designed by Ibrahim Abdullah, I hope it will help your studies

2. ABILITY
 Present: can, am/is/ are able to
 ex: Because of her artistic talent she can design very
well.
 She is able to swim
 Past: could/was/were/able to
 ex: he could play the violin when he was five years old.
 He was able to play piano when he was five years old.
 Negative statement:
 He couldn’t/wasn’t be able to play the piano as well as
he expected to.

3. POSSIBILITY
 Present:can/ be able to
 Ex: the florist can deliver the bouquet early.
 Past : was /were/ able to
 Ex:Ali and Helen were able to work out their culturel
differences and got married.
 Future: may/might/ could/ will be able to/
 ex: Necla may get married this summer if she decides
she is ready to settle down.
 We could get married by next year.
 We might go to Hawaii for our holiday.

4. POLITE REQUEST
 Can /could / may/ might/ would will
 Ex: could i get a price list please?
 Can i have a lager please?
 Would you mind opening the window?
 Would you drop off the flowers?
 Will you help me please?

5. PERMISSION
 May /can / could
 Ex: may I attend only the reception?
 You can leave class early.

6. OFFERS
 May/ can/ could
 ex: may i drive you home
 Can I get you a drink

7. OBLIGATION
 Present: have to/ have got to/ must
 Ex: Ali and Aynur have to move
 We have got to decide by tomorrow
 You must have a blood test
 Past: we had to wait for our test results

8. SUGGESTION
 Might/can/ could/ should/ought to/ had better/
have to /must/
 ex: you might try another store.
 We could have dinner.
 You should give him a chance
 You ought to marry him
 You had better think very carefully
 You must meet him

9. EXPECTATION
 Should/ ought/ to must
 ex: you should get a call from him soon
 The divorce rate ought to go down
 He’s been working for eight hours without a rest. He
must be very tired now.

10. HABITUAL ACTIVITY
 Be used to/ used to
 ex: I’m used to working for eight hours everyday. So it’s
not a burden for me
 I used to travel a lot, but I don’t go away much these
days

11. ADVICE
 Should/ had better
 ex: I have a terrible headache
 You should / had better take an aspirin

12. DESCRIPTION
 Should+ see/hear/taste
 ex: you should see her eyes. They’re your favorite color
 You should see their wedding rings.they are beautiful.

13. PREFERENCE
 Would prefer/would rather/ would just as/ soon/
would sooner/
 ex: I’d prefer to take the subway
 I’d rather make the decision later
 I’d just as soon get married now
 I would sooner not go to the party
 Will you tell him or would you sooner I did?

14. PROHIBITION
 Musn’t/
 ex: you musn’t smoke in the classroom. It’s strictly
prohibited.

15. NECESSITY
 Need to
 ex: I need to tidy my room
 Children need to drink milk

16. LACK OF NECESSITY
 Needn’t/ doesn’t have to/ Don’t have to
 Ex: you needn’t walk to the post office to mail your
letter. You can put it in to the mail-box here.
 You don’t have to go there if you don’t want to

17. PERFECT MODALS
 Real past
 May have V3
 Might have V3
 Could have V3
 Must have V3
 Can’t have V3
 Couldn’t have V3
 Unreal past
 Should have V3
 Ought to haveV3
 Needn’t have V3
 Would haveV3
 Might have V3
 Could have V3