Verbs and Tenses - Part 4 (Can and Could, May and Might, Do, Does and Did and Would and Should)

Can and Could

The verbs can and could are both helping or auxiliary verbs. Use can and could to talk about people's ability to do things.
Can and could are used with the pronouns I, you, he, she, it, we and they, and with singular or plural nouns.
Could is the past tense of can.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

DID YOU KNOW?

People often use can when they are asking for permission to do something. For example:

• Can I use your pen? Yes, here it is.

When you put not after can, you write it as one word: cannot 

Learn these contractions:

• cannot      = can't
• could not  = couldn't

May and Might 

May and might are helping or auxiliary verbs, too.

* Use may to ask if you are allowed to do something, or to give someone permission to do something.

* May is also used to talk about things that are likely to happen.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

* Might is used as the past tense of may.

• He realized he might catch the earlier train if he hurried. 
• I knew my teacher might find out.

* You can also use might to talk about things that are possible. For example:

• Put your purse away or it might get stolen.
• You might slip, so hold on the railing.

Exercise 1 

Fill in the blanks with can, could, may or might.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

Exercise 2 
Tell whether each sentence below uses may or may not correctly. Show a correct use with a checkmark (✔) or an incorrect use with an (X)

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 2

Do, Does and Did

Use do, does and did to talk about actions.

Use do with the pronouns I, you, we and they, and with plural nouns. Use does with the pronouns he, she and it, and singular nouns.

Did is the simple past tense of do and does.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

* Here's a table to remind you about the use of do and does:

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

* Here's a table to remind you about the use of the verb did:

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

* Learn these contractions:

• do not      =  don't
• does not   =  doesn't
• did not      =  didn't

You ca also use do, does and did as helping verbs to ask and answer questions.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

• Do you like ice cream? Yes, I do.
• Does it rain often here? Yes, it does.
• Does he enjoy music? Yes, he does.
• Did it snow last night? No, it didn't.
• Who wants to come with me to the zoo? We all do!
• What do you want for lunch?
• Who broke this vase? Peter did!
• Does Ken often come home late? Yes, he does.
• Why did he leave so suddenly?
• Does everyone have a dictionary?

Use do not, does not and did not to make other verbs negative.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

• Cats do not like water.
• I don't enjoy difficult math tests.
• Sophie doesn't want to go to school.
• He didn't get to the station in time.
• Don't you have a ticket? No, I don't. 
• You didn't draw that picture yourself, did you?
• Did you see the rainbow? No, I didn't.
• Do not forget to switch off the air conditioner.
• Don't tell lies!

Exercise 

Fill in the blankswith do, does or did.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

Would and Should

The verb would is anothe helping or auxiliary verb. Use would as the past tense of will.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

* It is polite to use would like when you are offering people things, or asking for something yourself. For example:

• Would you like a cup of coffee?
• I am tired now. I'd like a rest.
• You'd like a meal now, wouldn't you?
• What color would you like?

DID YOU KNOW?

When they are accepting an offer, people often use would love instead of would like. For example:

• Would you like a chocolate?
• Yes, please, I would love one.

Should as helping or auxiliary verb. Use should to talk about necessary actions or things that people ought to do.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

• I you are tired you should go to bed early.
• You should know how to spell your own name.
• We should all drink more water.
• You should do more exercise.
• Should I turn off the computer when I'm not using it?
• Shouldn't you tell your Mom if you're going out?
• We should always thank people for presents, shouldn't we?

Learn these contractions:

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks with would or should.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

Exercise 2

Complete the sentences using would or wouldn't with a verb from the list below. The first one has been done for you.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 2

Exercise 3

Complete the sentences using should or shouldn't and a verb from the list below. The first one has been done for you. 

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 2