Would, Should, Could and Might: Uses and Examples

Would you pass the salt?

💡 A polite request.

I would like a glass of water.

💡 A polite wish.

Would you like some tea?

💡 An offer to the listener.

I would cycle if I had a bicycle.

💡 An imagined condition.

You should check the address.

💡 Advice.

Should I book a table?

💡 A request for advice.

We should leave earlier next time.

💡 A recommendation based on experience.

The parcel should arrive tomorrow.

💡 An expectation.

You shouldn’t skip the instructions.

💡 Advice against an action.

Could you speak more slowly?

💡 A polite present request.

I could read when I was five.

💡 General past ability.

We could meet at the library.

💡 A proposed option.

This could be the right road.

💡 A possibility.

I couldn’t open the door yesterday.

💡 A specific unsuccessful attempt.

I was able to find the missing key.

💡 A specific successful past action.

It might rain tonight.

💡 Uncertainty.

She might not attend.

💡 Attendance is uncertain, not forbidden.

Might this be the wrong entrance?

💡 A possible but formal question.

❌ You should to rest.

✅ You should rest.

After should, use rest without to.

❌ Could you to help me?

✅ Could you help me?

After could, use help without to.

❌ She might comes later.

✅ She might come later.

After might, use come without -s. Might does not give an exact percentage.

1. A — Could you speak more slowly?

💡 Could you…? makes a polite request. Do not add to before speak.

2. B — Should I book a table?

💡 Use book directly after should I.

3. B — Rain is possible, but not certain.

💡 Might shows a possibility. It does not promise that rain will happen.

4. A — The team was able to rescue the child.

💡 Was able to rescue clearly describes success in this past event. Might rescue describes a possibility.

5. A — I would like some water.

💡 Would like is a polite way to say want. Do not add -s to like.