Indicating obligation and willingness
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Using modal verbs to indicate obligation | page 5 of 5 |
Indicating low obligation
With low obligation, the person referred to (often the hearer) has the most choice. This can be glossed as permission.
Only two modals (can, may) are typically used to grant permission (which may or may not have been requested in the first place):
You can borrow my pen if you like. (Bank of English)
Since today is a special day you may play in my study while I work there. (Microconcord Corpus B)
Note that when permission is denied, eg you cannot, you may not, the force of the modality becomes high requirement:
A: May I go and watch TV now? B: No, you can't. Go and finish your homework.
Introduction
Indicating low obligation
