Can wa Should wa Must....wa el haloma dee kolaha

helllllooooooo.

Look at these sentences and let's see what are the differences in meaning:

1. You can quit smoking.
2. You should quit smoking.
3. You ought to quit smoking.
4. You must quit smoking
5. You have to quit smoking.
6. You might quit smoking.

Which one or ones are suggestion?
Which ones are strong suggestion?
Which ones are necessary?
Which are for ability?


1. Can is for capability...(maqdera). I can quit (if I want to). I can drive (if I have a car) I can visit you (if I have the time).....

2. Should is for suggestion (iqtirah). You should quit smoking (because it's unhealthy). You should take a jacket (because it's cold).

3. Ought to is for strong suggestion. You ought to take an umbrella with you because it might rain. (It's a suggestion....you don't have to take the umbrella).

4. Must and have to. Used for neccesaity (daroureya). I must finish my homework = I have to finish my homework.

5. Might is for possibility. (yimkin). I might quit smoking if you help me to.

But look at this sentence and say what it means:

The lights are on, the window is open and his car is parked. He must be at home.
It means that bedam el nour menawar wa el shoubak maftouh wa 3arabeyetu markouna...yiba'a AKEED howa fee el house.

Compare these two sentences:

You must read the newspaper now.
Must you read the newspaper now?

eh el fark? taba3an fee the obvious difference in wahda statment wa el tanya so'al (question).

The statement is straight forward...lazem ti'ra el newspaper delwaty.
In the question, it means lazem ti'ra delwaty? (ya3nee bil logha el 3am...HABAKIT tir'a delwaty!)

And these two sentences:

Could you drive me downtown?
Would you drive me downtown?

Could (the past of can and a more polite way of requesting) if the person has the capability (3andu el car? 3andu el waqt?)

Would (the past of will) if the person has the willingness (el ista3dad...3andu already el car, wa 3andu el waqt...but does he have the willingness?)




It's sometimes a bit confusing how to use these modal verbs because it depends on what you want to say and to the degree of certainty.....
But at least learn that the structure is:

can or should or must + base verb:

I can take you to dinner.
He should take you to dinner.
We must take you to dinner.

ought to and have to are already in infinitive:
I ought to take you to dinner.
They have to take you to dinner.

Practice Link:
http://http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal1.htm

For more explination and practice:
http://http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/grammar/archive/modal_verbs01.html