Use Principal Modals

Which modal is used to affirm an action in the future and to seek for advice?

• will

• would

• shall

• should

Which modal is used to express ability?

• could

• can

• might

• may

Which modal is used to express an obligation?

• may

• might

• must

• could

Which modal is used to express an action to be done in the future?

• may

• will

• shall

• should

Which modal is used to express possibility or probablity?

• shall

• should

• could

• might

Which modal is used to ask a permission very politely and to express a higher chance of possibility?

• could

• can

• may

• might

Which modal is used to express an advice or a necessity to do an action?

• shall

• should

• can

• could

Which modal is used to ask for permission and to express a possibility and a request?

• should

• could

• would

• will

Which modal is used to express a preference, conditional, request, offer, promise, recurring behavior or action?

• would

• will

• can

• should

These modals can be used to ask for permission.

• may, might

• could, may

• should, must

• will, would