This document provides information about modal verbs used to express possibility, obligation, and past habits. It discusses the differences and appropriate uses of may vs might, must vs should, and will vs would. Key differences include: may expresses greater probability than might; must indicates obligation while should gives advice; and will refers to future actions while would describes hypothetical or customary past actions. Examples are given for how to use each modal verb in sentences.
3. MAY &MIGHT
They are two modal verbs that we use to
talk about something that could or can
happen, but of which we are not certain.
But since they are
auxiliary verbs, they can
never function in the
sentence as the main verb,
but precede it and
condition it.
DIFFERENCE
The difference is that may expresses a greater
degree of probability, might expresses a lesser
degree of it.
Regarding your sense of probability, the best idea
is to remember this definition:
MIGHT
MAY
● Probably
● Perhaps
● Maybe
● Could it be that
● Could it be that
4. How to Use ‘May’ in a
Sentence
How to Use ‘Might’ in
a Sentence
Use “ m ay ” to describe present-tense hypotheticals.
Use “ m a y ” to describe things that are likely to happen.
Use “ m a y ” to express permission.
Use “ m a y ” to express a confident negative hypothetical.
“ M ight” is the correct word to describe past hypotheticals.
Use “ mi ght ” to describe hypotheticals with lower degrees
of certainty.
Use “ mi ght ” to express negative hypotheticals that don't
come with absolute certainty.
Use “ mi ght ” to clarify a statement of possibility rather
than permission.
You may be in line for a promotion.
It may rain all day, but I'm still playing golf.
You may go to the movies tonight.
You may not go to the movies under any
circumstances.
I might have messed up my diet last night when I ate
those donuts.
I might know Japanese grammar better than her.
I might not make every shot, but I'll keep trying.
My mom said I may not see my friends tonight,
and I just might cry.
5. MUST &SHOULD
Must and should are verbs used mainly to express
obligation or duty, although each one is used in different
contexts.
DIFFERENCE
Must is a modal used to
indicate an obligation.
This obligation is
something practically
inescapable, it may even
sound like an order.
Should is a modal used to
give advice or
suggestions.
EXAMPLES
We must follow
our dreams.
We must take
care of our
belongings.
We should talk
nicely.
It should be
done.
6. 1. To provide something's necessity:
★ We must live our life without any fear.
2. To express a strong action:
★ It must be her last attempt.
3. To express prohibition:
★ You must not discuss loudly in the class.
4. Tocomment, provide reviews or feedbacks
on something:
★ We must be working hard to clear this
exam.
5. To emphasize something:
★ I must tell you that you are a great
person.
How to Use ‘Must’ in a Sentence How to Use ‘Should’ in a Sentence
1. Totell or seek, the best choice in some
given circumstances:
★ What kind of work should I do?
2. If there is any chance of something
happening:
★ This work should be done by tomorrow
morning.
3. To give or ask reasons:
★ Why should I get the privileges?
4. To give advice:
★ You should go to a metro city.
7. WILL&WOULD
DIFFERENCE
Both WILL and WOULD are used to make REQUESTS and
OFFERS.
WILL
We use will to refer to the
disposition or capacity of a
subject to carry out an action
and, also, to refer to future
actions and states.
WOULD
Would is used to describe customs
and to talk about hypothetical
states and events in the future.
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
● Like other modal verbs, would is used with the infinitive
without to, and the person does not change the form of
the verb, for example:
She wouldn’t buy a cake.
8. Using “will” to give information
about the future.
We commonly use will to give or ask for information about the future. Remember that
we can shorten “ I will” or “We will” to create the contraction “ I’ll” or “We’ll”:
T
H
ec
O
nf
e
r
encew
i
LLb
eH
e
LdinM
e
e
T
inGR
O
O
m
A.
Using “will” when we’re willing to
doing something
We often use will to talk about things that we are ready to do
or that we’re open to doing without any issues or objections:
I’LLe
a
Tw
H
a
T
e
V
e
rT
H
e
y
’
r
es
e
r
VinG.I’mnO
Tp
i
c
k
ya
T
a
LL.
Using “will” for rules or orders
And sometimes you’ll hear people use will to give orders or commands,
although we consider this extremely direct and even aggressive:
Y
O
uw
i
LLp
i
c
ku
py
O
ur
rO
O
m
!
WILL
9. Using “would” for expectations in
the past
We can use would to talk about things that we were expecting to happen in the
past:
T
H
es
k
yw
a
sGe
T
T
inGC
L
O
u
d
y
,w
H
icHm
e
a
n
TiTw
O
u
Ld
rain.
Using “would” to talk about past
habits
W
H
e
nI w
a
sakid,m
yd
a
dw
O
u
Ldr
e
a
dm
esT
O
riese
V
e
r
yniG
H
T
.
But be careful: When we use would in this context, we have to make it clear that we’re talking about the past. For
instance, notice how we use used to and not would in the following examples:
I u
s
e
dT
OG
OJOGGinG
m
O
re.
Using “would” to talk about the
future in the past
But, after time passes, and you recover from the heartbreak, you can say:
A
f
T
e
rw
eb
r
O
k
eu
p
,I T
H
O
u
G
H
TI w
O
u
Ldne
V
e
rLOV
e
a
Gain.
WOULD
We can also use would to mean “used to.” So, we can use it to
talk about things that we used to do routinely:
