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