September 4, 2013

Take an English course at PC TECH and you will learn to communicate in a very polite way with New Yorkers, using special “helping” verbs called modals:

Use may when you make a polite request:  May I ask you a question?

This modal verb is also used to grant permission in a rather formal manner:  You may leave the room to get a drink of water.

May has a different meaning when it expresses less certainty in answering a question:  I’m not sure, but he may be at the store.

Might has almost the same meaning when used this way:  …but he might be at the store.

To make an extremely polite request (perhaps in a British style), you could say:  Might I borrow your notebook?

Should expresses advisability:  You should practice more often.

It can also express near certainty or expectation:  You studied hard, so you should do well on the exam.

Ought to and  should are similar when advice is given or in expressions of near certainty:  You ought to practice more often.  They study hard, so they ought to do well on the exam.

Give a warning with had better:  You had better study, or you will fail the exam.

(Look for more of these modal verbs in upcoming blogs.)

           PC TECH: English Language School in New York City