could, should, would

8/7/2019 Could, Should, Would

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Should -- must; had oughtWould -- intended to; inclined to

Could -- was possible to


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SHOULD is used mostly to express suggestions oradvices.

You have a test tomorrow, you should study for it.

In this sentence it's advisable that you study for the test

if you want to pass it.


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Or in the negative: You shouldn't smoke so much. (Iam giving an advice once smoking is bad for your

health you should not do it)


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Could is the past of CAN and is used to describepossibility in the past, like: I could watch TV everyday

when I was a kid but now I Can't.

Ability in the past: John could run 5 miles when he wasyoung.


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Requests: Could I talk to you? (can I talk to you).When used in a request or permission it does not give

an idea of past and has the same idea of can. However,it sounds a little more formal than can.


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Would is used to describe ideas like hypothesis.Ex: I would like to go to Europe next year.

Mark would like to speak Spanish.


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A few basic grammatical rules applying to modal verbs

y Modal verbs are NEVERused with other auxiliaryverbs such as do, does, did etc. The negative is formed

simply by adding "not" after the verb; questions areformed by inversion of the verb and subject:

You should not do that.Could you pick me up when I've finished?


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y Modal verbs NEVERchange form: you can never addan "-s" or "-ed", for example.

y Modal verbs are NEVERfollowed byto, with theexception ofought to.


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y The meaning are usually connected with ideas ofDOUBT, CERTAINTY, POSSIBILITY and

PR

OBABILITY, OBLIGATION and PER

MISSION (orlack of these). You will see that they are not used totalk about things that definitely exist, or events thatdefinitely happened. These meanings are sometimesdivided into two groups:


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y DEGREES OF CERTAINTY: certainty; probability;possibility; impossibility

OBLIGATION/FREEDOM TO ACT: permission,lackof permission; ability; obligation.


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WILLy Making personal predictions

I don't think the Queen will ever abdicate.

I doubt if I'll stay here much longer.

y Talking about the present with certainty (makingdeductions)

I'm sure you will understand that there is nothing theDepartment can doThere's a letter for you. It'll be from the bank: they saidthey'd be writing.


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y Talking about the future with certainty

I won't be in the office until 11; I've got a meeting.Don't bother ringing: they'll have left for their 10 o'clocklecture.

y

Talking about the past with certainty

I'm sure you will have noticed that attendance hasfallen sharply.


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y Reassuring someone

Don't worry! You'll settle down quickly, I'm sure.It'll be all right! You won't have to speak by yourself.

y Making a decision

For the main course I'll have grilled tuna.I'm very tired. I think I'll stay at home tonight.


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y Making a semi-formal request

Will you open the window, please? It's very hot in here.Sign this, will you?

y Offering to do something

You stay there! I'll fetch the drinks.


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y Insistence; habitual behaviour

I'm not surprised you don't know what to do! You willkeep talking in class.Damn! My car won't start. I'll have to call the garage.

y Making a promise or a threat

You can count on me! I'll be there at 8 o'clock sharp.If you don't finish your dinner off, you'll go straight tobed!


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SHALLy Shall is a form of will, used mostly in the first person.

Its use, however, is decreasing, and in any case in

spoken English it would be contracted to "-ll" and beindistinguishable from will.

Making offersShall I fetch you another glass of wine?

y Making suggestionsShall we go to the cinema tonight?


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MAY &MIGHTy Talking about the present or future with

uncertainty

She may be back in her office: the lecture finished tenminutes ago.I may go shopping tonight, I haven't decided yet.England might win the World Cup, you never know.


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y Talking about the past with uncertainty

I'm surprised he failed. I suppose he might have been ill on

the day of the exam.They can also sometimes be used for talking aboutpermission, but usually only in formal situations. Insteadof sayingMay I open a window?we would sayIs it allright/OK if I open a window?or Can I open a window?for

example. You might, however, see:Students may not borrow equipment without written

permission.


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MAY

y Talking about things that can happen in certainsituations

If the monitors are used in poorly lit places, some users mayexperience headaches.Each nurse may be responsible for up to twenty patients.

y With a similar meaning to although

The experiment may have been a success, but there is still alot of work to be done. (= Although it was a success, there isstill ...)


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y MIGHT

y Saying that something was possible, but did not

actually happen

You saw me standing at the bus stop! You might havestopped and given me a lift!


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WOULDyAs the past of will, for example in indirect speech"The next meeting will be in a month's time"becomesH

e said the next meeting would be in a month's time.

y Polite requests and offers (a 'softer' form of will)Would you like another cup of tea?

Would you give me a ring after lunch?I'd like the roast duck, please.


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y In conditionals, to indicate 'distance from reality':imagined, unreal, impossible situations

If I ruled the world, every day would be the first day ofSpring.It would have been better if you'd word processed yourassignment.


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y Talking about past habits (similiar meaning toused to)

When I was small, we would always visit relatives onChristmas Day.

y

Future in the past

The assassination would become one of the key eventsof the century.


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CAN & COULDy Talking about ability

Can you speak Mandarin?(present)She could play the piano when she was five. (past)

y Making requests

Can you give me a ring at about 10?Could you speak up a bit please?(slightly more formal,polite or 'softer')


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yAsking permissionCan I ask you a question?

Could I ask you a personal question?(more formal,polite or indirect)

y Reported speech

Could is used as the past of can.He asked me if I could pick him up after work.


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y General possibilityYou can drive when you're 17. (present)W

omen couldn't vote until just after theF

irstW

orldWar.

y Choice and opportunities

If you want some help with your writing, you can cometo classes, or you can get some 1:1 help.We could go to Stratford tomorrow, but the forecast'snot brilliant. (less definite)


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Future probability

Could (NOT can) is sometimes used in the same wayas might or may, often indicating something lessdefinite.

When I leave university I might travel around a bit, Imight do an MA or I suppose I could even get a job.


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y Present possibilityI think you could be right you know. (NOT can)

That can't be the right answer, it just doesn't makesense.

y Past possibility

If I'd known the lecture had been cancelled, I could havestayed in bed longer.

could, should, would

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