Grammar
Would (Polite Requests and Hypotheticals)
Use 'would' for polite requests and offers, for hypothetical results (especially in conditionals), and to describe imagined situations.
Level B1
Modals
Summary
Structure
subject + would + base verb
Examples
Common mistakes
Related
More modals
Can / Could (Ability and Permission)
A2
Use 'can' for present ability and informal permission or requests. Use 'could' for past ability and for more polite requests.
Must / Have To (Obligation)
B1
Use 'must' and 'have to' to express obligation or necessity. 'Mustn't' means something is forbidden, while 'don't have to' means there is no obligation.
May / Might (Possibility)
B1
Use 'may' and 'might' to talk about present or future possibility. 'May' is also used for formal permission.
Would for Past Habits
B2
Use 'would' to talk about repeated past actions and habits, similar to 'used to'. Unlike 'used to', 'would' is not normally used for past states.
Can and Can't for Ability
A1
Use 'can' to say someone is able to do something and 'can't' for inability. 'Can' is followed by the base form of the verb and stays the same for all subjects.
Should for Advice
A2
Use 'should' to give advice or say what is the right thing to do. 'Shouldn't' advises against something. It is followed by the base form of the verb.