Modal verbs

 

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Modal verbs

Compare can / could etc. for actions

can	I can go out tonight. (= there is nothing to stop me) I can't go out tonight.
could	I could go out tonight, but I'm not very keen. I couldn't go out last night. (= I wasn't able)
can or may	(Can / May) I go out tonight? (do you allow me?)
will / won't	I think I'll go out tonight. I promise I won't go out.
would	I would go out tonight, but I have too much to do. I promised I wouldn't go out.
shall	Shall I go out tonight? (do you think it is a good idea?)
should or ought to	I (should / ought to) go out tonight. (= it would be a good thing to do)
must	I must go out tonight. (= it is necessary) I musn't go out tonight. (= it is necessary that I do not go out)
needn't	I needn't go out tonight. (= it is not necessary)

Compare could have... / would have... etc.

could would should or ought to needn't

I could have gone out last night, but I decided to stay at home. I would have gone out last night, but I had too much to do. I (should / ought to) have gone out last night. I'm sorry I didn't. I needn't have gone out last night. (= I went out, but it was not necessary)

We use will / would / may etc. to say whether something is possible, impossible, probable, certain etc.

will would	'What time will she be here?' 'She'll be here soon.'
should or ought to	She (should / ought to) be here soon. (= I expect she will be here soon)
may or might or could	She (may / might / could) be here now. I'm not sure. (= it's possible that she is here)
must can't	She must be here. I saw her come in. She can't possibly be here. I know for certain that she's away on holiday.

Compare would have... / should have... etc.

will would	She will have arrived by now. (= before now) She would have arrived earlier, but she was delayed.
should or ought to	I wonder where she is. She (should / ought to) have arrived by now.
may or might or could	She (may / might / could) have arrived. I'm not sure. (= it's possible that she has arrived)
must can't	She must have arrived by now. (= I'm sure - there is no other possibility) She can't possibly have arrived yet. It's much too early. (= it's impossible)

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