MODALS

- Modals -

1) can

Use	Examples
ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be able to)	I can speak English.
permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to)	Can I go to the cinema?
request	Can you wait a moment, please?
offer	I can lend you my car till tomorrow.
suggestion	Can we visit Grandma at the weekend?
possibility	It can get very hot in Arizona.
CAN’T - When you’re certain something is not true	This painting can’t be by Rembrandt. It’s too modern.

2) could

Use	Examples
ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be able to)	I could speak English.
permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be allowed to)	I could go to the cinema.
polite question	Could I go to the cinema, please?
polite request	Could you wait a moment, please?
polite offer	I could lend you my car till tomorrow.
polite suggestion	Could we visit Grandma at the weekend?
possibility (something is possible or likely in the future)	It could get very hot in Montana.
Deduction (something is possible)	It could be true that it was all his own work.

3) may

Use	Examples
possibility	It may rain today.
polite suggestion	May I help you?

4) might

Use	Examples
possibility (less possible than may) *	It might rain today.

5) must

Use	Examples
necessity (sth is necessary or important in your personal opinión)	I must go to the supermarket today.
deduction (you’re certain)	You must be tired.
advice, recommendation	You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.
MUSTN’T - prohibition	You mustn't work on dad's computer.

6) have to (semi modal)

Use	Examples
Necessity (something is essential or a general rule)	When you develop a new design you have to try it out a number of times.
DON’T HAVE TO – sth is NOT necessary	They don’t have to be here. We can decide  ourselves.

7) need not

Use	Examples
not necessary	I needn't go to the supermarket; we're going to the restaurant tonight.

8) should / ought to

Use	Examples
advice	You should drive carefully in bad weather.
obligation	You should switch off the light when you leave the room.