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Modality

This document summarizes the meanings and functions of different modal verbs in English based on speaker orientation. It divides modal verbs into categories such as giving permission, asking permission, asking for things, offering advice, making threats or warnings, expressing determination, offering or inviting, accepting or refusing invitations, agreeing or refusing requests, and more. For each category it lists examples of modal verbs commonly used in that context.

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VirginiaEspinosa
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985 views

Modality

This document summarizes the meanings and functions of different modal verbs in English based on speaker orientation. It divides modal verbs into categories such as giving permission, asking permission, asking for things, offering advice, making threats or warnings, expressing determination, offering or inviting, accepting or refusing invitations, agreeing or refusing requests, and more. For each category it lists examples of modal verbs commonly used in that context.

Uploaded by

VirginiaEspinosa
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODALITY MEANING/FUNCTION MODAL VERB

SPEAKER- ORIENTED Giving Permission Can, may, could, might.

Asking Permission Can? could? may? might? will


you let me?
would you let me?

Begging Permission Can´t I ? couldn´t I ? Won´t you


let me ?
Refusing Permission Can´t, may not, won´t , shan´t, I
won´t let you, you mustn´t.

Asking for things Can, could, may, might, would.

Asking for information Can, could, will, would.

Requesting action Can, could, can´t, couldn´t, will,


won´t, would.
Must, mustn´t, should,ought to,
Advice
shouldn´t, oughtn´t to, could,
couldn´t, might, would, wouldn
´t, mightn´t.
Threatening/Warning Will, shall

Expressing determination Will, shall, must

Offering Can? could? may? shall? would


you like me to ?
Invitation Will, would, won´t, wouldn´t,
can, could, shall we, I thought
you might like to, would you
like to ?
Accepting invitations Will, can, would love to, should
love to.
Refusing invitations Can´t, couldn´t, won´t/shan´t be
able to.
Agreeing to a request Can, will.
Refusing a request Can´t, couldn´t, won´t, shan´t.
Expressing reluctance Could, might, shouldn´t, oughtn
´t to.
Instant decision Will, won´t, might.
Volunteering Will, can, could, shall I?
Promising Will, shall
(Newly designed by Virginia Espinosa)

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