WOULD

Would
"Would" is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves as the past form of the modal verb "will." Additionally, "would" can indicate repetition in the past. For more information on the grammar behind the modal verb "would," visit the following tutorials: Conditional Tutorial, Future in the Past, and Would Always.
Examples:
· If he were an actor, he would be in adventure movies. conditional
· I knew that she would be very successful in her career. past of "will"
· When they first met, they would always have picnics on the beach. repetition
Using "Would" in Present, Past, and Future
Modal Use
Positive Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
Negative Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
You can also use:
would conditional
1. If I were president, I would cut the cost of education.
2. If I had been president, I would have cut the cost of education.
3. If I were elected president next year, I would cut the cost of education.
1. If I were president, I would not raise taxes.
2. If I had been president, I would not have raised taxes.
3. If I were president, I would not sign the tax increase next week.

would past of "will"
I said I would help you.
He told me he would be here before 8:00.
I said I wouldn't help you.
He told me he would not be here before 8:00.

would repetition in past
When I was a kid, I would always go to the beach.
When he was young, he would always do his homework.
When I was a kid, I wouldn't go into the water by myself.
When he got older, he would never do his homework.
used to

SHALL

Shall
"Shall" is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences with "I" or "we," and is often found in suggestions, such as "Shall we go?" "Shall" is also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use of "shall" to describe future events often expresses inevitability or predestination. "Shall" is much more commonly heard in British English than in American English; Americans prefer to use other forms, although they do sometimes use "shall" in suggestions or formalized language.
Examples:
· Shall I help you? suggestion
· I shall never forget where I came from. promise
· He shall become our next king. predestination
· I'm afraid Mr. Smith shall become our new director. inevitability
More Examples of "Shall"
Modal Use
Positive Forms
Negative Forms
You can also use:
shall future action
(British form)
I shall be replaced by someone from the New York office.
I shall be there by 8:00.
I shall not be replaced after all.
I shall not be there. I have a previous obligation.
will
shallsuggestions
Shall we begin dinner?
Shall we move into the living room?

should
shall volunteering,promising
(British form)
I shall take care of everything for you.
I shall make the travel arrangements. There's no need to worry.
I shall never forget you.
I shall never give up the fight for freedom.
will
shall inevitability
(British form)
Man shall explore the distant regions of the universe.
We shall overcome oppression.
Man shall never give up the exploration of the universe.
He shall not be held back.

WILL

Will
"Will" is used with promises or voluntary actions that take place in the future. "Will" can also be used to make predictions about the future. For more information on using "will" and associated exercises, visit the Simple Future section of our Verb Tense Tutorial.
Examples:
· I promise that I will write you every single day. promise
· I will make dinner tonight. voluntary action
· He thinks it will rain tomorrow. prediction
More Examples of "Will"
Modal Use
Positive Forms
Negative Forms
You can also use:
will future action,prediction
The marketing director will be replaced by someone from the New York office.
Fred will be there by 8:00.
The marketing director will not be replaced after all.
Fred will not be there. He has a previous obligation.
shall
will volunteering,promising
I will take care of everything for you.
I will make the travel arrangements. There's no need to worry.
I will never forget you.
I will never give up the fight for freedom.
shall

OUGHT TO

Ought To
"Ought to" is used to advise or make recommendations. "Ought to" also expresses assumption or expectation as well as strong probability, often with the idea that something is deserved. "Ought not" (without "to") is used to advise against doing something, although Americans prefer the less formal forms "should not" or "had better not."
Examples:
· You ought to stop smoking. recommendation
· Jim ought to get the promotion. It is expected because he deserves it.
· This stock ought to increase in value. probability
· Mark ought not drink so much. advice against something (notice there is no "to")
Using "Ought to" in Present, Past, and Future
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "ought to" behaves in different contexts.
Modal Use
Positive Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
Negative Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
You can also use:
ought to recommendation, advice
1. Margaret ought to exercise more.
2. Margaret ought to have exercised more so she would be better prepared for the marathon.
3. Margaret ought to come to the fitness center with us tonight.
1. Margaret ought not exercise too much. It might cause injury.
2. Margaret ought not have run the marathon. She wasn't in good shape.
3. Margaret ought not stay at home in front of the TV. She should go to the fitness center with us.
should
ought to assumption, expectation, probability
1. She ought to have the package by now.
2. She ought to have received the package yesterday.
3. She ought to receive the package tonight.
"Ought not" is used primarily to express negative recommendations. (See above.)
should

Notice "Ought not"Remember that "ought to" loses the "to" in the negative. Instead of "ought not to," we say "ought not." "Ought not" is more commonly used in British English. Americans prefer "should not."
Examples:
· You ought not smoke so much.
· She ought not take such risks while skiing.
· They ought not carry so much cash while traveling.

SHOULD

Should
"Should" is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation.
Examples:
· When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam. recommendation
· You should focus more on your family and less on work. advice
· I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. obligation
· By now, they should already be in Dubai. expectation
Using "Should" in Present, Past, and Future
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "should" behaves in different contexts.
Modal Use
Positive Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
Negative Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
You can also use:
should recommendation, advisability
1. People with high cholesterol should eat low-fat foods.
2. Frank should have eaten low-fat foods. That might have prevented his heart attack.
3. You really should start eating better.
1. Sarah shouldn't smoke so much. It's not good for her health.
2. Sarah shouldn't have smoked so much. That's what caused her health problems.
3. Sarah shouldn't smoke when she visits Martha next week. Martha hates when people smoke in her house.
ought to
should obligation
I should be at work before 9:00.
We should return the video before the video rental store closes.
"Should" can also express something between recommendation and obligation. "Be supposed to" expresses a similar idea and can easily be used in the past or in negative forms.
NO NEGATIVE FORMS
be supposed to
should expectation
1. Susan should be in New York by now.
2. Susan should have arrived in New York last week. Let's call her and see what she is up to.
3. Susan should be in New York by next week. Her new job starts on Monday.
1. Susan shouldn't be in New York yet.
2. Susan shouldn't have arrived in New York until yesterday.
3. Susan shouldn't arrive in New York until next week.
ought to, be supposed to

MUST

Must
"Must" is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express necessity or strong recommendation, although native speakers prefer the more flexible form "have to." "Must not" can be used to prohibit actions, but this sounds very severe; speakers prefer to use softer modal verbs such as "should not" or "ought not" to dissuade rather than prohibit.
Examples:
· This must be the right address! certainty
· Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. necessity
· You must take some medicine for that cough. strong recommendation
· Jenny, you must not play in the street! prohibition
Using "Must" in Present, Past, and Future
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "must" behaves in different contexts.
Modal Use
Positive Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
Negative Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
You can also use:
must certainty
1. That must be Jerry. They said he was tall with bright red hair.
2. That must have been the right restaurant. There are no other restaurants on this street.
3. NO FUTURE FORM
1. That must not be Jerry. He is supposed to have red hair.
2. That must not have been the right restaurant. I guess there is another one around here somewhere.
3. NO FUTURE FORM
have to
must not prohibition

You must not swim in that river. It's full of crocodiles.
You must not forget to take your malaria medication while your are in the tropics.
Prohibition usually refer to the near future.

must strong recommendation
(Americans prefer the form "should.")
1. You must take some time off and get some rest.
2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" You should have taken some time off last week to get some rest.
3. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" You should take some time off next week to get some rest.
1. You mustn't drink so much. It's not good for your health.
2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" You shouldn't have drunk so much. That caused the accident.
3. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" You shouldn't drink at the party. You are going to be the designated driver.
should
must necessity
(Americans prefer the form "have to.")
1. You must have a permit to enter the national park.
2. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO" We had to have a permit to enter the park.
3. We must get a permit to enter the park next week.
1. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO" We don't have to get a permit to enter the national park.
2. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO" We didn't have to get a permit to enter the national park.
3. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO" We won't have to get a permit to enter the national park.
have to

REMEMBER: "Must not" vs. "Do not have to""Must not" suggests that you are prohibited from doing something. "Do not have to" suggests that someone is not required to do something.
Examples:
· You must not eat that. It is forbidden, it is not allowed.
· You don't have to eat that. You can if you want to, but it is not necessary.

MIGHT

Might
"Might" is most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used in conditional sentences. English speakers can also use "might" to make suggestions or requests, although this is less common in American English.
Examples:
· Your purse might be in the living room. possibility
· If I didn't have to work, I might go with you. conditional
· You might visit the botanical gardens during your visit. suggestion
· Might I borrow your pen? request
Using "Might" in Present, Past, and Future
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "might" behaves in different contexts.
Modal Use
Positive Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
Negative Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future
You can also use:
might possibility
1. She might be on the bus. I think her car is having problems.
2. She might have taken the bus. I'm not sure how she got to work.
3. She might take the bus to get home. I don't think Bill will be able to give her a ride.
1. She might not be on the bus. She might be walking home.
2. She might not have taken the bus. She might have walked home.
3. She might not take the bus. She might get a ride from Bill.
could, may
might conditional of may
1. If I entered the contest, I might actually win.
2. If I had entered the contest, I might actually have won.
3. If I entered the contest tomorrow, I might actually win. Unfortunately, I can't enter it.
1. Even if I entered the contest, I might not win.
2. Even if I had entered the contest, I might not have won.
3. Even if I entered the contest tomorrow, I might not win.

might suggestion
1. NO PRESENT FORM
2. You might have tried the cheese cake.
3. You might try the cheesecake.
1. NO PRESENT FORM
2. PAST FORM UNCOMMON
3. You might not want to eat the cheese cake. It's very calorific.
could
might request
(British form)
Might I have something to drink?
Might I borrow the stapler?
Requests usually refer to the near future.
NEGATIVE FORMS UNCOMMON
could, may, can

REMEMBER: "Might not" vs. "Could not" "Might not" suggests you do not know if something happens. "Could not" suggests that it is impossible for something to happen.
Examples:
· Jack might not have the key. Maybe he does not have the key.
· Jack could not have the key. It is impossible that he has the key.