C Topic Rule / structure Example Key note
h
1 Ability & can — present ability I can Use can, never be able
5 permissi Present ability, real stand on to, for actions right
on possibility, general one leg. now
permission
1 Ability & could — past general Sophie Not for a single specific
5 permissi ability could play past achievement
on Past general ability or the flute
permission well.
1 Ability & be able to — specific She was Use instead of could for
5 permissi achievement able to a single past
on One particular past cross the achievement
success river.
1 Ability & be allowed to — Ned was Use instead of could for
5 permissi specific permission allowed to a specific one-off
on One particular past come in. permission
favour or official rule
1 Ability & couldn't — negative I tried but Also: senses, all/only
5 permissi limits I couldn't thing, almost/nearly
on Negative past limits, move.
senses, almost-
failures
1 Possibilit could — theoretical It could be Imagined / doubtful
5 y& possibility expensive. scenario
deductio Uncertain or (if we got
n hypothetical future one)
1 Possibilit can — real possibility It can be Established fact
5 y& General truth or expensive.
deductio certain future plan (it actually
n happens)
1 Possibilit can't — impossibility That can't
5 y& Logical conclusion be true.
deductio that sth is impossible
n
1 Habits & will — present habit Every day Strong stress =
6 assumpt Characteristic or Dan will criticism
ions annoying present come
, behaviour home and
turn on
the TV.
1 Habits & will — assumption Martina = I assume / I conclude
6 assumpt Conclusion about will be at
ions present or assumed home by
knowledge now.
1 Habits & will have + pp Few Concrete past
6 assumpt Deduction about an people will deduction
ions actual past event have seen
last
night's
eclipse.
1 Habits & would — past habit At school NOT for a single one-off
6 assumpt Repeated past action she would event
ions (needs clear time always sit
reference) quietly.
1 Habits & would have + pp I would Imaginary — it didn't
6 assumpt Unreal / imaginary have been happen
ions past situation happy to
see him,
but I
didn't.
1 Habits & used to The Use used
6 assumpt Past habit or past factory to (not would) with no
ions state — no time used to be time reference or for
reference needed over past states
there.
1 Habits & Single occasion rule Last night Use simple past
6 assumpt Do NOT he solved instead
ions use will/would for a it. ❌ he
specific one-time would
event solve it
1 Habits & Specifics rule We visited Use simple past
6 assumpt Do NOT use used Switzerlan instead
ions to/would with exact d four
numbers, dates, or times. ❌
durations would visit
,1 Possibilit may — formal The seeds Prefer may in academic
7 y& possibility may grow writing
deductio Formal/academic up to 20
n possibility or official cm.
permission
1 Possibilit might — spoken I might Prefer might in
7 y& possibility paint the everyday speech
deductio Informal future plans kitchen
n or literary past habits purple.
1 Possibilit may/might not … but The
7 y& Concession — painting
deductio weakness balanced may not
n by strength be a
masterpie
ce, but the
colours
are
remarkabl
e.
1 Possibilit may/might have + pp Do you Could have also works
7 y& Possibility about a think she here
deductio past event may have
n finished
by now?
1 Possibilit may/might have been He
7 y& + -ing thought
deductio Possibility of a past she might
n continuous activity have been
playing
with it.
1 Possibilit No may for possibility Could it be Might in questions
7 y& questions that you sounds very formal
deductio Use could or be likely don't want
n to instead to leave?
1 Obligati must — formal Bookings
8 on & obligation must be
necessit Formal rules, made
y regulations, personal seven
reminders days
before
, departure.
1 Obligati mustn't — prohibition You
8 on & Prohibition (cannot be mustn't
necessit changed to don't smoke
y have to) here.
1 Obligati have to — external I have to Use with frequency
8 on & necessity study adverbs
necessit Obligation from tonight.
y outside (rules, others)
1 Obligati have got to — They've Never use after
8 on & informal necessity got to be another modal
necessit Informal strong blue.
y necessity
(contracted have nee
ds got)
1 Obligati must have + pp She must
8 on & Conclusion about the have
necessit past borrowed
y it from her
parents.
1 Obligati must be + -ing You must
8 on & Conclusion about the be
necessit present imagining
y things.
1 Obligati had to — past We had to Must has no past form
8 on & obligation wait a
necessit Only form available long time.
y for past must
1 Obligati must have to / must You must Never say must've got
8 on & have had to have to to
necessit Conclude that an enter a
y obligation password.
exists/existed
1 Obligati need + to-inf — She needs
9 on & ordinary verb a drink. / I
necessit Behaves like a normal needed to
y verb (adds -s, -ed) leave.
h
1 Ability & can — present ability I can Use can, never be able
5 permissi Present ability, real stand on to, for actions right
on possibility, general one leg. now
permission
1 Ability & could — past general Sophie Not for a single specific
5 permissi ability could play past achievement
on Past general ability or the flute
permission well.
1 Ability & be able to — specific She was Use instead of could for
5 permissi achievement able to a single past
on One particular past cross the achievement
success river.
1 Ability & be allowed to — Ned was Use instead of could for
5 permissi specific permission allowed to a specific one-off
on One particular past come in. permission
favour or official rule
1 Ability & couldn't — negative I tried but Also: senses, all/only
5 permissi limits I couldn't thing, almost/nearly
on Negative past limits, move.
senses, almost-
failures
1 Possibilit could — theoretical It could be Imagined / doubtful
5 y& possibility expensive. scenario
deductio Uncertain or (if we got
n hypothetical future one)
1 Possibilit can — real possibility It can be Established fact
5 y& General truth or expensive.
deductio certain future plan (it actually
n happens)
1 Possibilit can't — impossibility That can't
5 y& Logical conclusion be true.
deductio that sth is impossible
n
1 Habits & will — present habit Every day Strong stress =
6 assumpt Characteristic or Dan will criticism
ions annoying present come
, behaviour home and
turn on
the TV.
1 Habits & will — assumption Martina = I assume / I conclude
6 assumpt Conclusion about will be at
ions present or assumed home by
knowledge now.
1 Habits & will have + pp Few Concrete past
6 assumpt Deduction about an people will deduction
ions actual past event have seen
last
night's
eclipse.
1 Habits & would — past habit At school NOT for a single one-off
6 assumpt Repeated past action she would event
ions (needs clear time always sit
reference) quietly.
1 Habits & would have + pp I would Imaginary — it didn't
6 assumpt Unreal / imaginary have been happen
ions past situation happy to
see him,
but I
didn't.
1 Habits & used to The Use used
6 assumpt Past habit or past factory to (not would) with no
ions state — no time used to be time reference or for
reference needed over past states
there.
1 Habits & Single occasion rule Last night Use simple past
6 assumpt Do NOT he solved instead
ions use will/would for a it. ❌ he
specific one-time would
event solve it
1 Habits & Specifics rule We visited Use simple past
6 assumpt Do NOT use used Switzerlan instead
ions to/would with exact d four
numbers, dates, or times. ❌
durations would visit
,1 Possibilit may — formal The seeds Prefer may in academic
7 y& possibility may grow writing
deductio Formal/academic up to 20
n possibility or official cm.
permission
1 Possibilit might — spoken I might Prefer might in
7 y& possibility paint the everyday speech
deductio Informal future plans kitchen
n or literary past habits purple.
1 Possibilit may/might not … but The
7 y& Concession — painting
deductio weakness balanced may not
n by strength be a
masterpie
ce, but the
colours
are
remarkabl
e.
1 Possibilit may/might have + pp Do you Could have also works
7 y& Possibility about a think she here
deductio past event may have
n finished
by now?
1 Possibilit may/might have been He
7 y& + -ing thought
deductio Possibility of a past she might
n continuous activity have been
playing
with it.
1 Possibilit No may for possibility Could it be Might in questions
7 y& questions that you sounds very formal
deductio Use could or be likely don't want
n to instead to leave?
1 Obligati must — formal Bookings
8 on & obligation must be
necessit Formal rules, made
y regulations, personal seven
reminders days
before
, departure.
1 Obligati mustn't — prohibition You
8 on & Prohibition (cannot be mustn't
necessit changed to don't smoke
y have to) here.
1 Obligati have to — external I have to Use with frequency
8 on & necessity study adverbs
necessit Obligation from tonight.
y outside (rules, others)
1 Obligati have got to — They've Never use after
8 on & informal necessity got to be another modal
necessit Informal strong blue.
y necessity
(contracted have nee
ds got)
1 Obligati must have + pp She must
8 on & Conclusion about the have
necessit past borrowed
y it from her
parents.
1 Obligati must be + -ing You must
8 on & Conclusion about the be
necessit present imagining
y things.
1 Obligati had to — past We had to Must has no past form
8 on & obligation wait a
necessit Only form available long time.
y for past must
1 Obligati must have to / must You must Never say must've got
8 on & have had to have to to
necessit Conclude that an enter a
y obligation password.
exists/existed
1 Obligati need + to-inf — She needs
9 on & ordinary verb a drink. / I
necessit Behaves like a normal needed to
y verb (adds -s, -ed) leave.
