FUNCTION
CAN
To show ability
To suggest a possibility or to give an
option
To ask for or to give permission
To show impossibility
COULD
To show past ability
To ask a polite question
To show possibility
To show impossibility
To show a past opportunity that was not
realized
MAY
To ask for or to give permission
(formal)
To show possibility
MIGHT
To show possibility
MUST
To show probability or to make a logical
assumption
To show necessity
To show prohibition
WILL
To indicate future time
To make a promise or to show willingness
To state a general truth
To ask a polite question
WOULD
To ask a polite question
To indicate a repeated action in the
past
To indicate future time in a sentence
that is in the past
SHALL
To offer something and make a suggestion
sentence.
SHOULD
To show advisability
To show advisability after the fact
To show obligation
To show an obligation that was not
carried out
To show expectation
To show an expectation that was not
realized
DIFFRENCES
CAN and COULD
Speaking of ability, making requests,
permission requests and options.
MAY and MIGHT
Describe possible work. The difference
may be more likely to occur (50% chance). While might be more dubious (maybe
only 30% chance). Shows approval or permission. So commonly translated with the
meaning of "may".
MUST
To indicate an obligation or obligation.
Suggestion / suggestion / strong invitation and show the meaning of
"Sure".
WILL
Talk about future work and make semi
formal requests.
WOULD
The past form of will. A smoother
pleaser request of "will".
SHALL
To offer something and make a suggestion
sentence.
SHOULD
Giving advice. Obligations, but weaker
than "must". It should, but it did not happen.
EXAMPLE
CAN
You can buy anything with your
money but you can not buy love. (ability)
Can I borrow your car for one
night? (permission)
COULD
You could ride your bike across the
country, but I advise against it. (possibility)
Could I use your computer to print
and scan? (permission)
MAY
He may work out and consume
healthy food every day. (possibility)
May I go home now? (permission)
MIGHT
You might consider finishing your
degree. (suggestion)
It might take more than a month.
(possibility)
MUST
You mustn’t give up. (prohibition)
He must take his medicine three times a
day. (obligation)
WILL
I will have earned my graduate degree
next spring. (future)
I will finish my essay tonight even if I
have to for go sleep. (intention)
WOULD
The situation would not be so bad if we
all remained calm. (conditional)
I would eat cereal every day as a child. (habit)
SHALL
The Human Resource manager shall report
the employee performance. (obligation)
Shall I give you some advice? (question)
SHOULD
The bus should arrive in a few minutes. (prediction)
You should see the
doctor. (advice)
Referensi:
https://broward.edu/studentresources/lrc/central/Documents/functions_forms_modals.pdf
