Modals: could, might

Reference

Common mistakes

1. She could to swim. → She could swim.
   Modals never take "to"
2. She might comes. → She might come.
   Modals never take -s
3. Yesterday I could finish the marathon. → Yesterday I was able to finish the marathon.
   specific past achievement → was/were able to
4. It mights rain later. → It might rain later.
   might is a modal — never -s

Modals: could, might — Exercises

Choose the correct modal

1. When I was 5, I _____ swim. (could / might / can)
2. It _____ rain — bring an umbrella. (might / must / could't)
3. _____ you help me, please? (Could / Must / Should)
4. She _____ come tonight — she's not sure. (might / must / can)
5. He _____ read when he was 4 — he was advanced. (could / might / must)
6. I _____ to come tomorrow. (might / might not / might to)
7. She _____ swim 100m at age 8. (couldn't / mightn't / mustn't)
8. After 'might' use _____. (base verb / ing form / past form)

Complete with could/might

1. When I was a child, I   ride a bike easily.
2. It   be true — I'm not sure.
3.   you pass the salt, please? (polite request)
4. She   come — she has another plan.

Modals: could, might — Answer Key

Choose the correct modal

1. could — Ability in the past → could.
2. might — Possible but not certain → might.
3. Could — A polite request → Could you…?
4. might — She is not sure → possibility → might.
5. could — Ability in the past → could.
6. might not — A negative possibility → might not + verb, never "might to".
7. couldn't — She was not able to in the past → couldn't.
8. base verb — Modals take the base verb: might come, NOT might to come.

Complete with could/might

1. could
2. might
3. Could
4. might not