Modal Verbs: Could, Should, Would
B2⏱ 5 min
Modal Verbs: Could, Should, Would
By the time Sourov was managing a team of fifteen across Star Casino and several Merivale venues in Sydney, the city felt like home. He could have stayed forever — the career was thriving, the team trusted him, the lifestyle was comfortable. But something told him he should make a change. “I knew I would regret it if I never tried something new,” he says now. Three words — could, should, would — carried the weight of that decision.
🎯 Aim: Understand and use could, should, and would to express ability/possibility, advice/obligation, and hypothetical situations.
Quick Reference Table
| Modal | Core Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| could | Past ability / present possibility / polite request | I could speak some French by then. |
| should | Advice / expectation / mild obligation | You should try the tasting menu. |
| would | Hypothetical / polite offer / past habit | I would visit every Sunday. |
Could — Ability & Possibility
- “When Sourov managed fifteen staff, he could resolve any conflict calmly.” (past ability)
- “You could take the evening shift if you prefer.” (possibility / suggestion)
- “Could you recommend a wine to pair with this?” (polite request)
Should — Advice & Expectation
- “You should always greet guests by name — it makes a difference.” (advice)
- “The order should arrive by six.” (expectation)
- “I shouldn’t have left without saying goodbye to the team.” (regret about the past)
Would — Hypothetical & Polite
- “I would stay in Sydney if the opportunity were right.” (hypothetical)
- “Would you like still or sparkling water?” (polite offer)
- “Every Friday we would hold a team briefing before service.” (past habit)
💡 could have / should have / would have — add have + past participle to talk about the past:
- I could have stayed (but I didn’t).
- You should have called (but you didn’t — and it was a mistake).
- She would have loved it (but she wasn’t there).
Practice Task — Complete the sentences
Choose could, should, or would (or their negative forms). More than one answer may be possible — justify your choice.
- “You _______ taste the wine before serving it to the guest.” (advice)
- “Back then, she _______ memorise thirty covers without any notes.” (past ability)
- “I _______ never have reached that level without a great mentor.” (hypothetical past)
- “_______ you like me to explain the menu?” (polite offer)
- “He _______ have taken the promotion — now it’s gone.” (past regret)
Show answers
- You should taste the wine before serving it to the guest.
- Back then, she could memorise thirty covers without any notes.
- I would never have reached that level without a great mentor.
- Would you like me to explain the menu?
- He should have taken the promotion — now it’s gone.
Takeaway
Could = ability or possibility. Should = advice or expectation. Would = hypothetical or polite. Add have + past participle to any of them to shift meaning into the past.
Cambridge CELTA course completed — 120 supervised teaching hours and four written assignments validated to the required standard.
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