Trợ Động Từ: Can/Could and May/Might/Must

Can
Được sử dụng để thể hiện khả năng (để có thể làm điều gì đó):

• I can make jewelry.
• He can’t speak French.
• Can you open this jar?

Được sử dụng để xin phép:

• Can I use your bathroom?
• Can I leave now?
• Can I raise the volume?

Được sử dụng để thực hiện các yêu cầu hoặc đề xuất:

• Can I have more napkins?
• Can I have the bill?
• You can take this spot if you like.
• You can do whatever you want.

Could (quá khứ của  can)
Mô tả một khả năng mà ai đó đã có trong quá khứ:

• I could swim when I was young.
• You could see the boat sinking.
• They could tell he was nervous.

Thường được sử dụng trong các chức năng phụ trợ để thể hiện phép lịch sự:

• Could I take this jacket with me?
• You could borrow my umbrella.
• Could you please let me pass you?
• Could I get you more water?

Được sử dụng để thể hiện khả năng:

• All of them could ride in the van.
• You could always stay at our house.
• Could it be true?
• This plan could really work out.

May
Được sử dụng để xin phép trang trọng:

• May I come in?
• May I say something now?
• May I ask one question?
  

Được sử dụng để gợi ý một cái gì đó có thể:

• She may agree with this plan.
• They may not be happy about what happened.
• It may shower tonight.

Might (quá khứ của May)
Used to suggest a smaller possibility than may does (actually, might is more common than may in American English):
Được sử dụng để đề xuất một khả năng ít hơn “may” (thực tế, might  là phổ biến hơn so với may trong tiếng Anh Mỹ):

• He might have finished it.
• I might go see a doctor.
• I might not come this time.
• It might be right.
• You might have lost it.
• The store might have been closed today.

Must

Được sử dụng để thể hiện điều gì đó được yêu cầu trang trọng hoặc cần thiết:

• I must complete the project by this week.
• The government must provide health care for everybody.
• Everyone must save the natural resources of the earth.
• The building must have a fire alarm.
• You must answer my question right now.

Được sử dụng để chỉ ra rằng có điều gì đó rất có thể xảy ra:

• He must be a genius.
• You must be joking!
• There must be an accident.
• She must be very tired.

[Quiz 1]

Choose the right word for each blank.

1. She .....................(can, could, may, might, must) have practiced a lot. Her performance was amazing.
2. I can’t find my watch anywhere. I   ..................... (can, could, may, might, must) have lost it.
3. Professor, ..................... (can, could, may, might, must) I ask a question?
4.   .....................(can, could, may, might, must) you please lower your voice?
5. You   ..................... (can, could, may, might, must) be kidding! How is that possible?
6. I  ..................... (can, could, may, might, must) speak both English and Chinese fluently.

View Answers
[1]
1) must
2) might
3) may
4) could
5) must
6) can