Auxiliary Verbs "Will/Would" and "Shall/Should"

Auxiliary Verbs "Will/Would" and "Shall/Should"
The verbs will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, and must cannot be the main (full) verbs
alone. They are used as auxiliary verbs only and always need a main verb to follow.
Will
Used to express desire, preference, choice, or consent:

 I will take this duty.
 Will you stop talking like that?
Used to express the future:

 It will rain tomorrow.
 The news will spread soon.
Used to express capacity or capability:

 This bucket will hold two gallons of water.
 This airplane will take 200 passengers.
Used to express determination, insistence, or persistence:

 I will do it as you say.
Would (past form of will)
Often used in auxiliary functions with rather to express preference:

 I would rather go shopping today.
 We'd rather say something than stay quiet.
Used to express a wish or desire:

 I would like to have one more pencil.
Used to express contingency or possibility:

 If I were you, I would be so happy.
Used to express routine or habitual things:

 Normally, we would work until 6 p.m.
Shall
Mainly used in American English to ask questions politely (it has more usages in British English) . For
the future tense, will is more frequently used in American English than shall.
 Shall we dance?
 Shall I go now?
 Let's drink, shall we?
Often used in formal settings to deliver obligation or requirement:
 You shall abide by the law.
 There shall be no trespassing on this property.
 Students shall not enter this room.
Should (past form of shall)
Often used in auxiliary functions to express an opinion, suggestion, preference, or idea:

 You should rest at home today.
 I should take a bus this time.
 He should be more thoughtful in the decision-making process.
Used to express that you wish something had happened but it didn't or couldn't (should + have + past
participle) :
 You should have seen it. It was really beautiful.
 I should have completed it earlier to meet the deadline.
 We should have visited the place on the way.
Used to ask for someone's opinion:

 What should we do now?
 Should we continue our meeting?
 Should we go this way?
 Where should we go this summer?
Used to say something expected or correct:

 There should be an old city hall building here.
 Everybody should arrive by 6 p.m.
 We should be there this evening.
Can
Used to express ability (to be able to do something) :

 I can make jewelry.
 He can't speak French.
 Can you open this jar?
Used to ask for permission:

 Can I use your bathroom?
 Can I leave now?
 Can I raise the volume?
Used to make requests or suggestions:

 Can I have more napkins?
 Can I have the bill?
 You can take this spot if you like.
 You can do whatever you want.
Could (past form of can)
Describes an ability that someone had in the past:

 I could swim when I was young.
 You could see the boat sinking.
 They could tell he was nervous.
Often used in auxiliary functions to express permission politely:

 Could I take this jacket with me?
 You could borrow my umbrella.
 Could you please let me pass you?
 Could I get you more water?
Used to express possibility:

 All of them could ride in the van.
 You could always stay at our house.
 Could it be true?
 This plan could really work out.
May
Used to ask for formal permission:

 May I come in?
 May I say something now?
 May I ask one question?
Used to suggest something that is possible:

 She may agree with this plan.
 They may not be happy about what happened.
 It may shower tonight.
Might (past form of may)
Used to suggest a smaller possibility than may does (actually, might is more common than may in
American English) :
 He might have finished it.
 I might go see a doctor.
 I might not come this time.
 It might be right.
 You might have lost it.
 The store might have been closed today.

Auxiliary Verbs "Will/Would" and "Shall/Should"

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Auxiliary Verbs "Will/Would" and "Shall/Should"

Used to express desire, preference, choice, or consent:

Used to express the future:

Used to express capacity or capability:

Used to express determination, insistence, or persistence:

Would (past form of will)

Often used in auxiliary functions with rather to express preference:

Used to express a wish or desire:

Used to express contingency or possibility:

Used to express routine or habitual things:

Should (past form of shall)

Often used in auxiliary functions to express an opinion, suggestion, preference, or idea:

Used to ask for someone's opinion:

Used to say something expected or correct:

Used to express ability (to be able to do something) :

Used to ask for permission:

Used to make requests or suggestions:

Could (past form of can)

Describes an ability that someone had in the past:

Often used in auxiliary functions to express permission politely:

Used to express possibility:

Used to ask for formal permission:

Used to suggest something that is possible:

Might (past form of may)

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