| can | current ability |
| could | past ability |
| can could | decisions made now about future ability |
| will be able to | future ability |
| could | current or general hypothetical ability |
| could | future hypothetical ability |
| could have | past hypothetical ability |
| cannot | the exception-word of the full negative forms of modals written as two words (a single word) |
| can could | the words which cannot be used as infinitves |
| to be able to | to phrase we use as infinitive instead CAN and COULD |
| was/were able to, managed to, succeeded, etc. | the words be used for past ability on one accasion |
| see, hear, feel, etc. | the verbs, with which we can use COULD for past ability on one accasion |
| may, could, can | asking for permission |
| may, may not, could, can | giving or refusing permission |
| was/were allowed to | verb which we use to talk about past permission |
| Hadn't you better check that these facts are actually true ? | Czy nie powinieneś był sprawdzić czy te fakty są właściwie prawdziwe ? |
| might, may | by these verbs we can give sugesstions, that are not perfect, but there is no better option |
| should have, ought to have, oughtn't to have | criticising past behaviour |
| could have, might have | expressing annoyance at past behaviour |
| will | criticising general behaviour |
| would | criticising a specific example of someone's general behaviour |
| must, mustn't, have (got) to, need (to) | current or general obligation |
| don't have to, haven't got to, needn't, don't need (to) | a lack of current or general obligation |
| will have to, must, mustn't, have (got) to, (will) need (to) | future obligation |
| don't have to, won't have to, haven't got to, needn't, don't need to, won't need to | a lack of future obligation |
| had to, needed (to) | past obligation |
| didn't have to, didn't need (to), needn't have | a lack of past obligation |
| must | the verb we use for personal obligation |
| have to | the verb we use for external obligation - when someone else making a decision about what we must do |
| do have to | using MUST for questions is extremely formal. The verb we use usually in that case is... |
| didn't have to, didn't need to | the verbs we use for things that we did or didn't actually do |
| needn't have done | the only one verb we use for things that we actually did but weren't obliged to do |
