MODALS / SEMI-MODALS OUGHT TO HAD BETTER Deduction/Assumption Advice SHOULD Advice recommendation Deduction/assumption Necessity / obligation Prohibition / advice Prediction / recommandation recommendation You should be wearing a coat, it’s very cold (necessity) You ought to tell John the truth ( recommenda tion) You ought to go to the doctor’s (advice – the right thing to do) He has studied very hard He ought to pass his test (deduction) You had better take those wet clothes off (advice) You’d better tell me the truth (recom mendati on) You should never repeat what you’ve just said (prohibition) I should be studying but I’m too tired (obligation) You should go to the doctor’s (advice) This should be a very good film (prediction) You should take one of these pills every day (recommendation) The plane shoud be landing now (assumption) SHALL Speculation / suggestion Decision / future Question / offer Where shall/will we be this time next year? (speculation ) I shall/will marry John even without your permission (decision) We shall overcome (future) What shall we do? (question) Shall I help you carry your suitcase? (offer) Shall we invite John or not? (suggestion) WILL WOULD assumption / deduction Future / intention Offer / prediction Decision / promise Ist conditional possibility / request Speculation Question Recommendation Invitation Preference 2° conditional He left an hour ago He’ll have arrived by now (deduction) He will have plenty of time to get to the airport (assumption ) He will be 27 next year (future) I will marry you (promise) I’ll wait for you (intention) I’ll the shopping (offer) It will rain in Riccione tomorrow (prediction) You WILL go to school whether you want to or not (strong decision) If it rains this afternoon I will/won’t go to the cinema (Ist conditional) Would John come with us? (possibility) Would you please answer the question? (request) What would I have done without you? (speculation) What time would you prefer? (question) Would you like to come with me? (invitation) Which would you prefer red or white? (preference) If I were you I would leave (2° conditional)