MODALS / SEMI-MODALS

OUGHT TO
Deduction/Assump
tion
Advice
recommendation

HAD BETTER
Advice
recommendatio
n

SHOULD
Deduction/assumpti
on
Necessity /
obligation
Prohibition / advice
Prediction /
recommandation

You should be
wearing a coat, its
very cold (necessity)
You ought
to tell John
the truth
( recommen
dation)
You ought
to go to the
doctors.
(advice
the right
thing to do)

He has
studied
very hard.
He ought
to pass
his test.
(deductio
n)

You
had
better
take
those
wet
clothe
s off
(advic
e)
Youd
better
tell
me
the
truth
(reco
mmen
dation
)

You should never

repeat what youve
just said. (prohibition)
I should be studying
but Im too tired
(obligation)
You should go to the
doctors. (advice)
This should be a very
good film.
(prediction)
You should take one
of these pills every
day.
(recommendation)
The plane shoud be
landing now.
(assumption)

SHALL
Speculatio
n/
suggestion
Decision /
future
Question /
offer

Where shall/will
we be this time
next year?
(speculation )
I shall/will marry
John even without
your permission
(decision)
We shall
overcome (future)
What shall we do?
(question)
Shall I help you
carry your
suitcase? (offer)

Shall we invite
John or not?
(suggestion)

WILL
assumption /
deduction
Future /
intention
Offer /
prediction
Decision /
promise
Ist conditional

He left an hour ago. Hell

have arrived by now
(deduction)
He will have plenty of time to
get to the airport.
(assumption )
He will be 27 next year.
(future)
I will marry you. (promise)
Ill wait for you. (intention)
Ill do the shopping (offer)
It will rain in Riccione
tomorrow. (prediction)
You WILL go to school
whether you want to or not.
(strong decision)

If it rains this afternoon I

will/wont go to the
cinema. (Ist conditional)

WOULD
possibility /
request
Speculation
Question
Recommendation
Invitation
Preference
2 conditional

Would John come with us?

(possibility)
Would you please answer
the question? (request)
What would I have done
without you? (speculation)
What time would you
prefer? (question)
Would you like to come
with me? (invitation)
Which would you prefer red
or white? (preference)
If I were you I would leave.
(2 conditional)