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)