could vs would vs should?
181796
Just remember that could is used to talk about something that can happen, would is used to talk about something that will happen in an imagined situation, and should is used to talk about something that ought to happen or must happen.
381145
Like should, the verb ought to does not have a past form. It is only used with reference to the present and the future. Ought to is rarely used in questions and negatives.
467952
The one-word forms may and might are also nearly always interchangeable. Both are most commonly used to say that something is possible or probable, as in these examples: You may/might be right.
1113436
Depends on the context. Generally these are the same concept, but 'provided that' is a bit more formal or business-like than just 'if'. Also, 'provided' does not always need or want to be followed by 'that'.
1356852
The grammatical distinction between the two words is tense-based—may is the present tense and might the past tense. Incorrect usage in this context is fairly rare because a native speaker would catch the error almost immediately: Incorrect usage: I thought I may go to the game.
143023
The first conditional describes something that is possible, and could really happen. 2. The second conditional describes something that is possible, but will almost certainly not happen. ... Often there only difference between the first and the second conditional is the speaker's opinion.
531137
Auxiliary verbs are: be, do, have, will, shall, would, should, can, could, may, might, must, ought, etc.
854939
Both the phrases "may as well" and "might as well" mean the same; they are interchangeable. You use either to suggest that something should be done or accepted because there's no other better alternative or good reason not to do it. For examples: We may/might as well go home.
1228345
would is the past tense form of will. Because it is a past tense, it is used: to talk about the past. to talk about hypotheses (when we imagine something)
1153930
Both adverbs maybe and perhaps mean the same; they convey uncertainty, a possibility. You can use either when you are not sure, when you want to say “possibly”. However, perhaps is probably a little more formal.
948807
'If' introduces one condition, whereas 'whether' introduces alternative possibilities, usually with the use of 'or not'. Both 'if' and 'whether' are sometimes used interchangeably, especially when responding to yes/no questions. 'Whether' is used to present two alternatives, neither of which is a conditional.
107498
As a general rule, use 'will' for affirmative and negative sentences about the future. Use 'will' for requests too. If you want to make an offer or suggestion with I/we, use 'shall' in the question form. For very formal statements, especially to describe obligations, use 'shall'.
1293427
"Has to be used" is stronger than "is to be used." "Has to" suggests a requirement, meaning that absolutely no other option is acceptable. "Is to" is a matter-of-fact future tense (similar to "will be used").
643925
Am, is, are, was and were, being, been, and be, Have, has, had, do, does, did, will, would, shall and should. There are five more helping verbs: may, might, must, can, could!
207254
Maybe or may be: Even though the two words contain the same alphabets, the space between those alphabets makes the entire difference as maybe is an adverb while may be is a verb phrase. ... Remember the spaced word are two verbs and cannot be used as an adverb and hence, maybe can't act as a verb in a sentence.
101213
The conditional that talks about what would happen or what one would do in certain circumstances. The subjunctive that talks about a situation that is uncertain, unreal, or just a wish. Also, the subjunctive mood talks about the urgency or importance of something.
813754
Modal auxiliary verbs include: can, could, may, might, must, ought, shall, should, will, and would. These verbs - which never change forms the way most other verbs do - indicate possibility, capability, necessity, or willingness.