Modal in the past form

Modal in the past form

Present

Past
Can

Could
Will

Would
Shall

Should
May

Might
1. Could + Verb base
- To offer suggestions or possibilities
Example
Doraemon : Oh no! left my short’s
Nobita : Don’t wori, Dora you could borrow my shorts
- To indicate that the ability existed in the past but doesn’t exist now
Example
Ruther : Ton, can you climb the aple trees
Tony : Well … I could climb apple tree when I was so young. But I thing I’m to heavy to climb it
- To Express polite requests
Example :
Could I borrow your pencil (please)?Ø
Could you lend me your jacket now?Ø
Could you please close the doorØ
Could you pass the saltØ
2. Would + Verb base
- For an action that was repeated regularly in the past
Example
When I was a child, I would visit my grandparents every weekend
- Insert rather into the pattern and use this expressions to express preferences
Example
Angga : Ehich country would you rather visit?
Maria : I Would rather visit Tara than somelia
- To express polite requests
Example :
Budi : Would you mind cycling with me, Nada?
Nada : No, not at all. It would be nice
3. Should + Verb base
- To give definite advice (advisability)
Example :
Derby : You should paint your door, Romeo. It looks terrible
Romeo : Yes, I know I should
4. Might + Verb base
- To tell possibilities
Exmple :
David : Where is Deddy?
Copperfield : He might be in the studio with Kalina
- To express polite requests
Example :
Tian : Might I borrow your coat?
Chris : I’m afraid not. It has been brought by Danny for week sand I don’t know when he‘ll return it


Modal auxiliary verbs give more information about the function of the main verb that follows it. Although having a great variety of communicative functions, these functions can all be related to a scale ranging from possibility (can) to necessity (must). Within this scale there are two functional divisions: one concerned with possibility and necessity in terms of freedom to act (including ability, permission and duty), and the other (shall not included) concerns itself with the theoretical possibility of propositions being true or not true, including likelihood and certainty: must = absolute (often moral) obligation, order, requirement, necessity; can/could = physical or mental ability; may/might = permission, option, choice; will = intention in 1st person, volition in 2nd and 3rd persons; and shall/should = in 1st person objective though not moral obligation, no choice, as in: One day I shall die: we all shall die one day; in 2nd and third persons shall implies an incumbent obligation, destiny (It shall come to pass) or a command, decree, necessity imposed by the speaker, as in: A meeting shall take place on the last Friday of every month or a promise, namely that the speaker is stating his obligation to another party that an action or event take place, as in: You shall go to the ball, Cinderella. However, if a speaker states: I will let you go to the ball, Cinderella, in stating his intention, he is, in this instance, also making a promise.