Modal Verbs
- We use can to express the ability to do something.
Babies can swim. (they have the capacity if they practice)
Cheetahs can run very fast. (they naturally run to hunt)
My father can cook. (he learned how to cook)
- We use may to express permission with choice.
You may board the plane (you have the permission but it’s not an order)
You may leave the room if you want. ( you are given a choice)
He may go to Canada. He has got the visa. (He can choose to go to Canada because he has the permission)
- We use might for probability or events that we can’t control and we can only predict.
It might rain today. (it’s possible because the sky is gray)
I might go with my father to Oran. I’m waiting for his call. (probably we will go to Oran, my fether has not decided yet)