By Modals, Modal verbs

In order, best first, I'd say could, might, can. I wouldn't use may here, though some speakers might. (I know you are interested in the usage of modal verbs, but again, a modal verb is not necessary: Do you think he lost his way? The real meaning, I think, is not even a question, but...

Hi,I was looking for help on the Englishpage.com website on its Modal Verb Tuturial on the modal verb 'can' and seem to have found that they use categories to explain the various uses of 'can'. One category is 'can' as 'opportunity' -- and gave this example:I have...

>In the Englishpage.com website in its Modal Verb Tutorial section, of all the list functions of the modal 'could', I could not find anything that said 'ability' although it had the 'past ability' category. Why is that? Always post the link, so we don't have to...

Hi,Since I wrote a complement of a sort, which still stands firmly, I came to have one more question.In the Englishpage.com website in its Modal Verb Tutorial section, of all the list functions of the modal 'could', I could not find anything that said 'ability' although it had the...

Hi,I have trouble with the modal verbs 'can' and 'could' in some of their functional capacities. I know that 'can' be used to denote possibility and ability like below:He can drive a truck. -- denote ability He can grow up to be a CEO. -- denotes possibility'Could'...

In some cases this is possible, but not in general. You would typically have some sort of modal verb there.I'm sorry you are leaving us so soon.I'm sorry you have to have such a serious operation next month.I'm sorry you can't attend the party tonight. CJ

Or and Nor are killing me! The following are the combinations that I know ofEither ...orNeither...norisn't/doesn't/negative modal verbs ...or (why NOR is possible???)He doesn't eat spaghetti or sushi (nor sushi??)Please help.

I don't understand what you are asking."Maybe" is an adverb, while "may be" is the modal verb "may" followed by the verb "to be".

Yes, it can be done, but sometimes it sounds awkward.You can either stay or leave.Jack neither approves nor disapproves of the plan.I would not put these before a modal verb, for example:???You either can behave or will be thrown out. ???Jane neither may go to the dance nor must sell tickets to...

This modal verb has 1001 meanings ...never ceases to surprise me. Thanks, MM and CJ.