Can

Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to
express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or
impossibility.
Examples:
I can ride a horse. ABILITY
e can stay with my brother when we are in !aris. OPPORTUNITY
"he cannot stay out after #$ !%. PERMISSION
Can you hand me the stapler& REQUEST
'ny child can grow up to be president. POSSIBILITY
Using "Can" in Present, Past, and Future
%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. "tudy the chart
below to learn how "can" behaves in different contexts.
%odal (se !ositive )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,.
* )uture
-egative )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast
,. * )uture
.ou can also use:
can
GENERAL ABILITY
#. I can spea/ Chinese.
+. "0I)1 12 "C2(34"
I could spea/ Chinese
when I was a /id.
,. "0I)1 12 "5E '53E
12"
I will be able to spea/
Chinese by the time I
finish my course.
#. I can6t spea/ "wahili.
+. "0I)1 12 "C2(34"
I couldn6t spea/ "wahili.
,. "0I)1 12 "5E '53E
12"
I won6t be able to spea/
"wahili.
be able to
can
ABILITY DURING
A SPECIFIC
EVENT
#. ith a burst of
adrenaline, people can
pic/ up cars.
+. "0I)1 12 "5E '53E
12"
#. Even with a burst of
adrenaline, people can6t
pic/ up something that
heavy.
+. "0I)1 12 "5E '53E
be able to
ith a sudden burst of
adrenaline, he was able
to lift the car off the
child6s leg.
,. "0I)1 12 "5E '53E
12"
ith a sudden burst of
adrenaline, he will be
able to lift the car.
12"
Even the weight lifter,
couldn6t lift the car off
the child6s leg.
,. "0I)1 12 "5E '53E
12"
Even three men
wor/ing together won6t
be able to lift the car.
can
OPPORTUNITY
#. I have some free time. I
can help her now.
+. "0I)1 12 "5E '53E
12"
I had some free time
yesterday. I was able to
help her at that time.
,. I6ll have some free
time tomorrow. I can
help her then.
#. I don6t have any time. I
can6t help her now.
+. "0I)1 12 "5E '53E
12"
I didn6t have time
yesterday. I wasn6t able
to help her at that time.
,. I won6t have any time
later. I can6t help her
then.
be able to
can
PERMISSION
#. I can drive "usan6s car
when she is out of town.
+. "0I)1 12 "5E
'332E4 12 "
I was allowed to drive
"usan6s car while she
was out of town last
wee/.
,. I can drive "usan6s
car while she is out of
town next wee/.
#. I can6t drive "usan6s car
when she is out of town.
+. "0I)1 12 "5E
'332E4 12 "
I wasn6t allowed to drive
"usan6s car while she
was out of town last
wee/.
,. I can6t drive "usan6s
car while she is out of
town next wee/.
may
can
REQUEST
Can I have a glass of
water&
Can you give me a lift to
school&
Can6t I have a glass of
water&
Can6t you give me a lift
to school&
could, may
REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO
THE NEAR FUTURE.
REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO
THE NEAR FUTURE.
can
POSSIBILITY,
IMPOSSIBILITY
'nyone can become rich
and famous if they /now
the right people.
3earning a language can
be a real challenge.
THIS USE IS USUALLY A
GENERALIZATION OR A
SUPPOSITION.
It can6t cost more than a
dollar or two.
.ou can6t be 789 I
thought you were about
#: years old.
THIS USE IS USUALLY A
GENERALIZATION OR A
SUPPOSITION.
Could
Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to ma/e suggestions and
requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional
form of "can."
Examples:
Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. POSSIBILITY
-ancy could s/i li/e a pro by the age of ##. PAST ABILITY
.ou could see a movie or go out to dinner. SUGGESTION
Could I use your computer to email my boss& REQUEST
e could go on the trip if I didn6t have to wor/ this wee/end. CONDITIONAL
Using "Could" in Present, Past, and Future
%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. "tudy the chart
below to learn how "could" behaves in different contexts.
%odal (se !ositive )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. *
)uture
-egative )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. *
)uture
.ou can
also use:
could #. ;ohn could be the one who
stole the money.
#. %ary couldn6t be the one who might,
POSSIBILITY
+. ;ohn could have been the
one who stole the money.
,. ;ohn could go to <ail for
stealing the money.
stole the money.
+. %ary couldn6t have been
the one who stole the money.
,. %ary couldn6t possibly go
to <ail for the crime.
may
could
CONDITIONAL
OF CAN
#. If I had more time, I could
travel around the world.
+. If I had had more time, I
could have traveled around
the world.
,. If I had more time this
winter, I could travel around
the world.
#. Even if I had more time, I
couldn6t travel around the world.
+. Even if I had had more
time, I couldn6t have traveled
around the world.
,. Even if I had more time
this winter, I couldn6t travel
around the world.
could
SUGGESTION
#. -2 !=E"E-1 )2=%
+. .ou could have spent your
vacation in 0awaii.
,. .ou could spend your
vacation in 0awaii.
-2 -E>'1I?E )2=%"
could
PAST ABILITY
I could run ten miles in my
twenties.
I could spea/ Chinese when I
was a /id.
"COULD" CANNOT BE USED IN
POSITIVE SENTENCES IN WHICH YOU
DESCRIBE A MOMENTARY OR ONE-TIME
ABILITY.
.esterday, I could lift the
couch by myself. Not Correct
I couldn6t run more than a mile
in my twenties.
I couldn6t spea/ "wahili.
"COULD" CAN BE USED IN NEGATIVE
SENTENCES IN WHICH YOU DESCRIBE
A MOMENTARY OR ONE-TIME ABILITY.
.esterday, I couldn6t lift the
couch by myself. Correct
be able
to
could
POLITE
Could I have something to drin/& Couldn6t he come with us&
Couldn6t you help me with
can,
may,
REQUEST
Could I borrow your stapler&
REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE
NEAR FUTURE.
this for <ust a second&
REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE
NEAR FUTURE.
might
REMEMBER: "Could not" vs. "Might not"
"Could not" suggests that it is impossible for something to happen. "%ight not" suggests
you do not /now if something happens.
Examples:
;ac/ might not have the /ey. MAYBE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY.
;ac/ could not have the /ey. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE HAS THE KEY.
May
"%ay" is most commonly used to express possibility. It can also be used to give or
request permission, although this usage is becoming less common.
Examples:
Cheryl may be at home, or perhaps at wor/. POSSIBILITY
;ohnny, you may leave the table when you have finished your dinner. GIVE PERMISSION
May I use your bathroom& REQUEST PERMISSION
Using "May" in Present, Past, and Future
%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. "tudy the chart
below to learn how "may" behaves in different contexts.
%odal (se !ositive )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. *
)uture
-egative )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. *
)uture
.ou
can
also
use:
may
POSSIBILITY
#. ;ac/ may be upset. I can6t
really tell if he is annoyed or
tired.
#. ;ac/ may not be upset.
!erhaps he is tired.
+. ;ac/ may not have been
might
+. ;ac/ may have been upset.
I couldn6t really tell if he was
annoyed or tired.
,. ;ac/ may get upset if you
don6t tell him the truth.
upset. !erhaps he was tired.
,. ;ac/ may not get upset,
even if you tell him the truth
may
GIVE
PERMISSION
#. .ou may leave the table now
that you6re finished with your
dinner.
+. "0I)1 12 "5E '332E4
12"
.ou were allowed to leave the
table after you finished your
dinner.
,. .ou may leave the table
when you finish your dinner.
#. .ou may not leave the table.
.ou6re not finished with your
dinner yet.
+. "0I)1 12 "5E '332E4
12"
.ou were not allowed to leave
the table because you hadn6t
finished your dinner.
,. .ou may not leave the table
until you are finished with your
dinner.
can
may
REQUEST
PERMISSION
%ay I borrow your eraser&
%ay I ma/e a phone call&
REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE
NEAR FUTURE.
-2 -E>'1I?E )2=%" can,
might
Might
"%ight" is most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used in conditional
sentences. English spea/ers can also use "might" to ma/e suggestions or requests,
although this is less common in 'merican English.
Examples:
.our purse might be in the living room. POSSIBILITY
If I didn6t have to wor/, I might go with you. CONDITIONAL
.ou might visit the botanical gardens during your visit. SUGGESTION
Might I borrow your pen& REQUEST
Using "Might" in Present, Past, and Future
%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. "tudy the chart
below to learn how "might" behaves in different contexts.
%odal (se !ositive )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. *
)uture
-egative )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. *
)uture
.ou can
also use:
might
POSSIBILITY
#. "he might be on the bus. I thin/
her car is having problems.
+. "he might have ta/en the
bus. I6m not sure how she got to
wor/.
,. "he might ta/e the bus to get
home. I don6t thin/ 5ill will be
able to give her a ride.
#. "he might not be on the
bus. "he might be wal/ing
home.
+. "he might not have
ta/en the bus. "he might
have wal/ed home.
,. "he might not ta/e the
bus. "he might get a ride
from 5ill.
could,
may
might
CONDITIONAL
OF MAY
#. If I entered the contest, I might
actually win.
+. If I had entered the contest, I
might actually have won.
,. If I entered the contest
tomorrow, I might actually win.
(nfortunately, I can6t enter it.
#. Even if I entered the
contest, I might not win.
+. Even if I had entered the
contest, I might not have
won.
,. Even if I entered the
contest tomorrow, I might
not win.
might
SUGGESTION
#. -2 !=E"E-1 )2=%
+. .ou might have tried the
cheese ca/e.
,. .ou might try the
cheeseca/e.
#. -2 !=E"E-1 )2=%
+. !'"1 )2=%
(-C2%%2-
,. .ou might not want to
eat the cheese ca/e. It6s
very calorific.
could
might %ight I have something to drin/& -E>'1I?E )2=%" could,
REQUEST
@5ritish
formA
%ight I borrow the stapler&
REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE
NEAR FUTURE.
(-C2%%2- may,
can
REMEMBER: "Might not" vs. "Could not"
"%ight not" suggests you do not /now if something happens. "Could not" suggests that it
is impossible for something to happen.
Must
"%ust" is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express
necessity or strong recommendation, although native spea/ers prefer the more flexible
form "have to." "%ust not" can be used to prohibit actions, but this sounds very severeB
spea/ers prefer to use softer modal verbs such as "should not" or "ought not" to
dissuade rather than prohibit.
Examples:
1his must be the right address9 CERTAINTY
"tudents must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. NECESSITY
.ou must ta/e some medicine for that cough. STRONG RECOMMENDATION
;enny, you must not play in the street9 PROHIBITION
Using "Must" in Present, Past, and Future
%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. "tudy the chart
below to learn how "must" behaves in different contexts.
%odal (se !ositive )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. *
)uture
-egative )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. *
)uture
.ou can
also use:
must
CERTAINTY
#. 1hat must be ;erry. 1hey
said he was tall with bright
red hair.
+. 1hat must have been
#. 1hat must not be ;erry. 0e is
supposed to have red hair.
+. 1hat must not have been
the right restaurant. I guess
have to
the right restaurant. 1here
are no other restaurants
on this street.
,. -2 )(1(=E )2=%
there is another one around
here somewhere.
,. -2 )(1(=E )2=%
must not
PROHIBITION

.ou must not swim in that river.
It6s full of crocodiles.
.ou must not forget to ta/e
your malaria medication while
your are in the tropics.
PROHIBITION USUALLY REFER TO THE
NEAR FUTURE.
must
STRONG
RECOMMENDATIO
N
@'mericans
prefer
the form
"should."A
#. .ou must ta/e some time
off and get some rest.
+. "0I)1 12 ""02(34"
.ou should have ta/en
some time off last wee/ to
get some rest.
,. "0I)1 12 ""02(34"
.ou should ta/e some
time off next wee/ to get
some rest.
#. .ou mustn6t drin/ so much.
It6s not good for your health.
+. "0I)1 12 ""02(34"
.ou shouldn6t have drun/ so
much. 1hat caused the
accident.
,. "0I)1 12 ""02(34"
.ou shouldn6t drin/ at the
party. .ou are going to be the
designated driver.
should
must
NECESSITY
@'mericans
prefer
the form
"have to."A
#. .ou must have a permit to
enter the national par/.
+. "0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"
e had to have a permit
to enter the par/.
,. e must get a permit to
enter the par/ next wee/.
#. "0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"
e don6t have to get a permit to
enter the national par/.
+. "0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"
e didn6t have to get a permit
to enter the national par/.
,. "0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"
e won6t have to get a permit
to enter the national par/.
have to
REMEMBER: "Must not" vs. "Do not have to"
"%ust not" suggests that you are prohibited from doing something. "4o not have to"
suggests that someone is not required to do something.
Examples:
.ou must not eat that. IT IS FORBIDDEN, IT IS NOT ALLOWED.
.ou dont have to eat that. YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO, BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARY.
!hall
""hall" is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences with "I"
or "we," and is often found in suggestions, such as ""hall we go&" ""hall" is also
frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use of "shall" to
describe future events often expresses inevitability or predestination. ""hall" is much
more commonly heard in 5ritish English than in 'merican EnglishB 'mericans prefer to
use other forms, although they do sometimes use "shall" in suggestions or formaliCed
language.
Examples:
!hall I help you& SUGGESTION
I shall never forget where I came from. PROMISE
0e shall become our next /ing. PREDESTINATION
I6m afraid %r. "mith shall become our new director. INEVITABILITY
More E"am#les o$ "!hall"
%odal (se !ositive )orms -egative )orms .ou
can
also
use:
shall
FUTURE ACTION
@5ritish
formA
I shall be replaced by someone from
the -ew .or/ office.
I shall be there by ::$$.
I shall not be replaced after
all.
I shall not be there. I have
a previous obligation.
will
shall
SUGGESTIONS
"hall we begin dinner&

should
"hall we move into the living
room&
shall
VOLUNTEERING,
PROMISING
@5ritish
formA
I shall ta/e care of everything for
you.
I shall ma/e the travel
arrangements. 1here6s no need
to worry.
I shall never forget you.
I shall never give up the
fight for freedom.
will
shall
INEVITABILITY
@5ritish
formA
%an shall explore the distant regions
of the universe.
e shall overcome oppression.
%an shall never give up the
exploration of the universe.
0e shall not be held bac/.
!hould
""hould" is most commonly used to ma/e recommendations or give
advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation.
Examples:
hen you go to 5erlin, you should visit the palaces in !otsdam. RECOMMENDATION
.ou should focus more on your family and less on wor/. ADVICE
I really should be in the office by D:$$ '%. OBLIGATION
5y now, they should already be in 4ubai. EXPECTATION
Using "!hould" in Present, Past, and Future
%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. "tudy the chart
below to learn how "should" behaves in different contexts.
%odal (se !ositive )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. *
)uture
-egative )orms
#. * !resent +. *
!ast ,. * )uture
.ou can
also use:
should
RECOMMENDATION,
#. !eople with high cholesterol
should eat lowEfat foods.
#. "arah shouldn6t
smo/e so much. It6s not
ought to
ADVISABILITY
+. )ran/ should have eaten
lowEfat foods. 1hat might have
prevented his heart attac/.
,. .ou really should start
eating better.
good for her health.
+. "arah shouldn6t
have smo/ed so
much. 1hat6s what
caused her health
problems.
,. "arah shouldn6t
smo/e when she
visits %artha next
wee/. %artha hates
when people smo/e
in her house.
should
OBLIGATION
I should be at wor/ before F:$$.
e should return the video
before the video rental store
closes.
"SHOULD" CAN ALSO EXPRESS
SOMETHING BETWEEN
RECOMMENDATION AND OBLIGATION.
"BE SUPPOSED TO" EXPRESSES A
SIMILAR IDEA AND CAN EASILY BE USED
IN THE PAST OR IN NEGATIVE FORMS.
-2 -E>'1I?E
)2=%"
be
supposed
to
should
EXPECTATION
#. "usan should be in -ew .or/
by now.
+. "usan should have arrived
in -ew .or/ last wee/. 3et6s
call her and see what she is up
to.
,. "usan should be in -ew
.or/ by next wee/. 0er new
<ob starts on %onday.
#. "usan shouldn6t be in
-ew .or/ yet.
+. "usan shouldn6t
have arrived in -ew
.or/ until yesterday.
,. "usan shouldn6t
arrive in -ew .or/
until next wee/.
ought to,
be
supposed
to
%ill
"ill" is used with promises or voluntary actions that ta/e place in the future. "ill" can
also be used to ma/e predictions about the future. )or more information on using "will"
and associated exercises, visit the "imple )uture section of our ?erb 1ense 1utorial.
Examples:
I promise that I &ill write you every single day. PROMISE
I &ill ma/e dinner tonight. VOLUNTARY ACTION
0e thin/s it &ill rain tomorrow. PREDICTION
More E"am#les o$ "%ill"
%odal (se !ositive )orms -egative )orms .ou can
also use:
will
FUTURE
ACTION,
PREDICTION
1he mar/eting director will be
replaced by someone from the -ew
.or/ office.
)red will be there by ::$$.
1he mar/eting director will
not be replaced after all.
)red will not be there.
0e has a previous
obligation.
shall
will
VOLUNTEERING
,
PROMISING
I will ta/e care of everything for you.
I will ma/e the travel
arrangements. 1here6s no need to
worry.
I will never forget you.
I will never give up the
fight for freedom.
shall
%ould
"ould" is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves as the
past form of the modal verb "will." 'dditionally, "would" can indicate repetition in the
past. )or more information on the grammar behind the modal verb "would," visit the
following tutorials: Conditional 1utorial, )uture in the !ast, and ould 'lways.
Examples:
If he were an actor, he &ould be in adventure movies. CONDITIONAL
I /new that she &ould be very successful in her career. PAST OF "WILL"
hen they first met, they &ould always have picnics on the beach. REPETITION
Using "%ould" in Present, Past, and Future
%odal (se !ositive )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. *
)uture
-egative )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. *
)uture
.ou
can
also
use:
would
CONDITIONAL
#. If I were president, I would cut
the cost of education.
+. If I had been president, I
would have cut the cost of
education.
,. If I were elected president
next year, I would cut the cost
of education.
#. If I were president, I would
not raise taxes.
+. If I had been president, I
would not have raised taxes.
,. If I were president, I would
not sign the tax increase next
wee/.
would
PAST OF "WILL"
I said I would help you.
0e told me he would be here
before ::$$.
I said I wouldn6t help you.
0e told me he would not be
here before ::$$.
would
REPETITION IN
PAST
hen I was a /id, I would always
go to the beach.
hen he was young, he would
always do his homewor/.
hen I was a /id, I wouldn6t go
into the water by myself.
hen he got older, he would
never do his homewor/.
used
to
'ave (o
"0ave to" is used to express certainty, necessity, and obligation.
Examples:
1his answer has to be correct. CERTAINTY
1he soup has to be stirred continuously to prevent burning. NECESSITY
1hey have to leave early. OBLIGATION
Using "'ave to" in Present, Past, and Future
"0ave to" behaves quite irregularly in the past and the future. "tudy the chart below to
learn how "have to" behaves in different contexts.
(se !ositive )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. *
)uture
-egative )orms
#. * !resent +. * !ast ,. * )uture
.ou
can
also
use:
have to
CERTAINT
Y
#. 1hat has to be ;erry. 1hey
said he was tall with bright red
hair.
+. 1hat has to have been the
right restaurant. 1here were
no other restaurants on the
street.
,. -2-E
#. "0I)1 12 "%("1"
1hat must not be ;erry. 1hey said he
has blond hair, not red hair.
+. "0I)1 12 "%("1"
1hat must not have been the right
restaurant. I guess there was
another one around there
somewhere.
,. -2-E
must,
have
got to
have to
NECESSIT
Y
#. "he has to read four boo/s for
this literature class.
+. "he had to finish the first
boo/ before the midterm.
,. "he will have to finish the
other boo/s before the final
exam.
#. "he doesn6t have to read ">rapes
of rath." It6s optional reading for
extra credit.
+. "he didn6t have to write a
critique of "1he "carlet 3etter."
"he had to give a presentation to
her class.
,. "he won6t have to ta/e any
other literature classes. 'merican
3iterature #$# is the only required
course.
must
REMEMBER: "Do not have to" vs. "Must not"
"4o not have to" suggests that someone is not required to do something. "%ust not"
suggests that you are prohibited from doing something.
Examples:
.ou must not eat that. IT IS FORBIDDEN, IT IS NOT ALLOWED.
.ou dont have to eat that. YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO, BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARY.