I will not be treated in this way.

It'll be raining tomorrow.

You will start at 7 tomorrow.

Could you lend me $10 dollars?
Of course, I will.

I'll take you to the movies.

Will you open the window, please?

I won't go with you.

I will walk again. (After an accident)

determination

a prediction about the future.

an order.

willingness

a promise

a request or

a refusal

a strong personal wish

We shall send you the information as soon as possible.

Shall I carry that case for you?

Shall we go out for a meal?

the future (in the same way as will but only I and we)

an offer

a suggestion

Will you ring me? He asked if I would ring him.

I'd like to go now.

I wish you wouldn't smoke so much.

I'd rather have tea than coffee.

Would you type this for me, please?

I would move house if I had the money.

the reporting of will

a wish (sometimes suggesting annoyance or disapproval)


a preference with rather.

a polite request

the result part of a conditional sentence

I should really help my mother with the dishes (but won't).

I should have told you but I forgot.

We should be taking off in a few minutes.

You should study harder.

an obligation (which you may not carry out)

(with the perfect infinitive) an obligation which was not carried out

something that will almost certainly happen

advice

May/Might I ask a question?

He may/might be the new teacher.

He may/might be late this evening.

asking for permission (Notice may is more common than might here and can is often used instead of may.

a possibility now

a possibility in the future (Notice might is rather less certain than may in meaning)

Can I go now?

You can't have been pleased when you realized what he had done!

I can ski/drive a car.

Can you come to the party?

I'm free tomorrow. I can drive you to the airport.

asking for permission (used informally instead of may)

(with the perfect infinitive) an unlikely explanation in the past: It wasn't possible for you to be pleased.

knowing how to do something

a possibility

being able to do something

They couldn't have phoned her. She hasn't got a phone!

When I was six could play the piano.

Could he be right?

Could I use your phone?

(with the perfect infinitive) an unlikely explanation for something in the past: It wasn't possible for them to phone her.

ability to do something in the past.

a possibility (rather less strong than can)

asking for permission (used informally instead of may but rather more polite than can)

I must wash my hair tonight.

You must have been surprised when she said she was getting married.

You must be exhausted after all that work.

The work must be done before tomorrow.

a personal obligation

(with the perfect infinitive) a reasonable conclusion about something in the past

a reasonable conclusion made about something now

what you consider to be someone else's task

You don't need to shout. I can hear you.

Do I need to take anything to the party?
You didn't need to phone. I already knew you were coming.

Need I take anything to the party?
Need you ask that question?
You needn't shout.I can hear you.
You needn't bring anything to the party.

Compare the ordinary verb need:

There is also a question form, constructed in the same way as questions with can, must and other modals. Needn't is used here as a modal verb.