1. Chắc chắn (hoặc gần chắc chắn) về hiện tại hoặc nói chung:
- Must: chắc chắn (khẳng định)
Ví dụ: That must be the district nurse at the door. - Can't / couldn't: chắc chắn (phủ định)
Ví dụ: These can't / couldn't be the pills; they're the wrong colour.
2. Chắc chắn (hoặc gần chắc chắn) về quá khứ: dùng must / can't / couldn't + perfect infinitive
- Ví dụ: She must have been in a lot of pain.
- Ví dụ: His leg can't / couldn't have been in plaster for two years!
3. Có thể xảy ra (probability) về hiện tại, tương lai hoặc nói chung: dùng should / ought to
Ví dụ: You ought to / should feel better in a few days, as long as you get lots of rest.
4. Có thể xảy ra (probability) về quá khứ: dùng should / ought to + perfect infinitive
Ví dụ: The bruise ought to / should have disappeared days ago. I wonder why it didn't.
5. Khả năng (possibility) về hiện tại, tương lai hoặc nói chung: dùng could / may / might
Ví dụ: You should talk to your doctor first because that diet could / may / might be dangerous.
6. Khả năng (possibility) về quá khứ thực tế: dùng could / may / might + perfect infinitive
Ví dụ: That could / may / might have been the doctor who rang earlier while we were out.
7. Khả năng (possibility) về quá khứ giả định: dùng could / might + perfect infinitive
Ví dụ: It's a good thing you went to the doctor or you could / might have become quite ill.