🔹 CAN (ability, permission) - *"I can swim very well."* (ability) - *"Can I borrow your pen?"* (informal permission) 🔹 COULD (past ability, polite requests) - *"She could play the piano when she was five."* (past ability) - *"Could you help me with this exercise?"* (polite request) 🔹 MAY (formal permission, possibility) - *"You may leave the classroom now."* (formal permission) - *"It may rain later."* (possibility) 🔹 MIGHT (uncertain possibility) - *"We might go to the beach tomorrow."* (less certain) - *"He might not come to the party."* (possible negative) 🔹 MUST (strong obligation – from the speaker) - *"You must wear a seatbelt in the car."* (rule) - *"I must finish this project today!"* (personal necessity) 🔹 HAVE TO (external obligation – rules/laws) - *"I have to wake up early for work."* (external rule) 🔹 HAD TO (past obligation) - *"I had to study all night for the exam."* (past necessity)