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(be) able to

ability, less used than can e.g. Im not able to come to the game on Friday.

can

ability e.g. Can you play the piano? asking for and giving permission e.g. Mom, can I go the cinema tonight? !o, you cant. "ou have home#ork to do offer e.g. Can I help you? re$uest, instruction e.g. Can you s#itch on the light for me? capability e.g. %he summers in &ngland can be really unpredictable. #ith be to make criticisms e.g. 'usan can be a real pain in the neck at times.

ability

cant

e.g. I cant come to the game on Friday. #hen you feel sure something is not possible (opposite of must)

e.g. %he tennis match cant be over yet. (Im sure it isnt).

could

possibility or uncertainty (can also use might) e.g. *e could be the one for you+ re$uest (more polite than can) e.g. Could you s#itch on the light for me? suggestion e.g. ,e could go on a picnic this afternoon. asking for and giving permission e.g. Could I use your phone? "es, of course you can un#illingness e.g. I couldnt possibly leave %om alone #hile hes in this state. #ith comparative ad-ectives to e.press possibility or impossibility e.g. I could be fitter. e.g. *e couldnt study harder.

dont have to

#hen you dont need to do something (but you can if you #ant) e.g. "ou dont have to go to school if

you dont #ant to.

dont need to

not necessary to do something (more used than neednt) e.g. "ou dont need to come to the party if you dont #ant to.

strong advice (less used than should) e.g. "oud better do the #ashing up no#. e.g. Id better not go out tonight, because I have to get up early tomorro#.

had better

have (got) to

necessity, impersonal, not for personal feelings, but for a rule or situation. If you are unsure #hether to use must or have to, it is usually safer to use have to. e.g. I have to get up early tomorro# to catch the train to the office.

may

to e.press although in clauses e.g. I may be married to you, but that doesnt give you the right to treat me

like dirt. possibility or uncertainty (formal) e.g. %here may be a cure for /I0' #ithin the ne.t ten years. asking for and giving permission (less usual, more formal) e.g. May I use your phone? "es, of course you may

may as well/might as well

describes the only thing left to do, something #hich the speaker is not enthusiastic about e.g. Im so bored, I may as #ell do some house#ork.

might

possibility or uncertainty e.g. %here might be a cure for /I0' #ithin the ne.t ten years. unreal situation e.g. If I kne# her better, I might invite her to the ball.

must

#hen you feel sure something is true (opposite of cant) e.g. %he tennis match must be over by no#. (Im sure it is).

necessity, personal feelings e.g. I havent spoken to 1i2 for ages. I must give her a call. order, strong suggestion e.g. "ou must stop smoking or youll get lung cancer.

must not

prohibition (negative order) e.g. "ou must not leave the table until you have finished your dinner.

need

as a normal verb e.g. 0o you need me to help you? in $uestions (less usual) e.g. !eed you make so much mess?

neednt

not necessary to do something (unusual) e.g. "ou neednt come to the party if you dont #ant to.

ought to

e.pectation (can use should) e.g. If you like 3icasso, you ought to en-oy the e.hibition. recommendation (can use should) e.g. "ou ought to have more driving lessons before you take the test.

criticism (can use should) e.g. "ou ought not to shout at your mother like that.

shall

certainty or desire (mainly 4ritish &nglish) e.g. I shall give up chocolate for 1ent. in formal rules and regulations (mainly 4ritish &nglish) e.g. 5acism or se.ism shall not be tolerated in this building. in $uestions to ask for instructions and decisions, and to make offers and suggestions (mainly 4ritish &nglish) e.g. ,hat shall I do? ,hen shall #e come and see you? 'hall #e go to the cinema this evening?

shant

certainty (less usual, mostly 4ritish &nglish) e.g. I shant be late for the meeting.

should

e.pectation (can use ought to) e.g. If you like 3icasso, you should en-oy the e.hibition. suggestion, advice, opinion (can use

ought to) e.g. "ou should have more driving lessons before you take the test.
#hen something is not right or as you e.pect it e.g. %he price on this can of beans is #rong. It should say 67.89, not 68.89. criticism (can use ought to) e.g. "ou shouldnt shout at your mother like that. uncertainty e.g. 'hould I ask her out on a date? should : #ords of thinking, to make an opinion less direct e.g. I should think he could find a more compatible match. #ith be and ad-ectives describing chance, including odd, strange, typical, natural, interesting, surprised, surprising, funny (;odd) and ,hat a coincidence. e.g. Its odd that he should ask you so many personal $uestions. after in case to emphasise unlikelihood e.g. Im not going out tonight in case she should call me. If<..should e.g. If =ane should drop by #hen I am out, tell her to come back later. polite order or instruction e.g. /pplications should be sent by >rd =anuary.

will

assumption e.g. ?h, thatll be =ohn on the phone. re$uest (can and could are more common) e.g. ,ill you go to the shop for me? intention or #illingness e.g. Ill take grans pearls then . "ou #ont+ I #ill+ order e.g. ,ill you please shut up? insistence e.g. I #ont clean my room+ "es you #ill+ habits and typical behaviour e.g. 'arah #ill sit and ga2e at the stars all night. criticism e.g. 'he #ill drink too much #hen she goes out.

wont

emphatically forbid an action, in response to a #ill e.pression e.g. Ill take grans pearls then .

"ou #ont+ I #ill+ refusal e.g. I #ont clean my room+ "es you #ill+

would

re$uest (can and could are more common) e.g. ,ould you go to the shop for me? #ould like @ offerAinvitation e.g. ,ould you like a cup of tea? after be, follo#ed by ad-ectives doubtful, unlikely, to emphasise a tentative action e.g. Its doubtful that he #ould be there in time of need. annoying habit, typical of a person e.g. 'he #ould ask me for money, #ouldnt she? certainty in a suppressed conditional sentence e.g. I #ould never agree to that. (even if he asked me)

wouldnt

certainty in a suppressed conditional sentence e.g. I #ouldnt agree to that. (even if he asked me.)

Present have to / dont have to

Positive

Negative

strong obligation (possibly from no obligation outside) I dont have to work on Children have to go to undays. school. !ou dont have to eat (sometimes have got to) anything you dont like.

must / mustnt strong obligation (possibly negative obligation based on the speakers opinion) !ou mustnt smoke here. I must study today. should / shouldnt mild obligation or advice !ou should save some money. mild negative obligation or advice !ou shouldnt smoke so much.

Past

Positive

Negative no obligation in the past "e didnt have to go to school on aturdays. %

had to / didnt obligation in the past have to I had to go to wear a school uniform when I was a child. must# should have & pp / shouldnt have & pp changes to $had to$

a past action which didnt a past action which didnt happen' the advice / regret is happen' the advice / regret is too late too late !ou should have gone to !ou shouldnt have taken bed earlier( now you that )ob.( it was a bad have missed the train. idea.

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