How do we use the "modal verbs" correctly?

[Ioana]

Test No. incompl/elem-7 "Modals", question 4

I may ......... able to come to your party if I have the time.

(a) be
(b) being
(c) being to

Test No. incompl/elem-7 "Modals", answer 4

I may be able to come to your party if I have the time.

Correct answer: (a) be
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How do we use the "modal verbs" correctly?

Ioana

[Alan]

May is like can and must because the following verb is in the infinitive form. The correct answer is: I may BE able to come.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Amiranow]

Hi,
I think "no one say ; I may be able ....". I used to hear "May be able to.....".

[Mister Micawber]

.
I'm not sure what you are asking, Amiranow, but the phrase, "I may be able to" + verb is a common phrase to express possibility.

We may be able to explain more to you if you clarify your question.
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Amiranow]

Hi,
You have already answered me . I want to say it isn't commonly used in offering but you tell me it's used to express how much it's possible .
Thanks

[Issa]

Hi,
I can't understand this sentence clearly.
May you clarify its struture?
it's great if you give me some example...! :)
Thanks a lot!

[Mister Micawber]

.
Which sentence, Issa?
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Issa]

:) Hi
This sentence is "I may be able to come to your party ....".
I don't understand why used "may be able". what's meaning of this sentence?
can I say: "I may be come to your party..." ???
I don't know it's tense. so I can't understand its meaning clearly. :(
could you please help me!
Thanhs!

[Mister Micawber]

.
I may be come to your party.

This verb is in simple present and a paraphrase is: It is possible that I can come to your party. The speaker is unsure of his attendance; perhaps he has to work that night, so cannot come, but he does not yet know for sure.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Issa]

you said:
"The speaker is unsure of his attendance; perhaps he has to work that night, so cannot come, but he does not yet know for sure."

That is meaning of which sentence? "It is possible that I can come to your party" or "I may be able to come to your party "

Does meaning of sentence "I may be able to come to your party " change if I don't use word "able" in it?
if it does, how change it will?

Thanks for your share! ;)

[Mister Micawber]

.
I'm sorry, Issa-- my typing is terrible. 'May be to come' is no good. I meant to write:

I may be able to come to your party.

These all have the same meaning:

"The speaker is unsure of his attendance; perhaps he has to work that night, so cannot come, but he does not yet know for sure."
"It is possible that I can come to your party."
"I may be able to come to your party. "
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Vancao]

Hi!Alan
Can you explain to me the different between maybe and may be? I think maybe(that in one word) =probably, can, must, and may be(that in two words) =?

[Mister Micawber]

.
MAYBE

'Maybe' is an adverb meaning 'perhaps, by chance, possibly': Maybe I can help you. Maybe he is drunk. Maybe she dances well.

MAY BE

'May' is an auxiliary verb of possibility: I may see him tonight. They may not expect us. He may lose the game.
'Be' is the infinitive of the copular verb, 'be': He can be very rude. They should be there by midnight. I may be late tonight.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Torsten]

[Rekhabiota]

what is auxiliary verb and what is infinitive of copular verb? couldn't able to get the difference....please make me clear..