Comparis Can/Could Be able to
on
Ability Past, Present, Future Past, Present, Future
E.g: E.g:
- He could read when he was four. - I wasn’t able to swim when I
- I can sing. was six.
- I can come to see you tomorrow. - I’m able to draw a painting.
- Will you be able to come?
A specific Do not use Could Were/was able to
achieveme E.g: E.g:
nt in the I could rescue the cat yesterday. I was able to rescue the cat
past yesterday.
Skills that Do not use Can Will be able to
will be E.g: E.g:
acquire in I can drive after finishing the course. I will be able to drive after
the future finishing the course.
Possibility Can + be Do not use be able to
E.g: She can be late tomorrow due to E.g: She will be able to be late
the upcoming storm. tomorrow due to the upcoming
storm.
Comparis Would Used to
on
Past habits E.g: When I was a child, my brother and E.g: When I was a child, my
I would fight each other. brother and I used to fight each
other.
Past time Compulsory Optional
preference E.g: When I was nine, I would drink soft E.g: I used to drink soft drinks
drinks every day. every day.
NOT: I would drink soft drinks every
day.
Past state/ Do not use would Use used to
situation E.g: E.g:
When I was young, I would love him. Didn’t you use to have long hair?
I would have long hair I didn’t use to like him much
when we were at school.
Comparis Have to(V)/ Need Must
on to(V)/Need(Modal)
Obligation Often external, comes from the Often comes from the speaker/
situations writer
E.g: E.g:
We have to get up early to catch the We must get up early. We have a
bus. lot of work to do.
(the schedule of the bus is the reason (We are imposing the obligation
for the obligation) on ourselves)
Necessity E.g: Often include law or rule
Did she have/ need to pay a fine? E.g:
Need I bring along anything? You must wear uniform.
Negative Don’t have to/ needn’t means there is Use mustn’t
obligation no obligation (not necessary) E.g: You mustn’t wear casual
E.g: clothes at school.
- I didn’t need/ have to get up early
because I had no lecture yesterday (I
knew it, so I didn’t wake up early).
- I needn’t have woken up early. The
bus was 30 mins late (I didn’t know the
bus was late, so I woke up early).
Past Use had to Do not use must/ mustn’t
obligation E.g: I had to pay the rent when I was
18.
* Side notes 1: Have to and have got to can be used interchangeably but
have got to is more informal and cannot be used with repeated actions.
E.g:
I have to get up early today.
I have to get up early every day.
I have got to get up early today.
I have got to get up early every day.
* Side notes 2: Don’t use need have + pp. But you can use needn’t have +
pp and not need to have + pp.
E.g:
- I didn’t need/ have to get up early because I had no lecture yesterday (I
knew it, so I didn’t wake up early).
- I needn’t have woken up early. The bus was 30 mins late (I didn’t know the
bus was late, so I woke up early).
* Side notes 3: Be supposed to = be expected/ required to do/ be
something.
E.g:
- You’re supposed to buy a ticket, but not many people do (expectation).
- You were supposed to be here an hour ago! (require)
* Side notes 4: Had better/ had best: strong advice or warning
E.g:
- You’d better go to the doctor about your cough.
- If you think it is going to be easy, you’d best think again.