COULD

To ask for permission. Can I smoke? Could I smoke ? (More polite than can) May I smoke? (more polite than could) To give permission we normally use CAN. Can I pay by cheque? Yes, you can. Could I pay by credit car? Yes, you can.

To refuse permission we use cant. Can I smoke? No, Im afraid you cant.

HAVE TO/MUST
HAVE TO
To say that something is necessary and obligatory. Drivers and passangers have to wear seat belts. For questions is normally to use Do? Do you have to have an international driving license. when the obligation comes from outside the speaker. Its objective. Its outside the speakers control. I have to go to the opticians at 10 am. (the time of Irvines appointment has been decided by an outsider, the opticians)

MUST
To say that something is necessary and obligatory. Drivers and passangers must wear seat belts. Is less common to make questions with Must I, you? To talk about an obligation that we impose on other people or on ourselves. Its our personal opinion. Its subjuctive. I must go to the opticians. (Irvine thinks this is necessary)

 When the obligation or necessity is often habitual we use have to. Irvine has to wear glasses when he drives. (habitual necessity)

 Irvine cant go to Oxford tomorrow. Hes thinking: I must/have to phone the hotel to say we arent coming. Hes phoning the hotel: Im afraid we cant come tomorrow. I must/have to go to the opticians here in London. Irvines eyesight isnt very good. He must/has to have an eye test once a year.

MUSTNT/DONT HAVE TO
MUST We use : To tell people not to do something. That something is wrong or against the law.
Children mustnt smoke. Drunk drivers mustnt drive.

DONT HAVE TO We use: To say that theres no obligation to do something.

He doesnt have to drive slowly. ( It isnt necessary).

SHOULD
When the think something is right thing to do.
People should eat vegetables every day.

When something is not a good idea.

We shouldnt eat too much junk food.

When we talk about how probable something is or what we expect to happen in the future.
Spain should win the football world cup again. (because theyve already won the football world cup). Gianfranco shouldnt arrive late. (because he lives near here)