 They express speakers’ attitudes.

 They can express that a speaker feels

something is:
 Permissible
 Possible or Probable.
 Advisable
 Necessary
 • PERMISSION
P • PROHIBITION
• POSIBILITY

• ADVISABILITY
A • ABILITY

N • NECESSITY
 PERMISSION
• INFORMAL

CAN • You can use my car tomorrow

• Can I use your phone?

• FORMAL

MAY • May I go out for a moment, please?

• You may leave the house.

• MORE POLITE

COULD • Could I use your pen, please?

 PROHIBITION

Negative

You must not

Stronger than tell anyone my
Have to secret. Do you
promise?

MUST
NOT
(Mustn’t)
 POSSIBILITY

You can buy a

CAN Probable or
possible
hammer at the
hardware store

May I borrow
Polite request Questions
your pen?

MAY
Formal You may leave the
Positive sentences
permission room.
 ADVISABILITY
Give suggestions and Give an advice or an
friendly advice. opinion.
E.g. E.g.
You should study harder. Drivers ought to obey the
speed limit.
You shouldn’t talk so much
during the classes. You ought not to talk so
much.
When it is advisable to do
something. If you don’t,
there will be a problem or
a danger.
E.g.
The gas tank is almost empty.
We had better stop at the next
gas station.
I had better not meet my friends
today.
 ABILIT
Y

CAN COULD

Polite request
Impossibility
Physical An acquired skill Past ability (Questions /
(Negative)
Present)

E.g. Could I borrow I couldn’t drive a

E.g. your pen? car.
Tom is strong. He I could run faster
Mary can play the
can lift that heavy when I was a child. Could you help That couldn’t be
violin
box me? true.
 Usually stronger

Expresses urgency or
MUST (Formal)
stress importance

You must respect your

parents.
NECESSITY You must visit the doctor

More commonly

HAVE TO (Formal
or Informal)
I have to finish this
project by 5 pm
She has to do her
homework

To express lack of necessity (also called absence of obligation), speakers usually use "don't have to", don't
Expressing lack of necessity
in the present:
He doesn't have to get up early.
They don't need to get up early.
He needn't get up early.
Lack of necessity
need to", "needn't" .
Expressing lack of necessity in the past:
didn't need = didn't have to
I didn't need to wait, she was just on time.
(She was on time. I didn't have to wait.)
needn't = absence of obligation/lack of necessity
We needn't have waited, they didn't come.
(It was useless to wait. They didn't come)
Expressing lack of necessity
in the future:
I won't have to take my jacket.
It won't be cold.
I won't have to call on my
grandfather tomorrow
morning. He'll be at the doctor's
for his regular medical check
up.