Friends: The One Where Phoebe Runs

NBC -- [Nov. 11, 1999, NBC]

(modals -- meaning / form)

* MODALS * PRACTICE * WRITE


PROBABILITY
ADVISIBILITY
MAY/MIGHT/COULD
POSSIBILITY (MAYBE )
In such close quarters, it could be trouble.
I really think I might kill someone tonight.
I think I might even try to get out of here early.

Maybe I should stop doing that.

PERMISSION
I couldn't say that I was naked because she's allowed to see me naked
MUST
LOGICAL CONCLUSION / EMPATHY
NECESSITY
We must focus.

I have to tie my shoe, so you go ahead.
Oh and look, there's still one box that I have to unpack.
you just reminded me that I have to do my stretches too.
because when you have to move back in with Joey,
I have to do it myself.
I have to do something to repel this woman!
Why does anyone have to be naked?

I had to show Chandler something?

We've got to get everything back into its original place.
Yeah, I've got to go.

SHOULD/OUGHT TO
LOGICAL EXPECTATION
ADVICE/OBLIGATION
Do you know what we should do?
We should start with the big stuff, you know?
Maybe I should stop doing that.

Yeah and you'd better watch the flirting too
I'd better hit the shower.

Why don't you come with me?!
Why don't you just be straight with her?
Why don't you try to do- ...

let's switch Okay, let's go running!
Let's run towards them!
That's not running! Let's go!
Let's start with the couch.
All right, let's just get this out in the open okay?

Wait, I just said "leave."
Forget it.
All right, wait just one more second.
Please leave a message
Now wait a minute.
Oh, hey let me.
Hey, look at all the boxes!
Wait a minute ... Joey.
All right, think about it.
Now imagine you live at the supermarket.
you go ahead.
Tell her the truth.
Believe me, I lived with her for 16 years.
Look, just come back later.
Imagine yourself living in a supermarket
Hey! Look out for the horse!
All right, hold on okay?

Yeah, yeah man don't do it.
and don't even get me started on the refrigerator magnets!
Okay look, don't be mad, okay?

CRITICISM/REGRET
I should not have lied to you.
So, what should you have done?
Well, I should've told you the truth.
CAN/COULD
ABILITY
By the year 2030, there'll be computers that can carry out
And I just realized I can sleep with my eyes open.
So you can move them!
"When can you move in?"
I cannot wait to ask her out!
I don't think I can ever run again, ever!
And I can!
Joey's hot new roommate can come live with me.
And then I can just walk over here and casually just put my feet ...
I can see why running with me would be embarrassing ..

You lied so you could run by yourself.
I was actually just checking to see if I could run.
you could not stop talking about the Irish potato famine
I couldn't say that I was naked because ...

So theoretically you could download your thoughts and memories
    into this computer and live forever as a machine.

IMPOSSIBILITY

Oh come on, come on, it can't be that bad.

PERMISSION
OK, fine, fine, we can switch.
Can we finish this later?
Joey you can't ask her out.
If you date her, then I can't date her.
I can't date her!
you can come back later
Hey Phoebe, can I talk to you for a second?
You can't come in here!.


OPTION
WILL/WOULD
FUTURE
it'll be fun.
We'll run in the park.
It'll be like our first, you know, roommate bonding thing.
By the year 2030, there'll be computers that can carry out ...
It'll be way too complicated.
We'll see.
You know, actually, this'll work out well,
That'll be the easiest.

then the back of the couch won't line up with he back of the carpet.
then the coffee table won't be centered in the seating area.
But people that you don't know and will never see again.
Imagine yourself living in a supermarket and you will understand
So it said that by the year 2030, there'll be computers that ....

She's going to be my new roommate!
Yeah, she's going to live with me!
Well, that's going to be tough Mon.
I know she's going to want to run again.
Monica's going to be working late,
so I'm going to make this place spotless.
You know what else I'm going to do?
I'm going to go downstairs.
I'm going to get her some flowers.
I'm going to put everything back.
Yes I'm going to put it back exactly where I found it.
She's not going to care if I put her stuff back in the same ...
She is going to recognize that I did a nice thing and appreciate it.
She is going to freak out.
she's going to sit on you.
I'm going to call her right now ...
The only thing that's getting me through
    is knowing that I'm going to be seeing you soon.
All right. Look, what am I going to do?
Monica's going to kill you!
I'm never going to find love again.

... run so fast you thought your legs were going to fall off?
Listen, I was going to order some pizza.

So the question is, what do we do?

PAST HABIT:
After everything he said, he'd go "ba dum bum chessh"
She used to kiss his poster every night before she went to bed.
Oh! I used to do that too


WILLINGNESS (OFFER)
I'll catch up.
Well, I think I'll go and unpack
And I'll prove it to you.
OK well here, we'll just move the coffee table closer to the couch.
We'll get everything squared away and you can come back later.

REFUSAL
CAN/COULD/WILL/WOULD
OFFER

REQUEST
Hey everybody! I'd like you to meet Janine.
Is it okay for me to come in now?


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Ann Salzmann
Intensive English Institute
University of Illinois