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Situations table

Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and exercises.

𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 are auxiliar verbs like may, can, will, could, shall, must, would, might, should that express posibility, ability, permission, requests and obligation.

Rules	Modal verb	Example
Requests (formal)	May	May I sit down?
Requests (informal)	Can	Can I sit down?
Requests (polite)	Could	Could I sit down?
Requests (polite)	Would	Would you mind if I sit down?
Permission (May)	May	You may sit down?
Permission (Can)	Can	You can sit down?
Permission Obligation (full)	Must	You must tell the police the truth.
Permission Obligation (partial)	Should	You should tell your friends the truth.
Obligation (partial, less common)	Ought to	You ought to tell your friends the truth.
Logical conclusions (stronger than "should")	Must	He left an hour ago, so he must be there already.
Logical conclusions (weaker than "must")	Should	He left half an hour ago, I believe he should be there already.
Possibility (general)	Can	It can rain sometimes.
Possibility (weaker than "may" and "might")	Could	It could rain, but it is not very common in this part of the country.
Possibility (weaker then "may")	Might	It's not very cloudy yet, but it might rain.
Possibility (stronger than "might")	May	It starts getting cloudy. It may rain soon.
Future (actions/states/intentions)	Will	Look at the sky! It will rain soon.

Exercises - Situations table

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Please answer all questions.

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1) He can't mustn't speak English.

2) They can must take photos there.

3) Could Must you give me the menu, please?

4) Shall Will I watch TV now, dad?

5) May Will I call you later, mr. Smith?

6) It will can be hot this week.

7) It's late. My grandparents might would be sleeping.

8) You couldn't shouldn't smoke so much.

9) Would Should you like another drink?

10) People shouldn't couldn't drive so fast in the city.

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