Introduction

Ability or potential: can, could, be able to
4 ability or potential in past time: could, could have
5 be able to
Conditional could, would be able to
6 could, could have
7 would be able, would have been able
8 general characteristics: can, could

Possibility: can, could, may, might
9 present or future possibility: may, might, could
10 past possibility: may have, might have, could have
(situations)

Permission: can, could, may, might
11 can, could, may, might in reported speech

Other uses of may and might
12 concessive may
13 might in requests and suggestions

14 expectation or probability: should, ought to
15 inference and logical conclusion: must, can’t
(situations)
16 belief and conjecture: will, would
17 characteristic behaviour: will, would
18 inherent capacity: will, would (situations)

English