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