Gramática: Modal verbs (3): CAN, MAY, MIGHT, COULD
.
A: I see it’s raining again.
B: Yes, but it’s still early. It can may/might/could clear up later.
A: I was planning to go to the sea.
B: Well, the weather couldn’t may not/might not be so bad down there. It’s often better on the coast.
A: Yes. Actually, if I go, could I borrow your new camera?
B: Yes, you could can/may. But be careful with it, please.
Expressar permissão
can ou may são usados para formular um pedido polido ou dar/negar permissão. May é mais formal do que can.
- Can/May I open the window, please? – Yes, of course you can/may. / No, I’m sorry, you can’t/may not.
- You wanted to borrow my printer. OK, you can/may.
- could pode ser usado em pedidos, mas não é usado para dar/negar permissão.
- Could I look at your map, please? – Yes, you can/may (could).
- I’m sorry, but you can’t (couldn’t) park here. This is private.
Expressar possibilidade e incerteza
- may/might/could (mas não can) expressam que algo é/será possivelmente o caso.
- A: The phone’s ringing.
- B: It may/might/could (can) be for me. I’m expecting a call. [Esta ligação pode/poderia ser para mim...]
- A: How much will the repair cost?
- B: I don’t know. But it may/might/could (can) be quite expensive. [Isso pode/poderá ser bastante caro.]
- may/might not (não can’t/couldn’t) expressa que algo possivelmente não é o caso.
- A: The phone is ringing. Aren’t you going to anwer it?
- B: It may/might not be for me. Perhaps it’s for you. [= É possível que a ligação não seja para mim.]
- Mas:
- A: Look, the postman’s coming with a big parcel. Are you expecting something?
- B: No, it can’t/couldn’t be for me. I’m not expecting anything. [= É impossível que o pacote seja para mim.]
Cf. Gramática: Modal Verbs (1): CAN
Cf. Gramática: Modal Verbs (2): MUST
RESUMO
- Pedir licença/permissão (“posso?”): can…?, may…?, ou could…?
- Dar e negar uma permissão (“você pode/não pode”): can(‘t), may (not), mas não could (not)
- “isto é possivelmente o caso / é possível”: may, might, could; mas não can
- “isto, possivelmente, não é o caso / é possível que isto não seja o caso”: may not, might not; mas não can’t, couldn’t
Referência: “Grammar – No problem” – Christine House e John Stevens, Disal Editora, 2005. Leia a resenha.
[...] Gramática: Modal verbs (3): CAN, MAY, MIGHT, COULD [...]
[...] Gramática: Modal verbs (3): CAN, MAY, MIGHT, COULD [...]
[...] Gramática: Modal verbs (3): CAN, MAY, MIGHT, COULD [...]
[...] Gramática: Modal verbs (3): CAN, MAY, MIGHT, COULD [...]
[...] Gramática: Modal verbs (3): CAN, MAY, MIGHT, COULD [...]
[...] Gramática: Modal verbs (3): CAN, MAY, MIGHT, COULD [...]
[...] Gramática: Modal verbs (3): CAN, MAY, MIGHT, COULD [...]
Eis que me deparo com mais uma de suas excitantes aulas.
Tenho aprendido muito com você, meu jovem.
Obrigado por tudo.
Um grande abraço no teu coração e, se eu não conseguir mais aparecer por aqui até as datas comemorativas, boas festas, muita paz, saúde e felicidades pra você, família e amigos.
Mércio,
Obrigado pela visita e pelo comentário. A aula não é minha; sou apenas o mensageiro. Boas Festas e um Ano Novo cheio de alegria!
Abraços a todos
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