MODALS

WILL

Future Expressions :
They will come to my party tonight
Rita will start the lesson soon

Polite Request / Invitation :
Will you come to my office?
Will you open the door for me?

Promise & Determination :
I will help you
I will come on time

WOULD

Past Form of Will :
He said that She would come
I knew that They wouldn't pay it today

Expressing a Desire :
Would you like to have something to drink?
What would you like to do today?

Polite Request :
Would you please send this letter for me?
Would you translate this sentence for me?

CAN

Ability :
She can speak English well
All of them can swim

Request :
Can I come in?
Can I drink this coke?

Grant Permission :
You can go now
They can use my room

COULD

Past Form of Can :
When I was in Australia, I could speak English well
He could sing when he was a kid

Request Permission in a Polite Form :
Could I come in now?
Could you come to my room, please?

MAY

Request Permission :
May I help you?
May I switch the TV off?

Expressing Possibility :
I may not go to your party tonight
They may come late

MIGHT

Expressing Possibility :
They might help us correcting our report
I might start it soon

Past Form of May :
He said that he might come late
I told you that They might not answer your question

SHALL

Expressing a Promise :
I shall receive the transfer in two weeks
We shall return by the end of next month

Expressing a Threat :
If they come late again, they shall be fired
If you lie to me, you shall get a big problem

A Request for Agreement :
Shall I answer the telephone?
Shall I start eating the dinner now?

SHOULD

Expressing a Wish or Expectation :
They should study harder (but they don't)
You should tell me earlier (but you didn't)

Obligation :
You should follow the rule
They should obey they parents

MUST

Necessity :
We must go now
They must start it in five minutes

Expressing a Logical Deduction :
She must be sleeping at this time
They must like it