Modal verbs
1. can
Use
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ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be able to)
permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to)
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request
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offer
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suggestion
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possibility
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2. could
Use
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ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be able to)
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permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be allowed to)
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polite question
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polite request
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polite offer
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polite suggestion
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possibility
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3. may
Use
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possibility
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permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to)
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polite suggestion
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4. might
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Use
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possibility (less possible than may)
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hesitant offer
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5. must
Use
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force, necessity
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possibility
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advice, recommendation
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6. must not/may not
Use
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prohibition (must is a little stronger)
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7. need not
Use
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sth. is not necessary
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8. ought to
simliar to should – ought to sounds a little less subjective
Use
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advice
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obligation
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9. shall
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used instead of will in the 1st person
Use
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suggestion
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10. should
Use
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advice
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obligation
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11. will
Use
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wish, request, demand, order (less polite than would)
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prediction, assumption
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promise
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spontaneous decision
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habits
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12. would
Use
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wish, request (more polite than will)
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habits in the past
Examples
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We can speak English.
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Can I go to the garden?
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Can you wait a bit, please?
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I can lend you my bike till tomorrow.
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Can we visit Grandma at the weekend?
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It can get very hot in France.
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Examples
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I could speak English when I lived in England.
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I could go to the mall.
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Could I go to the mall, please? (future)
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Could you wait for me , please? (future)
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I could lend you my bike till tomorrow. (future)
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Could we visit aunt Mary at the weekend? (future)
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It could get very hot in Spain. (future)
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Examples
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It may snow today.
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May I go to the pool?
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May I help you?
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Examples
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It might rain today. (future)
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Might we help you? (future)
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Examples
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I must go to the office today.
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You must be tired.
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You must see the new film.
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Examples
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You mustn't work on mum’s tablet.
You may not work on mum’s tablet.
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Examples
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I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the restaurant tonight.
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Examples
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You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.
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You ought to switch off the light when you leave the room.
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Examples
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Shall I carry your bag?
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Examples
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You should drive carefully in bad weather.
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You should switch off the light when you leave the room.
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Examples
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Will you please shut the door?
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I think it will rain on Friday.
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I will stop smoking.
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Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will.
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She's strange, she'll sit for hours without talking.
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Examples
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Would you shut the door, please?
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Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.