modal + infinitive

• I can [eat,do] something.

• I could do something.

• I could have done something.

• I shall do something.

• I should do something.

• I should have done something.

• I will do something.

• I would do something.

• I would have done something.

• I may do something.

• I might do something.

• I might have done something.

can

ability to do something in the present (substitute form: to be able to)

• I can speak English.

• I can drive a car.

• My son can jump on his [bed,toys].

• I can be very patient when discussing our future plans.

• You can join our team if you display the ability to communicate effectively with international clients.

• Can you please speak slower?

permission to do something in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to)

• Can I go to the cinema?

• Can I open a window? It's stuffy in here.

• Can I ask you a question?

• Can we go for a walk after lunch?

• Can I get access to that database?

• Can I have a drink, please?

request

• Can you wait a moment, please?

• Can you give me that cup please?

• Can I skip work tomorrow?

• Can I leave work early today?

• 
  

offer

• I can lend you my car until tomorrow.

• I can give you [some money, my candy].

• Can you please share with me your plan?

• You can take my laptop.

• I can help you if you like.

• We can pick up your kids after school, if you like.

suggestion

• Can we visit Grandma over the weekend?

• Can we go to the seaside next weekend?

• Can we skip our daily meetings until next week?

• Can we change the [framework,library, subject]?

• Can we rewrite this component?

• We can take a taxi to the office. It will be faster than the bus.

possibility

• It can get very hot in Dubai.

• That can be a dangerous road.

• There can be a lot of traffic on the roads right now.

• It can [snow,rain] today.

• We [could,can] stay home all day tomorrow, if you like.

could

ability to do something in the past (substitute form: to be able to)

• I could speak English when I was in elementary school. (past)

• When I was younger I could drink all night.

• I could create a simple application when I was in high school.

possibility as a conditional

• I could go to the party next week if my wife will join me.

• We could go tomorrow, if you like.

• If you are ready, we could go now.

• If I could find more time, I would [walk to Turkey,read a book].

permission to do something in the future (substitute form: to be allowed to)

• I could go to the cinema with you tomorrow.

• I could go for a walk in the park with my dog, Pixel, tomorrow.

• We could use this library for the next project.

• 
  

polite question *

• Could I go to the cinema, please?

• Could you open the window please? It's kind of stuffy in here.

• 
  

polite request *

• Could you wait a moment, please?

• Could you buy some [coffee, beer,chocolate,bread, sugar,milk, champagne, kitty litter, cat sand] for me?

• Could you pass me the salt, please?

• Could I leave work early today?

polite offer *

• I could lend you my car till tomorrow.

polite suggestion *

• Could we visit Grandma at the weekend?

possibility *

• It could get very hot in Egypt.

• It could rain tomorrow so bring your umbrella.

should

advice

• You should drive carefully in bad weather.

• You should pay more attention at school!

• You should be more confident when you are speaking to the manager.

• You shouldn't be scared to ask for help.

• You should persistently [try,work] to improve your soft and hard skills.

• You should seek feedback on your design decisions.

• You should read this book.

obligation

• You should help me clean the house from time to time.

• You should be able to listen to another person attentively.

• You should switch off the light when you leave the room.

• I should finish my work today.

• You should segregate the trash from the recycling.

• I should go to my son's school to speak with his teacher.

• I should go to the doctors this weekend.

Questions

• Q: If I'm scheduled to attend a meeting in Japan in the coming weeks or months, should I cancel?

• Q:Should I cancel our lunch?

• Q:Should I cancel my holiday?

• Q:Should I cancel my gym membership?

• Q:My fight or flight instinct took over, should I cancel?

• Q:Should I cancel the holiday I have booked in Cancun next month?

• "So," Mr. Smith asked with a grin, "should I cancel my order?"

would

wish, request (more polite than will)

• Would you shut the door, please?

• Would you allow me to take care of part of the [bill,ticket]?

• What would you like for [dinner,Christmas]?

• I wish we would stop fighting over the cat shit.

• I would rather be a super hero than a boring mortal!

• What advice would you give to a new hire?

• Would you prefer that we finish the movie now or later?

• Would you prepare a cup of tea for me please?

• Ann: If you had a two week vacation, what would you do?

• Bob: I would spend time in the mountains.

habits in the past

• Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.

• When I was younger, I would go to school with my brothers.

• When it was warmer, I would go running at least once a week.

* These are no past forms, they refer to the future.

might

possibility (less possible than may) *

• It might [snow,rain,be windy] today.

• I might help my mother clean house this weekend.

• I might go ice-skating later.

• My daughter might help me wash the car.

• She might be able to help you.

• It might be difficult to complete this task on time.

Ann: What will you do for New Years?

Bob: We will go out to eat. We might have Asian or Ukrainian, I'm not sure.

hesitant offer *

• [Might, Can, May, Should ] I help you?

will

wish, request, demand, order (less polite than would)

• Will you please shut the door?

• 
  

prediction, assumption

• I think it will rain on Friday.

promise

• I will stop smoking.

• I will go with the kids trampolining tomorrow.

• 
  

spontaneous decision

• Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will.

habits

must

force, necessity

• I must go to the supermarket today.

• You must be able to learn quickly in order to be effective as a [doctor,programmer].

possibility

• You must be tired.

advice, recommendation

• You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.

must not/may not

prohibition (must is a little stronger)

• You mustn't work on dad's computer.

• You may not work on dad's computer.

need not

something is not necessary

• I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the restaurant tonight.

ought to

similar to should – ought to sounds a little less subjective

Use

Examples

advice

You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.

obligation

You ought to switch off the light when you leave the room.

may

possibility

• It may rain today.

• I may be actively listening sometimes.

permission to do something in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to)

• May I go to the cinema?

polite suggestion

• May I help you?

shall

used instead of will in the 1st person

suggestion

• Shall I carry your bag?

• I should receive the parcel tomorrow.

• She's odd, she'll sit for hours without moving.

• Shall we [go,retire] the hotel bar?

• We shall leave the apartment after the maid has finished cleaning the toilets.