4. Can I go on the Maid of the Mist?

Icono IDevice Reading activity
 

Paco has gone on a trip to Niagara falls. They are located in the border between Canada and the United States, and they are only 130 kilometres from Toronto, where Paco has stayed for the last few days. This place is considered to be one of the world's natural wonders.

Both the view and the sound of the water is breathtaking. The best way to enjoy them is going on the Maid of the Mist, a boat than allows you to see the Falls from the river and that will make your trip a unique experience.

The area is full of shops, hotels and restaurants for tourists. Paco went to one of these restaurants to have some lunch and he overheard the following conversation from a family:

 

GIRL: Dad, can I go on the Maid of the Mist please?

FATHER: Yes, you can. We'll go after lunch, ok?

GIRL: Dad, can you read this to me, please? What does it say?

FATHER: Ask your brother, sweetheart. Tom can read too.

The girl was looking forward to going on the boat, and so was Paco. He was lost in his thoughts when the man talked to him:

FATHER: Excuse me, sir, may I take this chair?

PACO: Sure! I'm not using it.


Identify all the examples with modal verbs that you can find in the text:


Self-Assessment activity
Read the text again and decide if the following statements are true or false:


1. Niagara Falls belong to the United States.

Verdadero Falso


2. The Maid of the Mist is a boat that gives you a great view of the Falls from the river.

Verdadero Falso


3. Paco wants to try the Maid of the Mist.


Verdadero Falso
Icono de iDevice Solved exercise

Study the following examples from the text:

By David@UNT, C. Commons

 

Dad, can I go on the Maid of the Mist please?

Yes, you can.

Dad, can you read this to me, please?

Tom can read too.

Excuse me, sir, may I take this chair?

1- Do they express ability, permission or request?

2- What is the difference between 'can' and 'may'? Is there another way of expressing permission and request politely?

3- What is the past form of 'can' (both meaning ability and permission)?

Icono IDevice Important

When you need to express ABILITY in the present, you use CAN; in the past, you use COULD; whenever you need any other tense, use the form BE ABLE TO.

When you need to express PERMISSION in the present, you use CAN; in the past, you use COULD; whenever you need any other tense, use the form BE ALLOWED TO.

Remember there are also other modal verbs, such as WILL or SHALL for the future, or WOULD.

Icono IDevice Further knowledge

Practice modal verbs of ability and permission by doing the exercises below.

Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3

 


Icono IDevice Curiosity

Would you like to have a look at Niagara Falls? Have a look at the images and listen to the information.


In the next section, let's finish with a review of all the modal verbs we have studied in this topic.
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