Will Shall
Will is used to show desire, preference, choice or
consent
 I will accept your offer.
 Will you please be quiet?
To show the future
 It will be a great party.
 I will probably go out tonight.
To express capability
 The ship will take three hundred guests.
 This bottle will hold two litres of wine.
To express determination or insistence
 I will pass my driving test.
 I will do as you say.
The past tense of Will is Would
May Might
May is used to express a possibility but a bigger
possibility.
 It may rain later today. (70-80 %)
 Peter may come with us.
May is used to give and ask for permission but it
is a little informal
 May I borrow your pen?
 May I go now?
May is used to express wishes
 May the New Year bring you happiness.
You should use May when talking about a
current situation
Shall is used to indicate future actions and is
used with “I” and “We”
 I shall be in Bogotá tomorrow at 8
 I shall practice English.
Shall is also used in promises and voluntary
actions
 I shall take care of you.
 I shall never forget you.
Shall is used to make a suggestion
 Shall we dance?
 Shall I go now?
Shall for obligation in very formal situations
 You shall obey the rules.
 Students shall not enter here.
 There shall be no food and drink on the
premises.
The past tense of Shall is Should
Might is used to express a possibility but a
lower possibility
 She might be at home by now.
 It might rain this afternoon
You should use Might when taking about an
event that happened in the past.
 He might have tried to call.
 I might have dropped it in the street.
Might is used for very polite requests
 Might I ask a you question?
 Might we just interrupt for a moment?
Exercises

A. Circle the correct auxiliary modal verb in each sentence.

1. When I grow up, I may-might become an engineer.

2. There is a small chance the we may-might go to the beach this weekend.
3. There is a good change that we might-may have to postpone the meeting.
4. Billy and I may-might cook dinner tonight.
5. The airplane might-may crash.
6. You never know, I may-might become president one day.
7. May-Might I have a piece of bread please?
8. It might-may snow tonight, but I doubt it.
9. If Jane studied harder, she might-may have gotten a better grade on the test.
10. I might-may not be coming to your party tonight. I told my mother that I would stay home
and make cookies with her already. I’m sorry.

B. Write three sentences using the modal verb May

1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________

C. Write three sentences using the modal verb Might

1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________

D. Fill in the blanks using WILL or SHALL

1. ……………………… the messenger wait for the reply?

2. …………………….. I carry this bag for you?
3. He …………………………. be talking all the time without doing anything.
4. This machine …………………….. work well without giving you any trouble.
5. ……………………….. you give me your dictionary?
6. ……………………… you be kind enough to lend me your car?
7. On receipt of this letter you ……………………….. leave for Mumbai at once.
8. …………………………… you come with me?
9. Tell him that he ……………………… never repeat that mistake.
10. ………………………….. I put the heating on?