Modal Verbs: Could, Should, Would (B2)
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B2 ⏱ 5 minutes
Modal Verbs: Could, Should, Would
🔎 The Three Modals at a Glance
| Modal | Core Meaning | Past Form |
|---|---|---|
| could | Ability / possibility / polite suggestion | could have + past participle |
| should | Advice / expectation / moral obligation | should have + past participle |
| would | Hypothetical / polite request / habit in past | would have + past participle |
📚 COULD — Ability and Possibility
- Present possibility: You could ask the manager for more training.
- Past ability: When I was younger, I could memorise an entire wine list.
- Past possibility (unrealised): I could have stayed in Sydney forever — but I chose a different path.
- Polite suggestion: You could try a Burgundy with that dish.
📚 SHOULD — Advice and Expectation
- Advice: You should always taste the wine before serving it to a guest.
- Expectation: The delivery should arrive by noon.
- Regret / past criticism: I should have taken that management course earlier.
- Negative advice: You shouldn’t open a bottle without checking the vintage first.
📚 WOULD — Hypothetical and Polite
- Hypothetical: If I had more time, I would visit every wine region in France.
- Polite request: Would you mind recommending a red wine for this course?
- Past habit: Every evening, the team would gather for a briefing before service.
- Past hypothetical (unrealised): I would have handled that situation better with more experience.
👥 Practice Task
Choose the correct modal verb (could / should / would) to complete each sentence.
- You ________ have told me about the meeting earlier — I missed it completely.
- If I spoke Italian, I ________ work at a restaurant in Rome.
- When I was a student, I ________ study until midnight every night.
- ________ you like me to recommend a wine to go with your meal?
- She ________ have taken the manager’s role — she was clearly the best candidate.
👁️ Show Answers
- You should have told me about the meeting earlier. (past advice / regret)
- If I spoke Italian, I would work at a restaurant in Rome. (hypothetical)
- When I was a student, I would / could study until midnight every night. (would = past habit; could = past ability — both possible)
- Would you like me to recommend a wine to go with your meal? (polite offer)
- She could have taken the manager’s role — she was clearly the best candidate. (unrealised possibility)
💬 Discussion
- What could you do now to improve your English this week?
- What should someone do before starting a new job in a different country?
- What would you do if you could change one decision you made in the past?
Cambridge CELTA course completed — 120 supervised teaching hours and four written assignments validated to the required standard. Independent project. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.
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