Posts Tagged ‘Modal Verbs’
Will and would – imagine! 3
We use will and would when we imagine a situation or action: It will be lovely just to get home and listen to some music. It would be nice to buy a house, but we just can’t afford it. There’s no point making the children go to bed in this heat – they wouldn’t sleep.…
Read MoreWill and would – typical or critical? 2
We use will and would to talk about habits and typical behaviour, and laws of nature: Mum just does everything – and Dad‘ll just sit there reading the newspaper! I’ll put lunch on the table, and John will say ‘Where’s my mustard?’ It’s infuriating. Would is used to talk about the past: He was quite…
Read MoreWill and would – typical, or maybe critical? 1
We can use will and would to talk about habits and typical behaviour: They’ll just play in the garden for hours on end. Switch the computer off if it freezes – it’ll often just start up again normally. If we stress will and would it can sound critical: He will get involved with all the…
Read MoreMay and might – for future possibilities
May and might + infinitive is used to mean that some action or event is possible in the future. There is no real difference between may and might in this use: We may get a take-away and stay in, or we might go out. We’ll see. When talking about possible events in the future we…
Read MoreShould and had better – 4
had better = it is advisable to (the meaning is present or future, not past!)had better is similar to should, but not exactly the same should is used in all types of situation to give an opinion or advice. It means something is a good thing to do. People with disabilities should have better travel…
Read MoreShould and ought – 3 – expectations
Should and ought to are used when you’re expecting something now or in the future There should be no problem driving into town at this time. They ought to be here some time soon. She should be setting off for London about now. In the past should have and ought to have + past participle…
Read MoreShould and ought to – 2 for advice and choice
Should and ought to – 2 Should and ought to are used in matters of choice and advice, or recommending the best course of action or behaviour in the present or future. All staff should be qualified. All retail staff ought to be given regular additional training. You should go to the doctor’s and get…
Read MoreShould and ought to – 1 the form
Using should and ought to in the affirmative, negative and interrogative
Read MoreChoose the right modal form
There is only one form of the modal verbs given which can be used to create a correct grammatical sentence. See if you can deduce which one it is!
Read MoreModal verbs of present and future probability – step 2
another exercise to ‘think’ about modal verbs used to express probability
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