Grammar

Strong obligation

You must finish the verse today.

• Modal: must

• Function: Strong obligation

• Other uses: Necessity, Deduction

Informal permission

Can I use your headphones for a sec?

• Modal: can

• Function: Informal permission

• Other uses: Ability, Possibility

Polite request

Could I join the writing session later?

• Modal: could

• Function: Polite request

• Other uses: Past ability, Possibility

Possibility

It might rain during the shoot.

• Modal: might

• Function: Possibility

• Other uses: Weak possibility

Advice

You should take a quick break.

• Modal: should

• Function: Advice

• Other uses: Expectation, Recommendation

Ought to

You ought to send the song tonight.

• Modal: ought to

• Function: Strong advice

• Other uses: Moral obligation

Necessity

You must warm up your voice before going on stage.

• Modal: must

• Function: Necessity

• Other uses: Obligation, Deduction

Past ability

I could write three verses in an hour.

• Modal: could

• Function: Past ability

• Other uses: Polite request, Possibility

Past habit

I would practise in the mirror every night.

• Modal: would

• Function: Past habit

• Other uses: Polite request, Conditional

Suggestion

Shall we start with the chorus?

• Modal: shall

• Function: Suggestion

• Other uses: Future (formal), Offering help

Offering help

Shall I set up the mic for you?

• Modal: shall

• Function: Offering help

• Other uses: Suggestion

Formal permission

You may record in the second booth.

• Modal: may

• Function: Formal permission

• Other uses: Possibility

Logical deduction

He must be recording — I can hear his vocals.

• Modal: must

• Function: Logical deduction

• Other uses: Obligation, Necessity

Possibility

The track could flop if we don’t promote it well.

• Modal: could

• Function: Possibility

• Other uses: Past ability, Polite request

Formal permission

May I speak on this?

• Modal: may

• Function: Formal permission

• Other uses: Possibility

Possibility

We might not win this time.

• Modal: might

• Function: Possibility

• Other uses: Uncertainty

Suggestion

Shall we head home now?

• Modal: shall

• Function: Suggestion

• Other uses: Offer, Formal future

Polite request

Would you mind helping with the speaker?

• Modal: would

• Function: Polite request

• Other uses: Hypotheticals, Habitual past

Deduction

He must be exhausted — that session was long.

• Modal: must

• Function: Deduction

• Other uses: Obligation, Necessity

Prohibition

You must not bring food into the booth.

• Modal: must not

• Function: Prohibition

• Other uses: Obligation, Necessity

Daily habits, routines

• Example: I go for a walk and then write lyrics.
• Tense: Present Simple
• Structure: Subject + base verb
• Uses: Daily habits, routines
• Trigger Words: every day, in the morning, usually

General truths, facts

• Example: I rap better when the lights are dim.
• Tense: Present Simple
• Structure: Subject + base verb
• Uses: General truths, facts
• Trigger Words: always, generally, usually

Action happening now

• Example: I’m preparing my verse for tonight.

• Tense: Present Continuous
• Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing
• Uses: Action happening now
• Trigger Words: now, currently, at the moment

Temporary activity / near-future plans

• Example: I’m recording two new tracks this week.
• Tense: Present Continuous
• Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing
• Uses: Temporary activity / near-future plans
• Trigger Words: this week, these days

Completed action in the past

• Example: I recorded a freestyle and shared it with my team.
• Tense: Past Simple
• Structure: Subject + past verb
• Uses: Completed action in the past
• Trigger Words: yesterday, last night, in 2021

Life experience

• Example: Yes, I’ve forgotten my lyrics once during a show in Kumasi.
• Tense: Present Perfect
• Structure: Subject + have/has + past participle
• Uses: Life experience
• Trigger Words: ever, never, already, before

Duration from past till now

• Example: I’ve been making music for ten years.
• Tense: Present Perfect Continuous
• Structure: Subject + have/has been + verb-ing
• Uses: Duration from past till now
• Trigger Words: for, since

Future decisions, promises, predictions

• Example: I’ll review my setlist and pray.
• Tense: Future Simple
• Structure: Subject + will + base verb
• Uses: Future decisions, promises, predictions
• Trigger Words: tomorrow, next week, later

Planned future actions, predictions

• Example: I’m going to rehearse for my next performance.
• Tense: “Going to” Future
• Structure: Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb
• Uses: Planned future actions, predictions
• Trigger Words: going to, tomorrow, soon

Ongoing future action

• Example: I’ll be rehearsing at the studio.
• Tense: Future Continuous
• Structure: Subject + will + be + verb-ing
• Uses: Ongoing future action
• Trigger Words: at [future time], this time tomorrow

Past action completed before another past event

• Example: I had practised for two hours.
• Tense: Past Perfect
• Structure: Subject + had + past participle
• Uses: Past action completed before another past event
• Trigger Words: before, after, by the time

Ongoing action before a past event

• Example: I had been meditating in the dressing room.
• Tense: Past Perfect Continuous
• Structure: Subject + had been + verb-ing
• Uses: Ongoing action before a past event
• Trigger Words: for, since, before

Action completed before a future point

• Example: Yes, I’ll have mixed and mastered it by then.
• Tense: Future Perfect
• Structure: Subject + will have + past participle
• Uses: Action completed before a future point
• Trigger Words: by [time], before

Duration leading up to a future point

• Example: I’ll have been performing for over 15 years.
• Tense: Future Perfect Continuous
• Structure: Subject + will have been + verb-ing
• Uses: Duration leading up to a future point
• Trigger Words: for, by, since

Interrupted past action

• Example: I was editing a video.
• Tense: Past Continuous
• Structure: Subject + was/were + verb-ing
• Uses: Interrupted past action
• Trigger Words: while, when

Habits, scheduled events

• Example: I usually rehearse every evening for a week.
• Tense: Present Simple
• Structure: Subject + base verb
• Uses: Habits, scheduled events
• Trigger Words: always, usually, every

Action happening now

• Example: The producer is layering the vocals.
• Tense: Present Continuous
• Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing
• Uses: Action happening now
• Trigger Words: currently, at the moment

Future intent

• Example: I’ll take a short break and start planning the visuals.
• Tense: Future Simple
• Structure: Subject + will + base verb
• Uses: Future intent
• Trigger Words: after, when, soon

Finished past action

• Example: Yes, I went with my team on Saturday.
• Tense: Past Simple
• Structure: Subject + past verb
• Uses: Finished past action
• Trigger Words: last [day], ago, yesterday

Planned future event

• Example: Yes, I’m going to shoot it next week.
• Tense: “Going to” Future
• Structure: Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb
• Uses: Planned future event
• Trigger Words: going to, next week, soon