When to use would should could

Question

when to use would should could?

BaldKingOfFrance · Accepted Answer

This is a complicated area of grammar and semantics. This is just a short answer:

All of these are "helping verbs" (or "auxiliaries", or "modals", I dont know which term you learned). They are not main verbs. Use them with other verbs.

"should"
shows obligation, necessity, or requirement. It is a weak modal. The strong version is "must"

You should water this plant every day. (weak obligation)
You must water this plant every day. (strong obligation)

You should study if you want to learn English. (weak necessity)
You must study if you want to learn English (strong necessity)

"could"
shows possibility or ability. There are two uses.

1. The past tense of "can":
I can run a marathon.

I could run a marathon when I was younger and in better shape.

2. Offers and suggestions:
I could help you with your homework.
We could go to a movie.

"would"
Difficult to give a general meaning. There are three major uses:

1. Counterfactuals. This means "talking about things that are not actually true"
If I had a million dollars, I would buy a big house. (I don't actually have a million dollars.)

It it weren't raining, we would go to the park. (It actually is raining.)

2. Regular events in the past
When I was young, I would ride my bike everywhere.
When we were in France, we would have croissants every morning.

3. The future in the past
Last week I promised Jon I would help him with his homework today.
During the last election, the candidates promised they would reduce taxes.

When to use would should could

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