VERBI MODALI IN INGLESE

MODAL VERB	USO	ESEMPIO
CAN	Capacità (di fare qualcosa) Permesso/Richiesta	I can swim (so nuotare) Can I use your car, please?
COULD	Capacità nel passato (passato di can) Permesso/richiesta (più educata) Suggerimento Probabilità	I couldn't swim (non ero capace a nuotare) Could I use your car, please? We could go to the park He could be at home now
MAY	Permesso/richiesta educata Probabilità (più probabile di “could”)	May I use your car, please? She may be at home
MIGHT	Stesso uso di “may”
SHOULD	Consiglio Probabilità reale	You should go to the doctor He should be at home now
MUST	Obbligo Probabilità molto elevata	You must go to school He must be at home now
SHALL	Obbligo in documenti ufficiali Suggerimento/invito	You shall pay a fine of 100 dollars Shall we dance?
WILL	Azione volontaria Promessa Previsione	I will help you with homework I will call you at 9 p.m. Tomorrow it will be sunny
WOULD	Condizionale Passato di “will” Azione continuata nel passato	If I had money, I would buy a boat He said he would come When I lived in Rome, I would always go to Villa Borghese