V2 can, could, may, might, to be able to & to be allowed to

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• mavo, havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Welcome!

Please have a seat, take out your materials and put your bag on the floor

Lesson plan

1. Grammar time!
2. Practise
3. DIY 

Storytime

• I came across this video and I thought it was quite funny
•                                                                Question: is it grammatically
                         correct?
•                                                             Can you think of any other
                                                                 reason why you would use
                                          the word "can"?
•                                                   --> To ask permisson

Can, could, may, might, to be able to & to be allowed to

• The English language knows a few verbs that we, in Dutch, would use for situations where we would say: “(zou) kunnen” or “(zou) mogen”
• These are:

• Can + hele werkwoord
  
• Could + hele werkwoord
  
• May + hele werkwoord
  
• Might + hele werkwoord
  
• To be able to + hele werkwoord
  
• To be allowed to + hele werkwoord
• To be = am, is, are (present) or was, were (past)

The categories

• Before we get started, we need to know that there are three different categories:

1.  (Zou) kunnen
2. (Zou) mogen
3. Een beleefde vraag stellen

(Zou) kunnen

• To say something is possible we use: can, could,  may or might 
• It can become very hot in Africa (probable).
  
• It could become very hot tomorrow (possible).
  
• It may become hot, but only if the sun manages to come out
  (possible, though unlikely).
  
• It might become hot, but as it’s nearly winter, that’s unlikely
  (possible, though the odds that it ends up happening are low).
• When something is impossible, we use: can’t / cannot, couldn’t / could not, may not or might not.

(Zou kunnen)

• If we have the ability, the skill or the possibility to do something we use can, could or to be able to.
  
  
• Can is used in the present simple.
  
• Could is used in both the present simple and the past simple.
• To be able to can be used in all verb tenses.

• I can help you.
• I could be of assistance.
• Luckily, we could help them with their homework.
• Tim was able to get us tickets!
  
  
• If we don't have the ability, the skill or the possibility to do something, we use:
• can’t / cannot, couldn’t / could not or to be unable to.

(Zou) mogen

• To indicate whether we have permission to do something, we use
  can, could, may or to be allowed to.
  
  
• Mum says I can stay until midnight.
• Mum said I could stay until midnight.
• You may speak now.
• Were you allowed to stay over at Jeremy’s house?
• To say that you don't have permission, we use: 
• can’t / cannot, couldn’t / could not, may not of to be not allowed to.

Een beleefde vraag stellen

• To ask a (very) polite question, we use can, could, may or might
• Often in combination with the word "please"
• Can is the least polite, might is the most polite and formal.
  
  

1. Can I have some tea, please?
2. Could I have some tea, please?
3. May I have some tea, please?
4. Might I have some tea, please?

Complete the gaps with a form of can, could, may, might, to be able to or to be allowed to.

1. ___ you please pass me that book over there?
   
2. When he was young he ___ dance all night long.
   
3. ___ you speak Chinese?
   
4. You ___ at least come with us and meet our new neighbour, don't you think?
   
5. It ___ be possible for me to help you, but don’t get your hopes up.
   
6. She ___ drive but she takes the bus to go to work.
   
7. Nowadays, people ___ travel very easily all over Europe.
   
8. ___ you please let me know your answer by the end of the week?
   
9. I don't know yet, but I ___ come with you after all!
   
10. Children ___ bring their teddy bears to school.

KEY

1. Could you please pass me that book over there?
   
2. When he was young he could dance all night long.
   
3. Can you speak Chinese?
   
4. You could at least come with us and meet our new neighbour, don't you think?
   
5. It may be possible for me to help you, but don’t get your hopes up.
   
6. She can drive but she takes the bus to go to work.
   
7. Nowadays, people are able to travel very easily all over Europe.
   
8. Could you please let me know your answer by the end of the week?
   
9. I don't know yet, but I might come with you after all!
   
10. Children are allowed to bring their teddy bears to school.

DIY 2V

Do exercises 5+6+7

In your book

Pages 114+115

Individually