Chapter 10: Modals (Can, Could, May, Might)
Modals woh helping verbs hain jo main verb ke saath lagkar **mood ya attitude** batate hain—jaise ability (kshamata), possibility (sambhavna), permission (ijazat), ya request (anurodh).
1. Can (Ability & Possibility) 💪
'Can' ka basic matlab hai kisi kaam ko karne ki ability (kshamata) ya aam sambhavna (general possibility).
| Feature | Matlab (Hinglish) / Structure | Example (Hinglish) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ability (Kshamata) | Rule: Subject + Can + V1 Matlab: Main yeh kar **sakta hoon**. |
Main do languages bol sakta hoon. | I can speak two languages. |
| Informal Permission | Matlab: Kya main yeh **use kar sakta hoon**? | Kya main tumhara pen use kar sakta hoon? | Can I use your pen? (Doston ke beech) |
| General Possibility | Matlab: Yeh **ho sakta hai**. | Light jaa sakti hai. | The light can go out. |
2. Could (Past Ability & Polite Request) 🥺
'Could' basically **'Can' ka Past tense** hai, lekin iske do aur important uses hain.
| Feature | Matlab (Hinglish) / Structure | Example (Hinglish) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past Ability | Rule: Subject + Could + V1 Matlab: Main bachpan mein **kar sakta tha**. |
Jab main 10 saal ka tha, main tez daud sakta tha. | I could run fast when I was 10. |
| Polite Request | Matlab: Kya aap please yeh **kar sakte hain**? | Kya aap please window open kar sakte hain? | Could you please open the window? (Zyada polite.) |
| Future Possibility | Matlab: Yeh **shayad ho sakta hai** (kam sambhavna). | Kal baarish ho sakti hai. | It could rain tomorrow. |
3. May (Formal Permission & Strong Possibility) 🙏
'May' ka use **formally permission** lene/dene aur **strong possibility** (zyada sambhavna) batane ke liye hota hai.
| Feature | Matlab (Hinglish) / Structure | Example (Hinglish) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal Permission | Rule: May + Subject + V1? Matlab: Kya main **andar aa sakta hoon**? |
Kya main andar aa sakta hoon? | May I come in? (Office/School mein) |
| Strong Possibility | Rule: Subject + May + V1 Matlab: **Shayad yeh ho jayega** (50-70% sure). |
Woh meeting attend kar sakta hai. | He may attend the meeting. |
| Wish/Blessing | Matlab: Bhagwan kare woh **khush rahe**. | Bhagwan kare aapki umar lambi ho. | May you live long! |
4. Might (Weak Possibility) 🤏
'Might' **weak possibility** (bahut kam chance) batane ke liye use hota hai.
| Feature | Matlab (Hinglish) / Structure | Example (Hinglish) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weak Possibility | Rule: Subject + Might + V1 Matlab: **Shayad hi ho** (20-30% chance). |
Uska aana mushkil hai, par ho sakta hai. | She might come. |
| Reported Speech | Matlab: Usne kaha ki woh **ja sakta hai**. (May ka past) | Usne bataya ki woh late ho sakta hai. | He said he might be late. |
🔑 Chapter 10 Takeaway
Modals aapki English ko **precise (sateek)** aur **polite** banate hain. Yaad rakho: Can = Ability, Could = Polite Request/Past Ability, May = Formal Permission/Strong Possibility, aur Might = Weak Possibility (Sabse kam chance). Inke beech ka farak samajhna bahut zaroori hai! 😉