Present Modals Flashcards
Can
-ability
-informal permission
-possibility
-informal polite request
-impossibility
May
-weak possibility
-polite request
-permission
-benediction&malediction
-may and ‘ever’ words
Should
-expectation
-advisability
-necessity
-‘should’ in if clauses
-‘should’ in ‘in case’
-should in idiomatic use
-if you should change your mind, please call me
-should you change your mind, please call me
-if you should need help, don’t hesitate to phone me
-it is unfortunate that he should behave like that
-it seems awful that he causes so much trouble
-i bought some food in case we should have some unexpected visitors.
-when i came out of the shop, who should i see but Robert?
Shall
-suggestion
-offer
-intention
-threat
-legal language-order-instructions
-you shall pay for what you have done (threat)
-anyone who sticks paper on this wall shall be prosecuted.
Might
-weak possibility
-Might in directed speech
Would
-polite request
-willingness
-repeated past activities
-would in if clauses
-would without an if clauses
-would in if only and wish clauses
-my grandmother would/used to tell us interesting stories whenever she came to visit us.
Ought to
-advisability
-possibility
-you ought to recover quickly if you follow the doctor’s orders.
Could
-past ability
-permission in the past
-a difference between was/were able to and could
-could with state verbs
-could in unreal condition
-permission
-polite request
-strong possibility
-suggestion
-impossibility
Will
-intention
-%100 certainty
-willingness
-polite request
-question tag
-habitual action
-refusal
Must
-strong necessity
-assumption
-prohibition
Have to
Have got to
-I’ve got to go home now. it’s getting late
-Bill’s got to register for the spring semester today.
Had better
Dare not/daren’t
Needn’t
