If you enjoyed this lesson could you do me a favour and HIT that like button on the video! Helps me a lot ❤ subscribe too so you don't miss the next lesson coming out! Thanks guys! 🙏🏻
Well done, this is the best explanation I've found on RUclips. As a native English speaker, it's precisely how I use these modals when explaining them to my Spanish friends. 'May, might and could' do not have fixed numeric values or ranges in the form of percentages, as incorrectly stated in some other videos. For this reason they cannot be compared and are treated as interchangeable as mentioned. 👍
Thank you for wonderful video. I have stuck with this. 1. You .....think it's funny, but I think it's pathetic. might/ should/could 2. People ..... think it is interesting but I think it is pathetic. might/ could / should
thankyou so much ma’am. You’ve been a great help throughout. Ma’am can we conclude that for making past assumptions in “may have/ might have/ could have” are nothing but a synonym for each other with totally same meaning in an affirmative form.? Am I right Ma’am.
Yes, apart from the the fact that with neutral stress may suggests a rational possibility, arrived after logical thought. Might suggests a possibility but carries no suggestion about previous consideration.
Ma’am Just one more slight confusion. For eg in sentence - Mary - Perhaps he will be John’s brother. in a reported speech “She thought that he would be John’s brother” or “She thought He could have been John’s brother” Ma’am do both the reported speech sentences mean the same here.??
Hi Arpit, you would say, "She thought that he could be John's brother," or "She thought he could have been Jonh's brother." If referring to the past. Here we use "could" as a modal of possibility and therefore could also use "may" or "might".
Oxford English Now So Ma’am does former sentence “she thought he could be John’s brother” or latter one “she thought he could have been john’s brother” and “she thought he would be John’s brother” all mean the same when referring to past.?
"She thought he could be John's brother," is the referring to the present. "She thought he could have been John's brother." Is referring to the past. "She thought he would be John's brother," is not correct.
Oxford English Now Ma’am I’m so happy that you have corrected every bit of my error. It’s so sweet of you for such thorough help throughout. Actually every doubt that I had is clear but still ma’am sometimes when I’m having conversations I get confused at some points for eg: 1.) He - will you come to the party tomorrow? Me - Umm, I might (here ma’am If I use “could” in place of “might” as a modal of possibility then wouldn’t it sound bit awkward?) And, 2.) “I can’t find my wallet. I could’ve left it at home.” 3.) “I could’ve got better marks If I had studied the last chapter.” Ma’am here in 2.) & 3.) you can see both the sentences have used “could’ve” though they have totally different meanings as former has used it as modal of possibility and latter sentence is quite of conditional type. So how can I differentiate them. It becomes quite confusing for me sometimes. Could you help me here Ma’am.?
For 1) "might" suggests possibility whereas if you reply "could" it implies more a modal of ability. I am able to come. Your usage would depend whether you wanted to convey a possibility or an ability. For 2) and 3) we can use might and could in the conditional clause of second and third conditional sentences to show that something was a possible consequence rather than a certain one.
A question Madam When we say " Can you cook?" Is it ability ? I mean ability is not only concerned about the affirmative form . It can be used also in the interrogative form?
Hi Ines, check out my lesson on modals of prohibition here: ruclips.net/video/ELTlYHfa06Q/видео.html mustn't means it is necessary that you do not do something. I hope that helps!
Yes, but it is more complicated than that. "Could" is not just the past tense of "can." While "can" and "could" are related, they serve different functions in English. "Can" is used to express ability, permission, or possibility in the present. Example: "I can swim." "Could" is the past tense of "can," but it is also used to express possibility, make polite requests, or indicate a past ability or action. Example (past ability): "When I was younger, I could run very fast." Example (polite request): "Could you please pass the salt?" So, "could" is not only the past tense of "can" but has additional uses beyond simply indicating past time.
thankyou so much ma’am for your thorough help and support. Just one doubt I have is that in the sentences “I couldn’t have enjoyed more ever in my life than the last night.” and “I couldn’t have enjoyed more ever in my life, If I had not been in your party last night”. Ma’am in the former if I substitute may/might(have) in place of could(have) they mean the same, though the level of certainty would be less and latter sentence is conditional which is totally different from the former one. Ma’am am I right here? Please please help me out.
Hi Arpit, These sentences don't work as they are. I think a more authentic statement would be: "I had the best time ever at your party last night." I don't think it is a situation in which you need a conditional sentence either. I don't think this would work using a modal of possibility.
Thank you for this great lesson and your efforts. I need to understand the exact meaning of this sentence “Might I ask when the movie starts?”, please.
Madam.! Please tell me the difference between Could and Might when it comes to talking about present possibility. Which shows higher degree of possibility - Could or might.???
Hi Hitesh, this is what I found: The restaurant may close. / It is likely that the restaurant will close. The restaurant could close. / It is less likely that the restaurant will close. The restaurant might close. / There is only a possibility that the restaurant will close but no one is very sure. I hope this helps!
Hi Mam, I have a question can u please answer? Can you say the language function in this sentence, "You may go in peace"? And also can you give the explanation for your answer please?
“This work could not be done until he came” or “this work couldn’t have been done until he he came” and “who could have thought that this would happen” or “who could think that this would happen. Ma’am which sentence is correct in both the cases former and latter. Please help Ma’am as I’m quite confused.
"This work could not be done until he came." Here could is modal of ability and you are talking about the past. This is a passive use of the verb and it means that someone ( we don't know who as it is not important in the passive ) was not able to complete the work until he came. "This work couldn't have been done until he came." Here we are using could as a modal of possibility and again talking about the past. If we say "couldn't have" we are sure something is not true. So it means that we are sure that the work was not able to be completed until he came. "Who could have thought that this would happen." Here we are using "could have" as a modal of possibility when we are talking about the past. Here we think something is possibly true. So who would possibly have thought that this would happen? Finally, "who could think that this would happen?" Here "could" is a modal of ability and used to talk about ability in the past. So who was able to think that this would happen. Here the distinctions between the phrases are because of the function of the modal used. Are we using modals of possibility, ability or certainty. Hope this helps.
Oxford English Now Ma’am such wonderful and elaborate answer. This evades all the dilemmas I had. And I conclude that use of could in past without have refers to ability and with have refers to possibilities.Thank you so much ma’am.
Look, what I have figured out now about difference of modal verbs for expressing possibilities: «He must earn much» means «He definitely earns much. I’m sure» «He may earn much» means «It is possible that he earns much. 50/50» «He might earn much» means «May be he earns much, but I’m not sure» «He can’t earn much» means «It is impossible that he earns much.» «Can he earn much?» means «What? How it possible? It is not truth, I’m sure»
Hi Devian, must is a modal of certainty, it means you are nearly certain that it is true. Can't is also a modal of certainty and means that you are nearly sure that it is NOT true. Check out both must and can't in my video on Modals of Certainty here to find out more: ruclips.net/video/W-MO-YTPwnM/видео.html May and might are similar in that it means that it is possible. Can is a modal of ability and means is he able to earn much. Check out my video on modals of ability here: ruclips.net/video/-aZLQHU0psM/видео.html Hope this helps. It is best to think of the function of the modal because depending on the context the modal can have different meanings.
hi, I want to ask about double modals here is the context : you and your friend are working in a same office. you feel exhausted to the job, and your friend said that u dont have to feel exhausted and just focus on work, then u say "I might could have this job" what is the meaning of "I might could have this job" ?
Hi Ha On, your sentence is incorrect. You can't say, "I might could have this job." You would say, "I might have this job," or "I could have this job." I hope that helps!
Ma’am which of the following is correct or more appropriate in relation to the guess made in present. So here it is - “Door bell rings”, Mom says- “Who can come this late” “Who would have come this late” “Who could have come this late” “Who may have come this late” “Who might have come this late”. So which one is more appropriate and why Ma’am. And Ma’am could we also use WOULD HAVE or WOULD in place of MAY/MIGHT/COULD(HAVE) for past/present/future assumptions, deductions, speculations or guesses for eg: in a sentence “she might/may/could have been sleeping at that time” as “she would have been sleeping at that time” or “He Might/may/could have said that to him” as “He would have said that to him”. Kindly help me out Ma’am I’ll be hugely thankful to you..!
I think a better answer would be, "Who could that be this late?" or "Who can that be this late?" Here this is a modal of possibility. For your question about the sentence: " she might/may/could have been sleeping at that time." This is a past modal of possibility when we think something is possibly true. If you use "she would have been sleeping at that time." This is a modal of prediction. We use "would" plus the perfect for a prediction about an imaginary past event or situation. Hope that helps.
Oxford English Now Ma’am how is prediction of an event in past is different from possibility of an event in past as in both the cases we make guesses and aren’t 100% sure about the fact.? And couldn’t we use could have in place of would have? Aren’t they interchangeable.?
"She would have been sleeping at that time:" Here "would" implies a habitual action in the past. So it is a prediction based on knowledge of habitual action. If you use "could have" it is a possibility but you have no knowledge of habitual action.
Oxford English Now thankyou so so much ma’am you have removed all of my doubts. Just one I have is that which modal is most appropriate to use in an interrogative form. For eg; in a sentence “who could/must/may/might have scattered all this stuff” or “who must/may/must/might have left the door open” or “who could/must/may/might be there in the car”..? Help me out Ma’am.!
The most natural answer would be, "Who could have left all this stuff here?" Must is a modal of certainty so definitely doesn't work. Again, "could" works best for the other questions. "Who could have left the door open?" and "Who could be in the car?"
Hello from kurdistan, i think you did a mistake about tge continuous form for example this sentence ( he may/could/might be watching T.V) equal to ( maybe he is watching t.v) not equal to future continuous , please expkain it ❤ or depend on the context
Hello Kurdistan, if I understand you correctly, you don't think the 2 sentences mean the same thing. I would disagree and I think they are a different way to say the same thing. I hope that helps.
If using "may," "might," and "could" as modals of possibility, they all mean the same, that is, "It is possible that.....". In the negative may not and might not mean the same but couldn't is different as explained in the video.
Thank you for answer. I did a little research on this issue and figured out that: "may" means about 50% of possibility in my certainty. But "might" means about 20-30% of my certainty. And I am not sure about "could". I need more time to figure it out.
With neutral stress may suggests a rational possibility, arrived after logical thought. Might suggests a possibility but carries no suggestion about previous consideration.
Thank you very much. This is the best explanation that I got in this thread for year. Please, give us the same details in your future videos. Because details are the most valuable. We can't get the same information from our textbooks. Many thanks again.
Hi, Thank you for this It's wonderful video. I am stuck with these. a. You ……….. think it's funny, but I think it's pathetic. (might, should, could) b. The street had a nasty jam. There ........have been a demonstration of some political parties. (would, could, must, must)
If you enjoyed this lesson could you do me a favour and HIT that like button on the video! Helps me a lot ❤ subscribe too so you don't miss the next lesson coming out! Thanks guys! 🙏🏻
thank youuuuuuuu.I searched for a lot of English channels, but yours is the best.
Thank you Anna!
Your channel is the best channel for learning english and i can understand concepts very well thank you so much
My pleasure 😇 thank you!
Well done, this is the best explanation I've found on RUclips. As a native English speaker, it's precisely how I use these modals when explaining them to my Spanish friends.
'May, might and could' do not have fixed numeric values or ranges in the form of percentages, as incorrectly stated in some other videos. For this reason they cannot be compared and are treated as interchangeable as mentioned. 👍
Thanks for your kind words Roberto! Glad you liked it.
excellent explanation! Very clear and easy to understand for beginners. Thanks so much!
You're very welcome!
Great video❤. Can you make more videos like this on english?
Yes of course!
I can easily understand your classes thank you very much mam 💓
Glad to hear it! My pleasure 😇
wow you are very helpful good job you explain very good!
Glad it was helpful!
That was an incredible explication, thanks u ❤
Thank you so much!
What a great grammar. I subscribe..............
Thank you! 🙏
I am using this info. Thank you very much! You are wonderful.
Glad it was helpful!
So good 😊
Thank you 😋
Awesome ❤
Thanks 🤗
Thank you for wonderful video.
I have stuck with this.
1. You .....think it's funny, but I think it's pathetic.
might/ should/could
2. People ..... think it is interesting but I think it is pathetic. might/ could / should
My pleasure 😇. Might works for both! I hope that helps!
Thank you so much !
thankyou so much ma’am. You’ve been a great help throughout. Ma’am can we conclude that for making past assumptions in “may have/ might have/ could have” are nothing but a synonym for each other with totally same meaning in an affirmative form.? Am I right Ma’am.
Yes, apart from the the fact that with neutral stress may suggests a rational possibility, arrived after logical thought. Might suggests a possibility but carries no suggestion about previous consideration.
THank you
❤🔥
My pleasure!
thankuuuuuuuuuuu soooooooo much
Myyyyy pleeeeeaaasuuureeee!
Thx!
My pleasure 😇
Hî,great explanatîon nothîng lîke to have a good grammar în whatever language.I love Englîsh just sîmple like that. 😂❤
Glad you liked it!
بہت خوب خے شکریہ
من دواعي سروري
Ma’am Just one more slight confusion. For eg in sentence -
Mary - Perhaps he will be John’s brother.
in a reported speech “She thought that he would be John’s brother” or “She thought He could have been John’s brother”
Ma’am do both the reported speech sentences mean the same here.??
Hi Arpit, you would say, "She thought that he could be John's brother," or "She thought he could have been Jonh's brother." If referring to the past. Here we use "could" as a modal of possibility and therefore could also use "may" or "might".
Oxford English Now So Ma’am does former sentence “she thought he could be John’s brother” or latter one “she thought he could have been john’s brother” and “she thought he would be John’s brother” all mean the same when referring to past.?
"She thought he could be John's brother," is the referring to the present. "She thought he could have been John's brother." Is referring to the past. "She thought he would be John's brother," is not correct.
Oxford English Now Ma’am I’m so happy that you have corrected every bit of my error. It’s so sweet of you for such thorough help throughout. Actually every doubt that I had is clear but still ma’am sometimes when I’m having conversations I get confused at some points for eg:
1.) He - will you come to the party tomorrow?
Me - Umm, I might (here ma’am If I use “could” in place of “might” as a modal of possibility then wouldn’t it sound bit awkward?) And,
2.) “I can’t find my wallet. I could’ve left it at home.”
3.) “I could’ve got better marks If I had studied the last chapter.”
Ma’am here in 2.) & 3.) you can see both the sentences have used “could’ve” though they have totally different meanings as former has used it as modal of possibility and latter sentence is quite of conditional type. So how can I differentiate them. It becomes quite confusing for me sometimes. Could you help me here Ma’am.?
For 1) "might" suggests possibility whereas if you reply "could" it implies more a modal of ability. I am able to come. Your usage would depend whether you wanted to convey a possibility or an ability. For 2) and 3) we can use might and could in the conditional clause of second and third conditional sentences to show that something was a possible consequence rather than a certain one.
A question Madam
When we say " Can you cook?"
Is it ability ?
I mean ability is not only concerned about the affirmative form . It can be used also in the interrogative form?
Absolutely, well done!
What about: "He mustn't be late for the game." sentence? Regarding the apostrophe in the negative...
Hi Ines, check out my lesson on modals of prohibition here: ruclips.net/video/ELTlYHfa06Q/видео.html
mustn't means it is necessary that you do not do something.
I hope that helps!
I Like this video 💪
Thanks, happy to help! 🙏
Could is the past tense of can , right ?
Yes, but it is more complicated than that. "Could" is not just the past tense of "can." While "can" and "could" are related, they serve different functions in English.
"Can" is used to express ability, permission, or possibility in the present.
Example: "I can swim."
"Could" is the past tense of "can," but it is also used to express possibility, make polite requests, or indicate a past ability or action.
Example (past ability): "When I was younger, I could run very fast."
Example (polite request): "Could you please pass the salt?"
So, "could" is not only the past tense of "can" but has additional uses beyond simply indicating past time.
I loved your methods of teaching, thanks, it will help me at my exam tomorrow.
Glad to hear it! Good luck for the exam Vitor!
Your concepts are great but I want difference between them all
Thanks! In the lesson, I try and show you the difference between them. Maybe watch again to understand better.
thankyou so much ma’am for your thorough help and support. Just one doubt I have is that in the sentences “I couldn’t have enjoyed more ever in my life than the last night.” and “I couldn’t have enjoyed more ever in my life, If I had not been in your party last night”. Ma’am in the former if I substitute may/might(have) in place of could(have) they mean the same, though the level of certainty would be less and latter sentence is conditional which is totally different from the former one. Ma’am am I right here? Please please help me out.
Hi Arpit, These sentences don't work as they are. I think a more authentic statement would be: "I had the best time ever at your party last night." I don't think it is a situation in which you need a conditional sentence either. I don't think this would work using a modal of possibility.
Thank you for this great lesson and your efforts. I need to understand the exact meaning of this sentence “Might I ask when the movie starts?”, please.
Hi nadi, it means that you are being very polite to use might in this way but here might is being used as a modal of permission.
@@oxfordenglishnow Thanks for your response, but I still don't know the meaning of the sentence. I mean the permission here for what!
@@nadiabd6805 You are very politely asking for permission to ask when the movie starts.
Madam.!
Please tell me the difference between Could and Might when it comes to talking about present possibility. Which shows higher degree of possibility - Could or might.???
Hi Hitesh, this is what I found:
The restaurant may close. / It is likely that the restaurant will close.
The restaurant could close. / It is less likely that the restaurant will close.
The restaurant might close. / There is only a possibility that the restaurant will close but no one is very sure.
I hope this helps!
A question please
Is " Can/May i get you attention , please?" A permission or possiblility?
Hi, "Can/May i get youR attention , please?" is a polite way to have permission. I hope that helps!
Hi Mam, I have a question can u please answer? Can you say the language function in this sentence, "You may go in peace"? And also can you give the explanation for your answer please?
Hi Nanako, Here you are using may as a modal of permission. I hope that helps!
2:20
Welcome to my channel!
“This work could not be done until he came” or “this work couldn’t have been done until he he came” and “who could have thought that this would happen” or “who could think that this would happen. Ma’am which sentence is correct in both the cases former and latter. Please help Ma’am as I’m quite confused.
"This work could not be done until he came." Here could is modal of ability and you are talking about the past. This is a passive use of the verb and it means that someone ( we don't know who as it is not important in the passive ) was not able to complete the work until he came.
"This work couldn't have been done until he came." Here we are using could as a modal of possibility and again talking about the past. If we say "couldn't have" we are sure something is not true. So it means that we are sure that the work was not able to be completed until he came.
"Who could have thought that this would happen." Here we are using "could have" as a modal of possibility when we are talking about the past. Here we think something is possibly true. So who would possibly have thought that this would happen?
Finally, "who could think that this would happen?" Here "could" is a modal of ability and used to talk about ability in the past. So who was able to think that this would happen.
Here the distinctions between the phrases are because of the function of the modal used. Are we using modals of possibility, ability or certainty. Hope this helps.
Oxford English Now Ma’am such wonderful and elaborate answer. This evades all the dilemmas I had. And I conclude that use of could in past without have refers to ability and with have refers to possibilities.Thank you so much ma’am.
Thanks, Arpit. Glad to help!
Look, what I have figured out now about difference of modal verbs for expressing possibilities:
«He must earn much» means «He definitely earns much. I’m sure»
«He may earn much» means «It is possible that he earns much. 50/50»
«He might earn much» means «May be he earns much, but I’m not sure»
«He can’t earn much» means «It is impossible that he earns much.»
«Can he earn much?» means «What? How it possible? It is not truth, I’m sure»
But I'm not sure about modal verb "could". I need more time to figure it out yet.
Hi Devian, must is a modal of certainty, it means you are nearly certain that it is true. Can't is also a modal of certainty and means that you are nearly sure that it is NOT true. Check out both must and can't in my video on Modals of Certainty here to find out more: ruclips.net/video/W-MO-YTPwnM/видео.html
May and might are similar in that it means that it is possible. Can is a modal of ability and means is he able to earn much. Check out my video on modals of ability here: ruclips.net/video/-aZLQHU0psM/видео.html
Hope this helps. It is best to think of the function of the modal because depending on the context the modal can have different meanings.
hi, I want to ask about double modals
here is the context :
you and your friend are working in a same office. you feel exhausted to the job, and your friend said that u dont have to feel exhausted and just focus on work, then u say "I might could have this job"
what is the meaning of "I might could have this job" ?
Hi Ha On, your sentence is incorrect. You can't say, "I might could have this job." You would say, "I might have this job," or "I could have this job." I hope that helps!
@@oxfordenglishnow Thank you,but thats an african american double modals vernacular, thats why Im confused
I want you to be my teacher 😁
Ah, I can be if you want. Private lessons 35 GBP an hour.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉
Thanks ❤️
Ma’am which of the following is correct or more appropriate in relation to the guess made in present. So here it is -
“Door bell rings”, Mom says-
“Who can come this late”
“Who would have come this late”
“Who could have come this late”
“Who may have come this late”
“Who might have come this late”. So which one is more appropriate and why Ma’am. And Ma’am could we also use WOULD HAVE or WOULD in place of MAY/MIGHT/COULD(HAVE) for past/present/future assumptions, deductions, speculations or guesses for eg: in a sentence “she might/may/could have been sleeping at that time” as “she would have been sleeping at that time” or “He Might/may/could have said that to him” as “He would have said that to him”. Kindly help me out Ma’am I’ll be hugely thankful to you..!
I think a better answer would be, "Who could that be this late?" or "Who can that be this late?" Here this is a modal of possibility.
For your question about the sentence: " she might/may/could have been sleeping at that time." This is a past modal of possibility when we think something is possibly true. If you use "she would have been sleeping at that time." This is a modal of prediction. We use "would" plus the perfect for a prediction about an imaginary past event or situation. Hope that helps.
Oxford English Now Ma’am how is prediction of an event in past is different from possibility of an event in past as in both the cases we make guesses and aren’t 100% sure about the fact.? And couldn’t we use could have in place of would have? Aren’t they interchangeable.?
"She would have been sleeping at that time:" Here "would" implies a habitual action in the past. So it is a prediction based on knowledge of habitual action. If you use "could have" it is a possibility but you have no knowledge of habitual action.
Oxford English Now thankyou so so much ma’am you have removed all of my doubts. Just one I have is that which modal is most appropriate to use in an interrogative form. For eg; in a sentence “who could/must/may/might have scattered all this stuff” or “who must/may/must/might have left the door open” or “who could/must/may/might be there in the car”..? Help me out Ma’am.!
The most natural answer would be, "Who could have left all this stuff here?" Must is a modal of certainty so definitely doesn't work. Again, "could" works best for the other questions. "Who could have left the door open?" and "Who could be in the car?"
Hello from kurdistan, i think you did a mistake about tge continuous form for example this sentence ( he may/could/might be watching T.V) equal to ( maybe he is watching t.v) not equal to future continuous , please expkain it ❤ or depend on the context
Hello Kurdistan, if I understand you correctly, you don't think the 2 sentences mean the same thing. I would disagree and I think they are a different way to say the same thing. I hope that helps.
I wish this video explain the difference of words "may", "might", "could". But it don't
If using "may," "might," and "could" as modals of possibility, they all mean the same, that is, "It is possible that.....". In the negative may not and might not mean the same but couldn't is different as explained in the video.
Thank you for answer. I did a little research on this issue and figured out that:
"may" means about 50% of possibility in my certainty.
But "might" means about 20-30% of my certainty.
And I am not sure about "could". I need more time to figure it out.
And I can say that "may" means "It is possible that.....",
but "might" means "It is possible that..... but I'm not sure"
With neutral stress may suggests a rational possibility, arrived after logical thought. Might suggests a possibility but carries no suggestion about previous consideration.
Thank you very much. This is the best explanation that I got in this thread for year. Please, give us the same details in your future videos. Because details are the most valuable. We can't get the same information from our textbooks.
Many thanks again.
am here because of my lesson
Welcome to my channel!
I don't understand( could)
Hi Molly, could is a modal of ability. Check out my lesson here: ruclips.net/video/-aZLQHU0psM/видео.html
Hope that helps!
اول شي بتعلم بريطاني بعدين بدرس😂
Welcome to my channel!
Hi,
Thank you for this It's wonderful video.
I am stuck with these.
a. You ……….. think it's funny, but I think it's pathetic.
(might, should, could)
b. The street had a nasty jam. There ........have been a demonstration of some political parties. (would, could, must, must)
Hi I would say, might and could or must. I hope that helps!
Showing the wrong use of modals is not a good idea.
Hi James, can you clarify?