USAGE Ability Advice Future tense auxiliary Logical deduction

MODALS CAN COULD SHOULD OUGHT TO WILL SHOULD OUGHT TO HAVE TO

EXAMPLES Julie can swim Julie could swim when she was four years old. --> Past Ability You should take an umbrella. It's starting to rain. You ought to write to your grandmother. Tomorrow I will be in New York. John has revised all day. He should be ready for his exam. Here's USD30. That ought to be enough for a taxi. I have to buy flowers for my mother-in-lay (her husband told her to). I have to take more exercise (doctor's orders). I have to call the travel agency (asked by the boss) I must buy flowers for my mother. You must take more exercise. I must ask my secretary to book a flight for me. Can I help you? Shall I order a taxi? Shall we begin the meeting now? --> can also be suggestions Will you join us for coffee? Won't you come in? --> can also be invitations The president said he might come. Can/May I come with you? Could I use your phone, please? May I borrow your dictionary? That story could be true - who knows! The President may come to visit our offices tomorrow, if the meeting finishes before 5pm. Could you tell me the way to the station, please? We might win a prize but I doubt it!

Obligation

(SOMEONE ELSE thinks it's necessary)

MUST (THE
SPEAKER thinks it's necessary)

CAN Offers SHALL WILL Past from "may" in reported speech Permission MIGHT CAN COULD MAY COULD MAY COULD MIGHT

Possibility Requests Slight possibility