SOCIAL MODALS
The choice of modal depends partly on the social situation.
We often use formal language with strangers (people we don’t know)
and superiors (people with some power over us such as our employers, doctors,
and teachers).
We often use informal...
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SOCIAL MODALS
The choice of modal depends partly on the social situation.
We often use formal language with strangers (people we don’t know)
and superiors (people with some power over us such as our employers, doctors,
and teachers).
We often use informal language with our equals (our friends and family)
and subordinates (people we have some power over such as our employees or
children).
General requests (present and/or future):
Will you help me? (Informal Are you willing?)
Would you help me (Formal Are you willing?)
Can you help me? (Informal Are you able?)
Could you help me (Formal Are you able?)
Requests for permission (present and/or future):
May I leave the room? (Formal)
Might I leave the room? (Formal rarely used)
Could I leave the room? (Less formal
can I leave the room? (Informal)
Expressing suggestions, advice, warnings, and necessity (present and/or
future):
The choice of modal depends partly on the urgency of the message or
the authority of the speaker/writer or both.
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