We use Can and Could to express capacity, possibility, hability and permission.
Could (simple past, conditional tense);
Pelé could play soccer very well.
The ancient Romans could build good roads and bridges.
Mary could help you if she wanted to.
Can you give us some information, please?
Could you give us some information, please? (more polite)
Can I borrow you pen? Yes, of course you can.
Could I borrow your pen? No, I’m sorry but you can’t.
Could is used to express general hability in the past.
Ayrton Senna could drive incredibly fast.
For specific occasions in the past, we use:
was able to, managed to or succeeded in.
Mozart was a genius. He could write a symphony when he was 8.
Once he managed to write a symphony in two days. (specific occasion)
When used to express that something may happen, MAY represents a major possibility than MIGHT.
It’s cold and it may rain. (rain is expected)
It might even snow. (remote possiblity)
Jack is a good man. He can lend you the money. (possiblity)
He is a rich man. He might even give you the money. (remote possibility)
May I sit down? (respectfully)
Yes, you may. No, you may not.
Can I sit down? (more common, informal)
Yes, you can, No, you can’t.
MIGHT is used to indicate permission but only in indiret speeches:
I asked Mr. Smith if I might borrow his dictionary.
To express possibility in the past:
She may/might have written to me, but I didn’t get any letter.
WILL and SHALL are used in future expressions.
I will/shall come to the party tomorrow.
WIIL YOU...? SHALL I...? SHALL WE...? express requests, suggestions, invitations and offerings.
WOULD YOU ... ? (more polite request)
Will/Would you come here please?
Shall I help you with your bags?
Shall we go to the movies tonight?
WOULD is more common em questions with like:
Would you like a piece of cake?
WOULD is used in indirect speech with sentences in the future tense. (It replaces will in such cases).
John: “I will go the party.”
John said that he would go to the party.
WOULD is also used in hypothetical conditional sentences:
We would go the party if we had a car.
WOULD can be used to express an action in the past:
My grandmother used to tell us stories every evening. She would tell us to sit down around her. She would open an old book and she would tell us to be quiet.
Should and “ought to” are used to show “moral obligation”, advice, duty.
Janet look sick. She should/ought to see a doctor.
I know that I should/ought to study, but I’m so tired...
Must is used to express strong obligation. We can also use have/has to:
We must/have to eat to live.
I must/have to lose weight. I’m too fat.
Compare the modal auxilary verbs below:
The doctor:”You must stop smoking immmediately.” (An order!)
A friend: “You should stop smking. Cigarettes are bad for you.”(Advice)
To express necessity or obligation related to the past, instead of using MUST we use HAD TO:
I had to work until late yesterday.
Yous mustn’t talk loud in a library. (prohibition)
You don’t have to rent a car. I’ll lend you mine. (no need)
MUST is also used to express a logical conclusion, deduction or something that must be true.
“My sister is Miss Brazil.”
“She must be very beautiful. And you must be a big liar.”
To express opposing idea (the contrary):
pixelskylines
baratheonpilled
yousharknotpass
jacobvanloon
jbbartram-illu
stormborns
annaxmalina
