Modal auxiliary verbs

Modal auxiliary verbs - functions

We could change the colour, I suppose.
1. ability
2. suggestion
3. request
4. permission
Could I take a look at that?
1. ability
2. suggestion
3. request
4. permission
Could you give me a hand with this?
1. ability
2. suggestion
3. request
4. permission
He could swim by the time he was four.
1. ability
2. suggestion
3. request
4. permission
Would you like some more tea?
1. invitation
2. offer
3. request
4. suggestion
Would you like me to call you a taxi?
1. invitation
2. offer
3. request
4. suggestion
Woul you let me know as soon as possible?
1. invitation
2. offer
3. request
4. suggestion
Would you mind putting cups away?
1. invitation
2. offer
3. request
4. permission
Would you mind if I opened the window?
1. invitation
2. request
3. offer
4. permission
Would you like to go for a coffee?
1. invitation
2. request
3. permission
4. request
I'll cook tonight - it's my turn.
1. invitation
2. offer
3. request
4. suggestion
Will you have another drink?
1. invitation
2. offer
3. request
4. permission
Can you speak German?
1. permission
2. request
3. ability
4. suggestion
Can I get you a drink
1. permission
2. ability
3. request
4. offer
Can I borrow the car tomorrow night?
1. ability
2. request
3. suggestion
4. permission
The phone's ringing. It could be Michael. He said he'd ring.
1. permission
2. ability
3. possibility (certainty)
4. request
May I see the letter?
1. permission
2. request
3. ability
4. suggestion
These figures look odd - there may be a mistake.
1. ability
2. possibility (certainty)
3. permission
4. suggestion
I'm afraid you can't smoke in here.
1. possibility (certainty)
2. request
3. permission
4. suggestion
It can't be six o'clock already. Your watch must be wrong.
1. permission
2. obligation (necessity)
3. possibility (certainty)
4. suggestion

More about grammar > modal auxiliary verbs

Online activities: notes

students' questions about modals
a list of questions posted and answered on the BBC Learning English website

Online activities: quiz

Multiple-choice modal auxiliary verbs quiz Ten-question, two-choice modals quiz (easy)	usingenglish.com grammar quizzes
modal auxiliary verbs - functions 20-question multiple-choice quiz where students identify functions from examples	eltbase English language quizzes
degrees of certainty Multiple-choice quiz on modals for expressing degrees of certainty	eltbase English language quizzes
Mixed modals quiz 10 question multiple-choice quiz. Modals for possibility, obligation, ability - examples relating to the past, present and future.	eltbase English language quizzes

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