Catholic University of Mozambique

Distance Education Institution

Modal verbs (Can/could, shall/should, will/would) and future tenses (present

simple, present continuous, going to and will)

Name: João José Vasco, Code: 708210977

Course: Biology Course

Subject: English Language

Year 1

Gorongosa, June 2022

Gorongosa, Maio 2022

 Catholic University of Mozambique

Distance Education Institution

Modal verbs (Can/could, shall/should, will/would) and future tenses (present

simple, present continuous, going to and will)

Tutor: Sabino Manuel

Gorongosa, June 2022

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Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5

can / could................................................................................................................................... 6

Shall/ should ............................................................................................................................... 8

Will and would ........................................................................................................................... 9

The Present Simple Tense for Future actions ........................................................................... 10

The Present Continuous with Future Actions ........................................................................... 11

Going to for future events......................................................................................................... 12

Future simple tense with will ................................................................................................... 12

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 14

Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 15

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Introduction
The main aim of this research work is to discuss aspects related to grammar points such as:
Modal verbs-Can/could, shall/should, will/would to express permission, offer, probability,
capability in the present and past and future tenses using present simple, present continuous,
going to and will.

Nevertheless, the researcher argues that the acquisition of grammar form is very important
successful second/foreign language use, and that grammar learning becomes easier as one
matures; the more one’s grammar develops, the easier it is to add new grammar structures in a
given language.

Being so, the researcher concluded that modal verbs are auxiliary verbs, which means they
can only be used with a main verb. Modal verbs cannot be a main verb.

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Can / could
According to Montgomery (2007, pp.90-95), we use Can and could to say that something is
possible because someone has the ability to do it. We use can for the present and could for
the past.

Examples: Vasco can play guitar.

Can you draw a perfect circle using pencil?

We can't move this table. It's too heavy.

Vasco could play guitar when he was ten.

My grandfather could tell us very interesting stories.

The negative of can is cannot, written as one word. It has a short form can't.

As well as physical or mental ability, we also use can/could for a chance, an opportunity to do
something.

Examples: We can sit in the garden when it's nice.

When we lived in a flat, we couldn't keep a dog.

Apart from the description above, we also use can and could to suggest possible future
actions.

Examples: You can/could go on the train, of course.

We can/could have a party. Yes, why not?

If we're short of money, I can/could sell my jewellery.

Can is stronger than could, which expresses a more distant possibility.

We also use can and could in requests. Could is more tentative.

Examples: Can/Could you wait a moment, please?

Can/Could I have one of those leaflets, please?

We also use can for an offer.

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I can lend you a hand. Can I give you a lift?

Can and could express only a possibility. They do not mean that something is likely to
happen.

We can/could have a party. Yes, why not? (Suggestion)

For something that is possibly true, we use could.

Examples: Edward could be working late tonight.

The timetable could be in this drawer.

You could have forgotten to post the letter.

For an uncertain prediction about the future, we also use could, but not can.

The highway could be busy tomorrow.

There is a special use of can to say that something is generally possible.

You can make wine from bananas. Smoking can damage your health.

Can often has the meaning 'sometimes'.

Housewives can feel lonely. (= They sometimes feel lonely.)

The highway can get busy. (= It sometimes gets busy.)

We use can, could to ask permission.

Can I take your umbrella? Of course you can.

Could I borrow this calculator, please? Well, I need it actually.

Here could mean a more distant possibility than can and so is less direct, more tentative.

I can stay up as late as I like. My parents don't mind.

These yellow lines mean that you can't park here.

At one time anyone could go and live in the USA.

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Shall/ should
Shall – to make a suggestion

Shall we dance?

Shall I go now?

Shall/should for slight obligation in very formal situations

We shall obey the rules.

I shall not enter here.

There shall be no food and drink on the premises.

Should

Should is often used to give an opinion, to make a suggestion, express a preference or an

idea.

You should stay at home if you are feeling tired.

I should go to work today.

Edward should be more open to ideas.

Should to ask for an opinion.

Should we tell him about our idea?

What should we do now?

Should and ought to

We can use should for obligation and advice, to say what is the right thing or the best thing to
do.

They should build more hospitals.

People shouldn't through litter all over the place.

You should go New York. It's an interesting place.

I shouldn't leave things until the last moment.

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Who should we invite?

Passengers should check in at least one hour before departure time.

I should be doing some work really.

You should have planted these potatoes last month.

In the negative the usual form is shouldn't.

Examples: We shouldn't have long to wait.

Shall/Should have the additional meaning 'if all goes well'. We cannot use these verbs for
things going wrong.

E.g. The train should be on time. but NOT The train should be late.

Will and would

We can use these verbs for habits, actions which are repeated again and again. We use will for
present habits and would for past habits.

Examples:

Every day Kelvin will come home from school and ring up the friends he's just been talking
to.

Warm air will rise at any time soon.

A long time ago people would make their own entertainment in the community.

The meaning is almost the same as a simple tense: Every day Kelvin comes home...

But we use will as a kind of prediction. The action is so typical and happens so regularly that
we can predict it will continue.

Will is also used to show desire, preference, choice or consent:

They will accept your invitation.

Will you please be quiet for a moment?

Will is also used to show the future event:

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Examples:

It will be a great party.

I will probably go out tonight with my wife.

To express capability:

The ship will take three hundred guests.

This bottle will hold two litres of wine.

To express determination or insistence:

I will pass my driving test.

I will do as you say.

Would

Would – used to show preference

I would rather go to the cinema today. (I prefer going to the cinema today.)

Would – to show a wish

I would like to have more free time.

Would – for advice in a conditional sentence.

If I were you, I would study hard to pass the final examinations.

The Present Simple Tense for Future actions

Hanson and Padua (2011, p.56), argues that: The present simple tense is used to talk about
future actions that have been scheduled already, such as: meetings, timetables, airline
schedules, calendar and so forth.

Examples:

Hurry up please! I don't want to miss the bus. It leaves at 2:00 PM.

The meeting is in the staffroom. It starts at 8:00 AM.

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We normally use the present simple tense when we know what the future is about.

a) We use the present simple for something scheduled:

We have a lesson next Friday.

The train arrives at5:30 in the afternoon.

The holidays start next month.

It's my son’s birthday tomorrow.

Edward will be here soon. His plane arrives at 9 o’clock.

The Present Continuous with Future Actions

In English, we often use the present continuous/progressive (be + verb + ing) to talk about
future events that we have already planned. Time words in the sentence, such as next week,
next year, tomorrow, etc., make it clear that the action is not happening at this moment,
(Asyiah, 2017, p.78).

Examples:

I'm playing football with my classmates next Saturday.

I'm playing football the day after tomorrow.

We can use the present continuous for plans or arrangements:

I'm playing guitar tomorrow.

They are coming to visit us in December.

We're having a party at Christmas next December.

Still in the same view, Verbs that describe states rather than actions are not used in the
progressive form. These include words like know, believe, hear, love seem own and need.

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Going to for future events
We use (be) going to

a) To talk about plans or intentions:

E.g. I'm going to drive to work today in the afternoon.

They are going to live in UK after graduation.

b) To make predictions based on evidence we can see:

Be careful! You are going to fall into the drain. (= I can see that you might fall.)

Take a look at those black clouds in the sky. I think it's going to rain. (= I can see that it will
rain.)

Future simple tense with will

a) We use will when we express beliefs about the future:

It will be a nice day tomorrow.

I think Argentina will win the next World Cup.

I'm sure that you will enjoy the film I have on my Computer.

b) mean want to or be willing to:

I hope you will come to my graduation next week.

Vasco says he will help me with some money to buy food and beer for my birthday.

c) To make offers and promises:

I'll see you tomorrow after I leave from work.

We'll send you an email in case you are selected for the interview.

d) To talk about offers and promises:

Armando will be at the meeting with us.

Edgar will help with the cooking stuffs, such as tomatoes, onions garlic and so forth.

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e) We can also use will be with an -ing form for something happening before and after a
specific time in the future:

I'll be working at seven o'clock. Can you come later after I finish working?

They'll be waiting for us so that we can go together to the cinema.

f) We can use will be with an -ing form instead of the present continuous or be going to
when we are talking about plans, arrangements and intentions:

They'll be doing their homework by ten PM.

I'll be driving to work tomorrow around nine PM.

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Conclusion
The aim of this present research work was to discuss aspects related to grammar points such
as: Modal verbs-Can/could, shall/should, will/would to express permission, offer, probability,
capability in the present and past and future tenses using present simple, present continuous,
going to and will.

Being so, the researcher concluded that modal verbs are auxiliary verbs, which means they
can only be used with a main verb. Modal verbs cannot be a main verb.

Therefore, these grammar points discussed in the assignment play a very important role in
English as a second and foreign language due to the fact that they are always being used on
our daily basis in written and spoken discourse in rea-life situation.

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Bibliography
Asyiah, D. N. (2017). The Vocabulary Teaching And Vocabulary Learning. Jurnal Bahasa
Lingua Scientia 294, Vol 9, No 2, November 2017.

Hanson, S. and Padua, J. F. M. (2011). Teaching Vocabulary Explicitly. PREL-Pacific

Resourses For Education and Learning.

Harmer, J. (2012). How to teach English. Pearson Education Limited.

Montgomery, J. K. (2007). Bridge of Vocabulary: Evidence Based Activities for Academic

Success. NCS Pearson Inc.

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