Start with short recordings, then work through longer phrases. Listen once for the situation and again for the words.
Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb. Use modals such as can, should, and might before a base verb to show ability, advice, obligation, or possibility. Use be, do, and have as other auxiliaries to build forms such as is working, did arrive, and has finished.
Use modal + be + past participle for a modal passive. Say The report should be finished today or The keys may be found at reception. The thing receiving the action comes first.
Use should or ought to plus a base verb for ordinary advice: "You should call first." Use had better plus a base verb when the advice is urgent or a bad result is likely: "You'd better call first."
Must gives a strong instruction or personal sense of duty. Have to often reports an outside requirement. Need to says that an action is necessary. After must, use a base verb. Have to and need to use to before the verb.
Use can for ordinary permission, could for a more careful request, may in formal requests or rules, and must not or cannot when an action is forbidden.
Use can for present ability or permission, could for past ability or a polite request, should for advice, must for a strong rule or necessary action, and might for a possibility. Put the modal before the base verb: You should check the address.
Modal verbs are helping verbs that add meaning to a main verb. Use can for ability or permission, could for a polite request or past ability, should for advice, must for a strong requirement, and might for possibility. After most modal verbs, use the base form of the next verb.
A money idiom is a fixed figurative phrase about money. Learn its usual meaning as one unit. For example, break the bank means cost more than someone can reasonably afford, not damage a bank.
Understand a money idiom as a complete phrase. Break the bank means cost more than someone can afford or wants to spend. Tighten your belt means reduce spending for a period. The event around the phrase shows which meaning fits.
Read the whole sentence, decide what it means, and then check the grammar pattern around the doubtful word. Look especially for the subject and verb, a noun's determiner, a verb's next form, and a required preposition.
Say You must attend the interview when attendance is required. Say You can attend the interview when attendance is possible or allowed.
Use myself when it points back to I, as in I taught myself to swim, or when you want emphasis, as in I myself wrote the note. Use me when another person acts on you or after a preposition: Please send the note to me.