The verbs can, may, must, ought, shall, should, will, would, need and dare form a special

class of verbs which

are called modal verbs. The verbs to have and to be are also used as modal verbs.
Modal verbs are used with the infinitive of another verb.
Modal verbs denote neither actions nor states;
they show that the action or state denoted by the infinitive is considered as possible, obligatory, necessary,
desirable, probable, doubtful, allowed, advisable, etc.

Modal verbs have certain peculiarities:

1. Modal verbs (except ought and partly need and dare) are followed by the infinitive without the par-ficle to.
After to be and to have used as modal verbs the infinitive has the particle to.
2.The interrogative and negative form of the present and past tense of modal verbs is formed without the
auxiliary verb to do. In the interrogative form modal verbs are placed before the subject. In the negative form
the particle not is used after the modal verb.

The verb can has 2 forms: - the present tense (can) Example: I can speak English fluently
- the past tense (could) my mother could speak English fluently, when she was young.

The form could is also used as Subjunctive II. In this case it refers to the present or future when followed by
the Indefinite Infinitive (I could buy this book, but I have no money)
It refers to the past when followed by the Perfect Infinitive. I could have bought that book yesterday, but I
have no money
The verb can has the following meanings:
1. Physical or mental ability, capability, possibility depending on circumstances. The equivalent of can in
these meanings is the combination to be able to which has all tenses. (I can speak English fluently=I am able
to speak English fluently. I will be able to speak English fluently). She could answer different questions two
years ago=She was able to answer different questions two years ago
If someone managed to do something in one particular situation in the past we use was/were able to do
something. For example: He was pass waiting his brother for two hours yesterday but at last he was able to do
The form could followed by the Perfect Infinitive shows that the action was not carried out. You could have
gone to the library
2. Permission/prohibition
You can use dictionaries. You can`t use dictionaries.
The form could is used in this meaning only in interrogative sentences to express a polite request. Could I take
your pen?

3. Doubt, astonishment, incredulity.

In these meanings the verb can is used only in interrogative and negative sentences but it may be followed by
all forms of the infinitive. There are 4 of them:
The Indefinite Infinitive - to wait – refers to the present - Can she wait for you every morning? She can`t wait
for you every morning
The Continuous Infinitive – to be waiting – refers to the moment of speak – Can she be waiting for you now?
She can`t be waiting for you now.
If the verb has no Continuous form, the Indefinite Infinitive is used to refer to the action to the present
The Perfect Infinitive – to have waited - refers to the past – Can he have waited for you yesterday? He can`t
have waited for you yesterday
If the verb can is used to express doubt, aston-ishment, incredulity, the form could implies more uncertainty.
The Perfect-Continuous Infinitive – to have been waiting – refers to past action with duration – Can she have
been waiting for you two hours? She can`t have been waiting for you two hours.
The verb may has two forms: the present tense – may ( She may go home) and the past tense - might
(He asked the doctor, If he might use his phone)

The form might is used as the past tense of the Indicative Mood only in subordinate clauses according to the rule of the
sequence of tenses.

The form might is mostly used as Subjunctive II. It refers to the present or future when followed by the Indefinite
Infinitive (She might help her granny about the house, but she studies at the university) it refers to the past when
followed by the Perfect Infinitive. ( I may have stay at home, but I went out)

The verb may has the following meanings:

1. Supposition implying uncertainty. In this meaning the verb may is used in affirmative and negative sentences with all
forms of the infinitive.

The Indefinite Infinitive mostly refers to the future. (She may come back)

The Continuous Infinitive ( He may be waiting for you) refers to the moment of speaking and the Perfect Infinitive to the
past. ( I may have put it on the table)

The Perfect Continious Infinitive (He may have been waiting for you for 2 hours)

The Present Perfect Continuous is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to be in the Present Perfect and Present
Participle (Participle I) of the main verb

The Present Perfect Continuous is used to express all action which began in the past, has been going on up to the present
and is either still continuing or just finished.

2. Possibility depending on circumstances. In this meaning may is used only in affirmative sentences. (you may go there
by train)

The form might in this meaning is used as Subjanctive II (You might find him in between 11 and 12)

When might is followed by the Perfect Infinitive it shows that the action was not carried out. (You might have found him
in this office yesterday, but I was late and he had gone earlier).

3. Permission. In this meaning the verb may is followed by the Indefinite Infinitive. (May I use your phone?), (You may
go home with whom you will).

The form might is used in this meaning only in interrogative sentences to express a polite request. (Might I speak this
word for you)

4. Reproach, dissapproval. In this meaning only might is used. (You might be more attentive), (You might have help her
yesterday).

P.S. For permission instead of may we can use such passive construction as to be allowed and to be permitted. They are
used to express an action on the past and on the future (We will be allowed to use dictionaries), (You were to be allowed
to use dictionaries).