BASIC RULE:- Will, Can,Shall are verbs used to describe the sentence or speech in Present tense. Would - is past for "Will" and used for Past tense. Could - is past for "Can" and used for Past tense. Should - is past for "Shall" and used for Past tense. --------------------------------------… Will- a wish with certainity or surity. WILL = I will do the the work for you. (It means, at the moment or now ,certainly I will do the work for you) WOULD (past of 'will) = If I were at home with you, I would do the work for you. (it means,if I were present at the time you were doing the work,I would have done it for you.) --------------------------------------… Can - is able or is capable. CAN= I can do the work for you but it depends on my mood. (it means, I am capable to do the work as required,but I may or may not do the work. If I feel like doing the work,I will do the work and if I feel like not doing the work, I will not do it.) COULD (past of 'Can') = I could do the work for you,but I wanted to sleep. (it means, I am capable of doing that work,but I didn't do because I wanted to sleep) --------------------------------------… Shall - may or may not (a wish of uncertainity-may be or may be not) SHALL = If I get extra time,I shall do the work for you. ( it means, I may do the work for you,if I have sometime left after I complete my work,else if I have no time, I may not do the work.) SHOULD (past of 'shall') = I had an extra time,I should have done the work for you. (it means, I could have done the work because I had some extra time on hand,but even then I didn't do the work for you.

Was is singular and applies to one person. Were is plural and applies to more than one person. (except in singular "you were") eg I was ready, but you three were not ready. "Were" is also the past subjunctive of the verb "to be" for all persons i.e. "If I were in charge, I would fire her." "If she were here, you would see her." "I wish I were rich." WAS is singular and WERE is plural.