will/might

Expressing degrees of certainty

• will
• may
• might
• could
• it is possible that

Polar bears will perish. (100% kesin)

They might not survive in the arctic. (< 50% kesinlik)

will/would

Referring to future events and activities

• will  intent
• will   expected or scheduled activities
• wouldn't  refusal
• would have  expectation lost

Next month, I will get a raise in salary. (I am determined to do so.)

Next month, I will get a raise. (It's scheduled in my contract.)

would

Staing preferences, past habits, and making requests or excuses

• would you rather have X or Y  (preference)
• would you like  (preference)
• would (used to)
• would you(request)
• would have(make an excuse)
• would rather have (past preference)

Would you like some coffee?

Would you rather have tea or coffee?

On Sundays, we would visit our relatives

On Sundays, we used to visit our relatives

should

Giving advice, expressing personal expectations and social conventions

• should  (expectation)
• will (expectation)
• are supposed to  (social convention)
• ought to (option or advice)
• should have (expectation not met)
• would have  (excuse)

The movie should be available next week.

The movie will be available next week. (expectation)

Should we wear black pants to work? (convention)

Are we supposed to wear black pants to work?(convention)

You should try ordering your movies online.(suggestion)

She ought not to talk on her cell phone when she's with you. (advice)

could/should

Offering solutions and problem-solving

• could
• should

You could try using a hammer. (option, another choice)

You should be careful. (advice)

should/must

Expressing advice and urgency

• advisability
• advice
• necessity
• not required

Students should be honest about downloading copyrighted music.

They must not download copyrighted music.

 They have to respect artists' rights to earn fair profits.

The Recording Industry doesn't have to price their CDs so high.

musthave

Making guesses and conclusions

• might
• might have
• must
• must have

She's sad. She might miss her family or she might be disappointed.

Also, she is alone. She has nothing but a glass of absinthe (strong alcohol).

She must be depressed.

can/could

Indicating ability to do something

• physical ability
• mental ability
• potential
• manage to

I can lift a car.

I can change a tire.

Driving drunk can cause a fatal accident.

I was able to pass my driving test. (single event)

I could drive very well. (ongoing)

may/can

Asking permission and making requests

• permission
• request
• invitation / suggestion

You may leave early.

You can leave early.

May I see your arm? (I or we) (polite)

Shall we dance?
Let's dance
Would you like to dance ?
 

modal agr

Using future modals in complex sentences – with other connectors

• so that
• which
• that
• because

Apple said that it would introduce more functionality with the newer software.

futureperfect

Predicting completion in the future.

future perfect

Also see "by the time" 

By 5 o'clock, we will have finished our meeting.

modal rev

Reviewing present and past differences in modal meanings

Do these modals mean the same in present and past tense?

• will – would – would have
• can – could – could have
• may – might – might have
• must – had to - must have
• and more

I can drive there.   (ability)

I could drive there.  (permission / ability / potential)

Shall we go in there?  (invitation)

Should we go in there?  (warning)

You must eat this. (necessity)

You must have eaten this. (conclusion)

modal prac

Identifying modal meanings through context

• possibility
• expectation
• advice
• permission
• necessity
• conclusion

He ____ be crazy to do that.

  may  might   could  can  must

modalquiz

Auto-correcting modal self-quiz - multiple choice

Finding an apartment in San Francisco ____ be very difficult.

modalarticle

Modal use – In context

• identifying modals in a paragraph
• identifying tense use

It might put Napster out of business, and if you're a devoted Napster user, this is certainly sad news. But Metallica's actions could bring the controversy closer to home. The fact that Metallica was able to obtain the screen names of these users should concern those who post and download files on Napster.

bythetime

Predicting that something will be completed before another event or time

• by the time vs. when

 Located in Adverb Summary

By the time I leave work, the sun will be setting. (ongoing)
By the time I leave work, the sun will have set. (completed)

late-advice

Hypothetical past: advice given after an accicdent; opportunities not taken

• If ...then
• past + participle
• could have, might have, should have 

 Located in  Conditional Summary

Passengers could have taken other smaller trans-Atlantic ships.
The captain could have chosen a more southern trans-atlantic route.

The owners should have supplied enough lifeboats for everyone .