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All modals can be used to refer to future time in some way or another. Take a look at these examples:
I must go and see the doctor soon
Maybe the decision was made at the time of speaking, but the
appointment with the doctor
is coming soon.
Will you still love me when I’m old and grey?
The speaker wants an answer to his/her question now, but the sentence refers to some time
in the (distant) future.
We should get somebody to come and fix our shower.
Again,
decision made now, but it’s unclear when the person is coming to do the job.
We might have to sell the car if you lose your job!
Maybe the car will stay, maybe not. But for now they have it,
though in the future maybe
not!
You would need to take an exam before you started this job.
The job has not started yet, and it can’t start if the listener doesn’t do the exam soon.
The problem with modal verbs in the future is that we need other verbs to “help” them. This is because
we cannot have two modals together in the same sentence. To solve this problem, we need to use a
semi-modal:
She will be able to type very fast when she finishes her course.
It will be possible to cross the river when they fix the bridge.
I would be allowed to drink alcohol if I was an adult.
We must be allowed to talk to the Prime Minister before we leave!
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