I knew that these auxiliary verbs mean the low possibility though. Should I use this one?
For example:
Even if you can not pick up English…
you might be able to work abroad.
you may be able to work abroad
you could work abroad.
Which one is correct?
Grammar – Differences Between ‘Could’, ‘May’, and ‘Might’ Explained
auxiliary-verbsgrammar
Related Solutions
English auxiliary verbs combine into more complex constructions according to wholly inflexible rules: the sequence is always
- the modal component first (if it is present), with the following verb in its infinitive form
- the perfect component next (if it is present), using the auxiliary HAVE, with the following verb in its past participle form
- the progressive component next (if it is present), using the auxiliary BE, with the following verb in its present participle form
- the passive component next (if it is present), using the auxiliary BE, with the following verb in its past participle form
- the lexical verb is always the last.
Each construction is thus marked with a specific auxiliary verb, HAVE or BE, and there is a ‘ripple’ effect: the form (present or past participle or infinitive) of each verb is determined by the preceding component.
Note that the English 'modal' verbs can/could, may/might, must, shall/should, will/would are defective: they occur only in finite forms and have no non-finite forms (infinitives and participles).
Since a modal verb cannot be cast in the appropriate non-finite form, it cannot act as complement of a prior modal verb or auxiliary: except when two modals are conjoined (You can and should tell him), you can have only one modal verb in a clause, and it must be the finite first verb.
You occasionally hear paired modals in dialect speech, but this is emphatically non-standard and is generally taken to mark the speaker as uneducated.
The work-around for situations which call for "dual modalities" is to employ a periphrasis for the second modal:
*You might could do it → okYou might be able to do it.
A periphrasis like be able to VERB or need to VERB or be obliged to VERB in effect "restarts" the verb chain: a complex construction with its first element cast in the 'infinitive' may follow the to:
If you had planned better you might have been able to have been working offsite when he arrived.
In this case, however, the first element in the new chain cannot be a modal, because modals cannot be cast in the infinitive.
Best Answer
Native English speakers tend to use all these auxiliary/modal verbs without giving a thought to which is most appropriate. The choice depends largely on preference and on the context.
May is generally associated with seeking or giving authority/permission and with uncertainty.
Can is associated more with ability/skills.
Could and might are both used mainly after a main verb in the past tense and before conditions. So:
(often) becomes:
And we often say things like:
and
So you may be able to work abroad and you might be able to work abroad mean exactly the same thing but the latter works better after a main verb in the past tense.
You can work abroad states that you have either the skills or the go-ahead (or both) to do so.
You could work abroad would generally (but not always) be used before a condition although a speaker might well say this in response to a question.
However, there are whole books on the usage of these verbs and you will find guidance at numerous sites including these:
https://www.talkenglish.com/grammar/auxiliary-verbs-can-could-may-might-must.aspx
https://www.talkenglish.com/grammar/auxiliary-verbs-can-could-may-might-must.aspx