I should tell her?
Phúc đáp