Lesson 2 / handout 2c - KEY

Decide about the following modals (whether they express ability, permission or possibility), and label each sentence accordingly: A = ability / I = inability, Per = permission, Poss = possibility:

A She can speak English very well.     Poss It may / might / could rain tomorrow.

Per Can I join you?    A (past) When I was young I could speak English better than my sister.

 A / Poss I could go there if I wanted.   Poss It may / might / could be raining.   I She cannot sing very well.

 I (past) Even at the age of 15 she could not swim at all.   Per Might I perhaps look at it?

Per Could I go to the theatre tonight?    Per May I open the window?

 Poss It may / might / could have rained.