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Ability
“Can” is a modal verb that describes what someone is See also:
able to do. It is used in different forms to describe past Present simple 1
Future with “will” 18
and present abilities.

“CAN / CANNOT / CAN’T”

“Can” goes between the subject and the main verb.
The verb after “can” goes in its base form.

“Can” is always the same. It doesn’t Base form of verb.

change with the subject.

The negative form of “can” is “cannot” or “can’t.”

TIP
The long negative
form “cannot” is
always spelled as
The more common, one word, not
short form of “cannot.” two words.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

HOW TO FORM
SUBJECT “CAN / CANNOT / CAN’T” BASE FORM OBJECT

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“COULD” FOR PAST ABILITIES

“Could” is the past form of “can”
and is used to talk about an ability
in the past. “When” plus a time
setting can be used to say when
someone had the ability.
The time frame can be
set with a phrase about
an age, day, or year.

Describes a present ability. Describes a past ability.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

Negative form.

“CAN” IN THE FUTURE

It is not grammatically
possible to talk about
the future using “can.”
“Will be able to”
is used instead.

“Will can” is incorrect.

The negative
is formed with
“not able to”
or “unable to.”

“Will be unable to” can also

be used, but it’s less common.

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Permission, requests, and offers

“Can,” “could,” and “may” are used to ask permission See also:
to do something, or to ask someone to do something Types of verbs 49
Modal verbs 56
for you. They can also be used to offer to help someone.

ASKING PERMISSION AND MAKING REQUESTS Informal answers

use “can” as well.
“Can” is the most common
modal verb used to ask
permission or to make
a request.

Negative answers can be

more polite by adding
“I’m sorry” or “I’m afraid.”
“Could” replaces “can” for
more formal situations,
such as in business or
to talk to strangers.
“Please” is used in
polite requests.

“May” can also be used

in formal situations.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

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MAKING OFFERS FURTHER EXAMPLES

“Can” and “may” can also be used to offer
to do something for someone.

“May” is only used for

formal situations.

SHALL FOR OFFERS AND SUGGESTIONS

“Shall” is used to find out if someone thinks a certain
suggestion is a good idea. This is not often used in US English.

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Suggestions and advice

The modal verb “could” can be used to See also:
offer suggestions. “Could” is not as strong Conditional sentences 29 Types of verbs 49
Modal verbs 56
as “should.” It communicates gentle advice.

“SHOULD” FOR ADVICE

“Should” is used when the speaker
wants to make a strong suggestion.

“Should” comes before the advice.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

HOW TO FORM
SUBJECT “SHOULD” MAIN VERB REST OF SENTENCE

“Should” is a modal verb, “Should” is followed by the

so it stays the same no base form of the main verb.
matter what the subject is.

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“OUGHT TO” FOR ADVICE

“Ought to” is a more formal and less common way to say “should.”
It is not usually used in the negative or question forms.

“IF I WERE YOU”

English uses “if I were you” English uses “were,” not
to give advice in second “was,” in this context.
conditional sentences.
The advice is expressed
using “I would.”
The advice comes after “I would.”

FURTHER EXAMPLES

The suggestion can come first

without changing the meaning.

There is no comma before “if.”

“HAD BETTER”
“Had better” can also be used to give very strong or urgent
advice that can have a negative consequence if it is not followed.

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“COULD” FOR SUGGESTIONS

“Could” is often used to suggest a solution to
“Could” means that the
a problem. It states a possible course of action action is a possibility;
without necessarily recommending it. a choice that might
solve the problem.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

HOW TO FORM
SUBJECT “COULD” MAIN VERB REST OF SENTENCE

“Could” is a modal verb, The main verb stays

so it doesn’t change in its base form.
with the subject.

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“COULD” AND “OR” FOR SUGGESTIONS

When people give suggestions using “could,” they
often give more than one option to choose from.

“Or” is used to give an

alternative suggestion.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

The modal verb If the main verb is the

doesn’t have to be same for both suggestions,
repeated after “or.” it isn’t repeated after “or.”

MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TIP

One of the most common ways of recommending something Emphasis can be added by
putting “really” in front
or making a suggestion is to use modal verbs.
of “should,” “ought to,”
and “must.”
General suggestion.

Stronger suggestion.

Very strong suggestion.

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Obligations
In English, “have to” or “must” are used when talking See also:
about obligations or things that are necessary. Future with “will” 18 Types of verbs 49
Modal verbs 56
They are often used to give important instructions.

OBLIGATIONS
“Must” and “have to” both
express a strong need or
obligation to do something.

“Must not” is a strong

negative obligation. It means
something is not allowed.

“Don’t have to” means

something is not necessary,
or there is no obligation.

FURTHER EXAMPLES

HOW TO FORM
“Must” does not change SUBJECT “MUST / HAVE TO” MAIN VERB REST OF SENTENCE
with the subject, but
“have to” becomes “has
to” in the third person
singular. Both forms are
followed by the base
form of the main verb.

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COMMON MISTAKES “MUST NOT” AND “DON’T HAVE TO”

“Must not” and “don’t have to” do not mean the same thing.
“Must not” is used to give an instruction that forbids
someone from doing something. “Don’t have to” is used to
tell someone that it is not necessary that they do something.

“MUST” AND “HAVE TO” IN THE FUTURE

There is no future form of “must.” The future of
“have to” is formed with the auxiliary verb “will.”

“Will must” is incorrect.

“Must not” does not have a future form. “Don’t have to” can be
used in the future by changing “don’t” to “will not” or “won’t.”

“MUST” AND “HAVE TO” IN THE PAST

There is no past form of “must.” The past
tense of “have to” is used instead.

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