<dd class="course-rule rule-case-example">
<h3 class="rule-title">
Using modal verbs:
</h3>
<table border="1" align=left cellpadding=10>
<tr>
<td><b>Modal verbs</b></td>
<td><b>Examples</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Can</b> is used to express physical or mental abilities and capabilities particular to someone. <br/>
The equivalent of can - <b> is to be able (to)</b> and it is used to express a possibility that came about in a given situation.
</td>
<td>I can explain to Donald and Jane what they need to do. <br/> I can explain to Donald and Jane what they need to do.<br/><br/>
For the first time, we were able to take the project to the end. <br/> For the first time, we were able to take the project to the end.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Can, Could, May</b> are used to politely ask about something.<br/>
<b>Can, Could, May</b> are used to express guesses with an element of doubt or uncertainty.<br/>
* <b>Can</b> is less formal and is used conversationally, <b>Could</b> is neutral, and <b>May</b> is more official, stylistically speaking.
</td>
<td>Can you send this report?<br/> Can you send this report?<br/><br/>
Could you repeat that, please?<br/> Could you repeat that, please?<br/><br/>
May I interrupt you for a moment?<br/> May I interrupt you for a moment?
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Could</b> can be used in <u>the past to express ability</u>: - "can, could, ..., etc.". It is used in the <u>present</u> and the <u>future when talking about a tendency toward something</u>.
</td>
<td>He could postpone his job and start helping me. <br/> He could postpone his job and start helping me.<br/><br/>
This project irritates me so much that I could sign off.<br/> This project irritates me so much that I could sign off.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Will, Would </b> is used to express a polite request, offer, or invitation, with would less formal and more polite and conversational. <br/>
<b>Would</b> is used in these phrases: <b>would you mind</b>, <b>would you like…</b>
</td>
<td>Would you like to schedule an appointment to discuss our future work?<br/>Would you like to schedule an appointment to discuss our future work?
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Shall</b> is used to express obligations in contracts and other documents.<br/>
<b>Shall</b> is used in questions asked with the goal of receiving an indication, instruction, piece of advice, or offer (in this case it is used with I, we).
</td>
<td>The team leader shall provide all documents in time.<br/> The team leader shall provide all documents in time.<br/><br/>
Shall we make a start?<br/> Shall we make a start?
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Should</b> is used to talk about advice or recommendations "should"
</td>
<td>You should revise your new goals.<br/> You should revise your new goals.
</tr>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Must</b> is used to express obligation by virture of personal belief.<br/>
The equivalent of must - , which is <b>have to</b>, is used to talk about obligation due to circumstances.
</td>
<td>I must ring my project manager now.<br/> I must ring my project manager now.<br/><br/>
He has to work hard in order to finish his job in time.<br/>He has to work hard in order to finish his job in time.
</tr>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>Mustn't (= to forbid)</b> is used to express a categorical prohibition.<br/>
<b>Don’t have to</b> means that "it is not necessary to do something" and does not express a prohibition.
</td>
<td>You mustn't organize a new learning management system.<br/> You mustn't organize a new learning management system.<br/><br/>
You look so tired. You don’t have to work all the time.<br> You look so tired. You don't have to work all the time.
</tr>
</tr>
</table>
</dd>
<dd class="course-rule rule-case-example">
<h3 class="rule-title">
Using modal verbs:
</h3>
<table border="1" align=left cellpadding=10>
<tr>
<td><b>
Modal verbs</b></td>
<td><b>
Examples</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>
Can</b>
is used to express physical or mental abilities and capabilities particular to someone. <br/>
The equivalent of can - <b>
is to be able (to)</b>
and it is used to express a possibility that came about in a given situation.
</td>
<td>
I can explain to Donald and Jane what they need to do. <br/>
I can explain to Donald and Jane what they need to do.<br/><br/>
For the first time, we were able to take the project to the end. <br/>
For the first time, we were able to take the project to the end.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>
Can, Could, May</b>
are used to politely ask about something.<br/>
<b>
Can, Could, May</b>
are used to express guesses with an element of doubt or uncertainty.<br/>
* <b>
Can</b>
is less formal and is used conversationally, <b>
Could</b>
is neutral, and <b>
May</b>
is more official, stylistically speaking.
</td>
<td>
Can you send this report?<br/>
Can you send this report?<br/><br/>
Could you repeat that, please?<br/>
Could you repeat that, please?<br/><br/>
May I interrupt you for a moment?<br/>
May I interrupt you for a moment?
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>
Could</b>
can be used in <u>
the past to express ability</u>
: - "can, could, ..., etc.". It is used in the <u>
present</u>
and the <u>
future when talking about a tendency toward something</u>
.
</td>
<td>
He could postpone his job and start helping me. <br/>
He could postpone his job and start helping me.<br/><br/>
This project irritates me so much that I could sign off.<br/>
This project irritates me so much that I could sign off.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>
Will, Would </b>
is used to express a polite request, offer, or invitation, with would less formal and more polite and conversational. <br/>
<b>
Would</b>
is used in these phrases: <b>
would you mind</b>
, <b>
would you like…</b>
</td>
<td>
Would you like to schedule an appointment to discuss our future work?<br/>
Would you like to schedule an appointment to discuss our future work?
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>
Shall</b>
is used to express obligations in contracts and other documents.<br/>
<b>
Shall</b>
is used in questions asked with the goal of receiving an indication, instruction, piece of advice, or offer (in this case it is used with I, we).
</td>
<td>
The team leader shall provide all documents in time.<br/>
The team leader shall provide all documents in time.<br/><br/>
Shall we make a start?<br/>
Shall we make a start?
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>
Should</b>
is used to talk about advice or recommendations "should"
</td>
<td>
You should revise your new goals.<br/>
You should revise your new goals.
</tr>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>
Must</b>
is used to express obligation by virture of personal belief.<br/>
The equivalent of must - , which is <b>
have to</b>
, is used to talk about obligation due to circumstances.
</td>
<td>
I must ring my project manager now.<br/>
I must ring my project manager now.<br/><br/>
He has to work hard in order to finish his job in time.<br/>
He has to work hard in order to finish his job in time.
</tr>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>
Mustn't (= to forbid)</b>
is used to express a categorical prohibition.<br/>
<b>
Don’t have to</b>
means that "it is not necessary to do something" and does not express a prohibition.
</td>
<td>
You mustn't organize a new learning management system.<br/>
You mustn't organize a new learning management system.<br/><br/>
You look so tired. You don’t have to work all the time.<br>
You look so tired. You don't have to work all the time.
</tr>
</tr>
</table>
</dd>