Don’t let ‘can,’ ‘could,’ ‘will’ and ‘would’ baffle you anymore

LET’S do a quick review of the proper usage of the function words “will” and “would,” “shall” and “should,” and “can” and “could,” which from my experience as editor continue to be pitfalls to many learners and even some long-time users of English.

The most important thing to keep in mind about these wordpairs is that they aren’t meant for sentences that deal with simple facts or absolute certainties. They are distinct grammatical forms called modalauxiliariesormodals, which work with verbs to convey various shades of necessity, advice, ability, expectation, permission, possibility or conditionality.

These two modals convey the idea of ability, possibility, permission or potential; “can” is the present- tense

“Can” and “could.”

form, “could” the past-tense form. Ability: “She canwrite novels.” “By then she couldnolongerwrite novels.” Possibility: “The team can win if its members are more disciplined.” Permission: “CanIgoout with my playmates now?” Potential: “With his political acumen, he canbepresidentialtimber.”

The modal “could” is also used to make a deferential or polite request, offer, or suggestion: “Could youtellme how to leave the sendoff party now without offending the boss?” But among social, age, or professional coequals, “can” is more suitable: “Canyoutellme how to leave the send-off party now without offending the boss?”

The usual function of “will” is as a verbal auxiliary for expressing simple futurity, as in “Evelyn willgo to Tokyo tomorrow.” As a modal, however, “will” works to convey choice, willingness, intention, consent, or habitual or customary action. Choice: “I willtake the train instead of the bus.” Willingness: “I willgo if you wish.” Intention: “I willprove you wrong.” Consent: “Yes, the school willadmit you.” Habitual or customary action: “She

“Will” and “would.”

willgetangry over trivial things.” In the past tense, the modal “will”

year, I than economy.” Willingness: “In my mid-twenties, I wouldgo wherever I was assigned.” Habitual or customary action: “After breaking up with

wouldgetangry over trivial things.”

In conditional sentences, the modal “would” works to express probability or presumption both past and present, as in “The marathon runner wouldhavewon if he had not stumbled right before

- ambitious politician wouldwin hands down if not for the very serious corruption allegations against him.”

Also, the modal “would” conveys politeness and deference in expressing intent or desire, as in “Wouldyouconsider my daughter for that overseas job?” This differs from the pointed request conveyed when the modal “will” is used: “Willyouconsider my daughter for that overseas job?”

As a quick exercise, are “will” and “would” used correctly in this statement: “Will it rain tomorrow? If it wouldn’t,would it be a sunny day?”

question uses “will” as a verbal auxiliary to express simple futurity; the second is a conditional construction where (a) the “if”clause uses the modal “wouldn’t” to express negative possibility, and (b) where the result clause uses the modal “would” to express expectation of a desired outcome in question form.

“Shall” and “should.”

In American English ( the English used in the Philippines), the modals “shall” and “should” are used sparingly to state polite questions permission is being asked), as in “ShouldIgetataxiforyounow, ma’am?” More commonly, the modal “shall” is used in formal written directives and records of corporate proceedings, as in “All workers shallberesponsible for the upkeep of their respective work areas.”

Always keep these usage guidelines in mind and all of these modals should no longer baffle you.

Precisely when to use “request” or “request for”)

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