English Verb Forms: Future Tenses and Modals
Future Forms
Will / Won’t + Infinitive
- Use: Predictions, promises, quick decisions (spontaneous decisions).
Shall (I / We)
- Use: Suggestions or offers (often in question form).
(To be) Going to + Verb
- Use: Plans, intentions.
Present Continuous
- Use: Fixed arrangements (plans that are certain to happen).
- Example: I’m working tonight.
Present Simple
- Use: Timetables, schedules, dates.
- Example: The train leaves at 9 p.m.
- Negative: The train doesn’t leave until 9 p.m.
- Question: What time does the train leave?
General Notes on Question Formation
In English, the auxiliary verb always precedes the subject in a question (e.g., Will you come?).
- He, She, It: Takes the final -s (or uses does as auxiliary).
- I, We, You, They: Use do.
- Negation: Use doesn’t / don’t. The main verb does not take the -s.
- Question Auxiliaries: Does / Do.
Modal Verbs
List of Modals and Contractions
| Modal | Negative Form | Contraction | Approximate Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Might | Might not | Mightn’t | Podría |
| Must | Must not | Mustn’t | Debo (Obligation) |
| May | May not | (None) | Podría |
| Can | Can not | Can’t | Poder (Ability) |
| Could | Could not | Couldn’t | Podría |
| Will | Will not | Won’t | Future marker |
| Would | Would not | Wouldn’t | Conditional marker (e.g., I would like) |
| Shall | Shall not | Shan’t | Offers/Suggestions |
| Should | Should not | Shouldn’t | Deberías (Recommendation) |
Detailed Meanings of Modal Verbs
Might (Podría)
- Possibility (less likely than May).
May (Podría)
May implies a higher possibility than Might.
- Possibility.
- Permission (asking for permission).
Must (Debo / Deber)
- Probability / Logical assumption (things that are logically probable).
- Necessity.
- Prohibition (Must not).
Will (Future Time)
- Future time.
- Promise.
- Polite question.
Would (Conditional)
Often expresses desire or condition (e.g., I would like).
- Polite questions.
- Invitations, preferences, desires.
- Past habits.
Can (Poder)
- Ability.
- Suggestion / Option.
- Impossibility (Can’t).
- Request.
Could (Podría)
Could implies more possibility than other forms of ‘podría’ (May/Might) when referring to past ability.
- Past ability.
- Polite questions.
- Possibility / Impossibility.
- Suggestion.
Should (Tendrías que / Deberías)
- Recommendation.
- The right thing to do (advice).
- Uncertain prediction.
Shall (Offers and Suggestions)
- Offer.
- Confirmation.
Expressions Similar to Modal Verbs
Have to (Tener que)
- Negative: Don’t have to / Doesn’t have to (Indicates lack of necessity, not prohibition).
- Question: Do you have to? / Does she have to?
- Past: Had to / Didn’t have to…
- Future: Will you have to?
Need (Necesitar)
- Standard form: I need to go.
- Modal form (Needn’t): I needn’t go.