Can and Could

Modals: They are verbs which are used before the main verb to express ability, possibility, obligation, permission, suggestion, request, certainity or necessity. They indicate the attitude, intension and the mood of the speaker.

CAN AND COULD:

Use of can:

          (a) I can solve this puzzle.

          (b) Can you lift this suitcase?

      2. Can is also used to denote ability arising out of the circumstances. It is usually meant to express  are you in a position to do so. e.g.

Can you lend me ten lacs rupees? (Are you in a position to do so? Are you having this much  amount surplus? )

       3. In questions with Wh- words can denote puzzleness impatience anger of the speaker. e.g.

           (a) What can he do?

           (b) What can she say, I wonder?

       4. Can also shows the circumstantial possibility. e.g.

           (a) You can ski on the hills now-a-days.  (As there is enough snow)

           (b) You can go there by road now.      (As the road is repaired now)

Use of could:

         1. Could you? is a very good way of making a request. It denotes more politeness and  courteousness.

         2. The use of could refers past ability. It means that I was able to do so in the past.  e.g.

When I was young, I could climb any tree.

         3. Could is used in present context also, but with condition. e.g.

             (a) Could you operate the machine by yourself?   (if it becomes necessary)

             (b) Could you get another job? ( if you lose this )

         4. The use of could in perfect tense shows such a past possibility that didn't take place or the action was actually not performed. e.g.

             (a) He could have caught the train, if he had hurried. (But he didn't catch the train)

             (b) He could have sent a message ( but he didn't send).

                 The use of could in above constructions can also express irritation at or reproach for the non- performance of an action.

Will

Use of Will:

1. The use of will in second and third person denotes pure future actions, With first person, will denotes threat, warning, promise or determination. e.g.

    (a) He will go tomorrow.

    (b) You will work here.

    (c) I will see you. ( threat, warning)

    (d) I will pay you on Monday. (promise)

2. Will is also used for formal request.

    e.g. Will you close the door?

3. Will also expresses probability with all the persons. The negative form, will not (wont) denotes refusal.

    (a) I wont go there.

    (b) He will not sanction your leave.

4. Wont ( will not ) is interrogative denotes invitation. e.g.

    e.g. Wont you have a cup of tea? (invitation; I want you to have a cup of tea.)

5. Will is also used for commands and instructions.

    e.g. All the cadets will attend the parade. ( instructions, command)

6. Will in third person denotes a general habit. e.g.

    (a) The women will not keep mum. (habit)

    (b) The girls will talk. (habit)

Would

Use of Would:

1. For request, use of would shows more politeness in comparison to will. Would is more commonly used for making requests. Would is also used to know the wishes of the others. e.g.

Would you accompany me to the railway station?  (Polite request)

2. Would is also used to express likelihood, presumption and probability.e.g.

    (a) He would be in the field now.(likelihood)

    (b) She would be in the club at this time. (probability)

3. The use of would with rather shows preference. e.g.

I would rather rest now.

4. The use of would in following sentence shows strong desire willingness. e.g.

I wish, you would fight this election.

5. Would is also used in conditional sentences showing unrealistic imaginations. e.g.

,   (a) If I had one crore rupees, I would donate fifty lacs to the trust.

    (b) If I had wings, I would fly to Europe.

6. The use of would in following type of conditional sentences denotes the action which did not take place: e.g.

If he had come to me, I would have given him a job. (He didn't come).

7. Would the past form of will is used in indirect narrations too. e.g.

He told me that he would go to Bandra the next day.

8. Would you like ? expresses invitation. e.g.

Would you like a cup of tea?

Should

Use of Should:

1. Should can be used to express duty, responsibility, advice, probability, expectation, presumption, moral obligation and mild command e.g.

   (a) One should obey ones elders. (duty)

   (b) You should obey your parents. (moral obligation)

   (c) The rich should help the poor. (expectation)

   (d) You should work hard. (advice)

   (e) You should find her in the play ground.(probability)

2. Should is also used for expressing purpose like may and might. e.g.

       I taught her so that she should pass. (she might pass)

3. The use of should in perfect tense denotes an obligation that was not fulfilled.    e.g.

         He should have gone by morning bus. (bus he didnt go)

4. Should is also used with lest in following type of conditional sentences ( Lest means in case or so that ....not)  e.g.

         Move fast lest you should miss the bus.

May and Might

May and Might:

Use of May

1. To show or ask for permission. e.g.

       May I borrow two books from the library?

2. May is also used for informal request. e.g.

        May I have the salt please?

3. May and Might for present or future possibility : We can use either to express present or future possibility, but use of might slightly increases the doubt or uncertainity. e.g.

    (a) The sky is cloudly, it may rain today.

    (b) The sky is not cloudy but a change in weather is always possible and therefore, it might rain today. (remote possibility).

Use of Might:

1. The use of might for request expresses more politeness, hesitation or lack of confidence of the  speaker. e.g.

       Might I borrow your golden necklace?

2. Might is past equivalent of may. While transforming a sentence from direct to indirect narration, may is changed to might with reporting verbs in past. e.g.

            He asked if he might come in.

3. Use of may or might in perfect tense: May is used when you are not certain about a past action. When the uncertainity  no longer exists in the present (i.e. something did not happen but it was possible) then only might is used in perfect  tense, e.g.

    (a) He may have been wounded. ( We do not know so far, but he is perhaps injured , possibility  exists)

    (b) He might have been wounded. ( That was a probability in the past but he was not wounded).

4. Might (not may) is used in conditional sentences when the expression is introduced by a verb in the past tense. e.g.

If you invited her, she might attend the party.

Shall

Use of Shall:

1. The use of shall in first person denotes a pure future action, while use of shall in second and third persons denotes; promise. determination, threat, or warning. e.g.

    (a) I shall go to market tomorrow. (future action)

    (b) He shall pay you on Monday. (promise)

    (c) He shall work hard to achieve success. (determination)

2. The use of shall with second and third person also expresses compulsion, bindings, or an idea of a  force. e.g.

You shall go to meet him tomorrow. (You are instructed to go and meet him.)

3. The use of shall not in second and third persons denotes prohibition or a negative command. e.g.

 You shall not meet him.

4. The use of shall with first person in interrogative form expresses the idea of knowing the willingness of the other person. e.g.

    (a) Shall I open the door for you?

    (b) Shall I carry this box into the room for you?

5. The use of shall in third person also expresses an idea of working as per the wish of the others. e.g.

    (a) Shall Rahim wait for you? ( Do you want him to wait for you?)

    (b) Shall the messenger wait outside? ( Do you want the messenger to wait outside?)