All Questions
Tagged with modal-verbs differences
34 questions
1
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0
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48
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Should I use 'can' or 'will be able to'? "If he fixes your car tonight, you [?] drive it to school tomorrow." [closed]
Should I change "will be able to" to "can" in the bolded sentence from the exchange below?
A: My car broke down and I have to drive to school to pick up my daughter tomorrow. I ...
- 21
1
vote
0
answers
25
views
I may go to the party - permission or possibility? Or both? [duplicate]
Hope you can help me to answer this tricky question. I´m posting here as I got the impression that it needs a linguist or at least a native to answer it.
When you say: I may go to the party. Does this ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
36
views
'May' and 'can' differences [duplicate]
What's the difference between may and can in the following context?
1- Our company has decided to organize a online quiz competition for students all over India on this Monday at 7:00 PM. Those who ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
69
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I am trying to find out differences between between a bunch of "would" conditionals [duplicate]
I am confused about how to correctly use if with would (+have) or
could (+have) while talking about past activities in conditionals.
Please check out these sentences and help me to figure out their ...
0
votes
1
answer
3k
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Need do Vs need to do [duplicate]
I have come across need to do something and need do something. My question is what's the difference between each other? My grammar book doesn't mention it
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
174
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Would/will for possibility or chance [duplicate]
Please explain the differences between using 'will' and 'would' in the examples below:
There is a possibility he would win.
Versus
There is a possibility he will win.
And
There is still a ...
- 699
1
vote
1
answer
2k
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Difference between "should", "would" and "ought to" [closed]
The sentence:
It's essential that the documents should be destroyed
immediately.
Why can't ought to be used in place of should and why can't I go for would?
- 21
3
votes
2
answers
26k
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Can I use "could" and "would" in the present tense? [closed]
Is it correct to say:
She speaks so fast that I couldn't understand her.
-1
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2
answers
699
views
Grammatical difference between: "should have more..." and "should eat some..."
I should have some/more fish.
I should eat some/more vegetables.
Are the verbs eat and have different in the two sentences considering the use of should?
2
votes
2
answers
433
views
"Would" & " Used to"
"Would " & " Used to ".
They both are used for repeated action in the past tense. Then what is the difference between them?
3
votes
1
answer
2k
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Difference in the usage? ; It "can / could / must" be something serious
I'm teaching English in Japan. I'm using "Grammar In Use Intermediate Workbook" (Cambridge). The following is the question in the workbook:
Complete the sentence. Use can, could, must or (...
0
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2
answers
782
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I am learning English because I will need it when I go abroad
Which ones of the following could be correct:
I am learning English because I will need it when I go abroad.
I am learning English because I need it when I go abroad.
What I imply is that I ...
- 1,468
2
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Can one use “may” and “might” in the same sentence?
Is it possible to use may and might in the same sentence to describe a potential outcome?
For example:
While Sara may recognise the car, Paul might not.
- 21
4
votes
2
answers
27k
views
"Could not have been" vs. "must not have been"
What's the difference between "could not have been" and "must not have been"?
For example,
That could not have been an easy task.
That must not have been an easy task.
I've seen both used....
- 41
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
could and might to talk about future possibility
I have problem with using could in the future possibilities
for example:
They have the technology, but unless the government makes stricter laws, car companies ____ do it.
With which one should I ...
- 13
2
votes
1
answer
995
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"Could have" vs "might have" (in lucky escape situation) [duplicate]
That was a lucky escape! You might have been killed.
That was a lucky escape! You could have been killed.
Which one is more suitable in this situation? Is there any difference between them?
...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
3k
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Mixed conditional clause type 1-3
I came across the following conditional clause while studying a grammar book published by Oxford:
"If you know London so well, you shouldn't have got so hopelessly lost."
The writer of the book has ...
- 438
9
votes
3
answers
70k
views
can't have been vs. couldn't have been
I don't understand when and why to use can't have been. It seems so strange to me.
- 321
22
votes
1
answer
129k
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'There seem' or 'there seems' + usage of the word 'seem'
First, I have a question "How words 'seem' and 'there' are used together?"
Which is correct:
There seem ...
or
There seems ...
Then, I'm am interested in general constructions with the word 'seem'...
- 331
5
votes
1
answer
27k
views
"Can not" vs. "cannot" [duplicate]
Is there a difference in meaning and/or connotation between "can not" and "cannot"?
I have read and seen both used interchangeably, but I know people who argue for a slight difference in meaning. ...
- 365
-1
votes
1
answer
1k
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"I may know where it is" vs. "I know where it may be"
I am wondering if the following two sentences have different meanings.
I may know where it is.
I know where it may be.
- 1
29
votes
5
answers
190k
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What is the difference between 'can', 'could', 'may' and 'might'?
I'm a native English speaker and I've been doing some research into English grammar for a programme I'm working on. However, on looking into modal verbs, I've only just come to appreciate how subtle ...
- 819
0
votes
2
answers
12k
views
Is there any difference between "He won't do something" and "He wouldn't do something"? [closed]
I have read somewhere that He won't do something means He refused to do something and also He wouldn't do something has the same meaning.
Now I'd like to know, what is the difference in usage of these ...
2
votes
2
answers
23k
views
"I wouldn't ever" vs. "I would never"
The two expressions from the title, “I wouldn't ever” and “I would never”, are very similar. But are they completely equivalent or do they bear any subtle differences? If so, how do they differ in ...
- 11.4k
8
votes
5
answers
46k
views
"Can’t help but" vs. "can help but"
Is "can’t help but" considered to be a confused mix of the expressions "can but" and "can’t help"? If not, what is the difference between "can help but" and "can’t help but"?
- 4,414
36
votes
1
answer
194k
views
When to use "cannot" versus "can't"?
When is it best to write "can't" versus writing "cannot"? Are they interchangeable in every situation?
- 6,711
2
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Would vs Will in future events
What is the difference between the following:
Sorry, mate. I wouldn't be able to come for dinner.
Sorry, mate. I won't be able to come for dinner.
user17857
3
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Past conditional statements
What is the difference between the following two statements?
If I went home for dinner, I took a glass of soft drink.
If I went home for dinner, I would take a glass of soft drink.
Are both of them ...
user17857
3
votes
5
answers
46k
views
What is the difference between "can't" and "mustn't" in the expressing of prohibition?
You [verb] use your mobile phone while you're driving. It's against the law.
What verb should be used?
don't have to
needn't
mustn't
can't
Is can't correct, or only mustn't is correct?
What is the ...
- 101
1
vote
2
answers
49k
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"shall" vs. "will" [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
'shall' and 'will'
Is there any difference at all between these two sentences?
What will we talk about?
What shall we talk about?
- 5,778
5
votes
5
answers
111k
views
Is "would" the past future tense of "will" or just a modal verb?
What's the difference between the following sentences?
Would you give me some advice?
Will you give me some advices?
- 3,721
12
votes
4
answers
3k
views
May, might confusion [duplicate]
When should I use each of the following:
This may help.
This might help.
I always get confused about the use of may and might.
- 365
18
votes
4
answers
34k
views
Difference between "should" and "ought to"
What is the difference between You should go and You ought to go? I rarely use the latter.
- 11.4k
5
votes
3
answers
59k
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"It could/might/may be funny" — what is the correct usage?
What is the difference in meaning in these three sentences?
it might be funny
it could be funny
it may be funny
The answer was partially touched on in this post.
- 11.4k