An English Guide

Modals

Danny

26 Apr 2026 • 3 min read

Ability

Can → present ability (I can swim.)
Could → past ability (I could swim when I was five.)
Be able to → ability in different tenses (I’ll be able to drive soon.)
Was / were able to → past specific success (I was able to fix it.)
Will be able to → future ability (She’ll be able to join us.)

Possibility

Could → possible (It could happen.)
Might → less certain possibility (It might rain.)
May → possible, slightly formal (It may be true.)

Permission

Can → informal permission (You can leave now.)
May → formal permission (You may begin.)
Mustn’t → not allowed (You mustn’t smoke here.)
Can’t → not allowed / impossible (You can’t park here.)

Obligation

Must → strong obligation now (You must wear a seatbelt.)
Have to → obligation / rule (I have to work tomorrow.)
Had to → past obligation (I had to leave early.)
Will have to → future obligation (We’ll have to decide soon.)
Would have to → conditional obligation (You’d have to ask first.)
Don’t have to → no obligation (You don’t have to come.)

Advice

Should → advice (You should rest.)
Ought to → advice, more formal / moral (You ought to apologise.)
Shouldn’t → negative advice (You shouldn’t worry so much.)
Oughtn’t to → negative advice, formal (You oughtn’t to lie.)

Certainty / Deduction

Must → almost certain now (He must be tired.)
Must have + past participle → almost certain about the past (He must have forgotten.)
Should → quite sure / expected (They should be home soon.)
Should have + past participle → expected in the past (They should have arrived by now.)

Conditional

Will → real future result (If it rains, I’ll stay home.)
Would → imagined result (If I had time, I would travel.)

Questions

1. ABILITY (can / could / be able to)

What can you do well, what could you improve, and what do you want to be able to do in the future?
What can you do better than most people?
What skills could you improve this year?
What do you want to be able to do in 5 years?
Could you fix a car problem by yourself?
Were you able to do something difficult recently?

2. POSSIBILITY (might / may / could)

What might happen if people stop using social media?
Could AI replace your job?
What might happen in your country in the next 10 years?
Could your life change completely in one year?
What might go wrong at a wedding?

3. OBLIGATION (must / have to / don’t have to)

What must people do to be successful?
Do you have to work hard to be happy?
What rules do people have to follow in your job?
What don’t you have to do anymore as an adult?
Should children have to follow strict rules?

4. ADVICE (should / shouldn’t / ought to)

What should people do before getting married?
What shouldn’t people do in their 20s?
What should someone do if they feel lost in life?
Should people take more risks?

5. CONDITIONAL (would / will)

What would you do if you lost your job?
What would you do if you had unlimited money?
Would you move to another country if you had the chance?
What would happen if people stopped working?
Would you change your career if you could?

7. PERMISSION (can / may / mustn’t / can’t)

What should people be allowed to do?
What shouldn’t be allowed in schools?
Should people be allowed to own guns?
What can’t you do in your country?
What rules mustn’t be broken?