GUIDE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOK

PAGE 129 102 Overview: the use of modal verbs
should
Obligation/Advice • 93 Probability • 96
You should work hard.
It should be fine tomorrow.
(In some sub clauses)
If the phone should ring, don't
answer it. • 258
It is vital we should meet. • 242(2)
ought to
Obligation/Advice • 93 Probability • 96
You ought to work hard.
It ought to be fine tomorrow.
may
Permission • 94 Possibility • 97
You may go now.
The plan may go wrong.
May I ask a question?
We may move house.
might
Request/Order • 97(1d) Possibility • 97
You might help me.
The plan might go wrong.
We might move house.
can
Permission • 94
General possibility • 97(2e)
You can go now.
Maths can be fun.
Can I ask a question? Impossibility • 95
Request • 97 (2b) The story can't be true.
Can you help me? Ability • 98
Offer • 97 (2b) I can play the piano.
Can I help you? Opportunity • 98
Suggestion • 97(2a)
We can watch TV in the evenings.
We can meet later.
could
Permission (past) • 94(3) Possibility • 97
You could park here years ago.
The plan could go wrong.
Asking permission • 94(2)
It's perfect. It couldn't go wrong.
Could I ask a question? Ability (past) • 98
Request • 97 (2b) I could play the piano when I was
Could you help me?
five.
Suggestion • 97 (2a)
Ability (unreal) • 98 (3e)
We could meet later. I could take better photos if I had
a better camera.
I didn't dare climb up.
dare • 101