Summary of Academic Modal Usage

WILL: Prediction

Example: "The reasons given for our actions will vary depending on who we address."

WOULD: Hypothetical prediction (conditional prediction)

Example: "These concerns would not be quite so pressing if the substantive content of his notion was clear and conceptually sound."

Example: "Efforts at conceptual analysis would be somewhat arid without an effort to evaluate the explanatory power of contending models."

Note: The condition may not be signalled with if, or may be implied by the context.

SHALL: Prediction usually used with the first person (I or we)

Example: "We shall consider the effect of particles next."

Note: This modal is closest in meaning to will than it is to should.

SHOULD: Logical necessity/expectation

Example: "Though the contrast will be low, the image should still be visible."

CAN: Theoretical possibility/ability/capacity

Example: "Refugee policy can be considered a rough test of a state’s commitment to its human rights pronouncements."

Note: As a 'theoretical possibility' it is like you are inserting 'theoretically' into your sentence.

COULD: theoretical possibility/past ability/past capacity

Example: "Further development of this technique could provide a means of investigating this aspect in more detail." 

Example: "By 1966 Britain could not operate to any degree without American assistance." (past ability)

Note: As a 'theoretical possibility' it is like you are inserting 'theoretically' into your sentence.

 MAY: factual (real) possibility

Example: "The surface cracking may be caused by different thermal expansion between the constituents of the coating."

Note: As a 'factual possibility' it is like you are inserting 'actually' into your sentence.

MIGHT: factual possibility/remote possibility

Example: "His fears were that an arms race would occur, or that either side might launch a pre-emptive strike on the other."

Note: As a 'factual possibility' it is like you are inserting 'actually' into your sentence.

Remember:

Modal verbs have many additional meanings including those concerned with obligation and permission (e.g. obligation: “It should be noted that Aust and Rutter used very high purity materials in their work”).

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