Modals -- Seinfeld

Seinfeld

"The Chinese Restaurant"

(modals -- meaning / form)

PROBABILITY ADVISIBILITY

MAY/MIGHT/COULD

POSSIBILITY (MAYBE ) Well, maybe they were here from before.
Yeah, he probably bought it. PERMISSION

MUST

LOGICAL CONCLUSION / EMPATHY She must have waited and left because those people wouldn't get off the phone. NECESSITY No, they just have to get more cops on the force.
I have to make a very important call.
I have to get in touch with Tatiana!
Oh, well, I have to eat.
I have to wait here for Tatiana's call.
I've got to be at the table.
Everything's got to be just so, all the time, with you, doesn't it?
If we're making this movie, we've got to get a table immediately.

SHOULD/OUGHT TO

LOGICAL EXPECTATION ADVICE/OBLIGATION We should at least be clean.
I'll tell you what they should do.
They should combine the two jobs.
You should run for mayor.
It should be based on who's hungriest.
Should I do it, George?
I shouldn't even tell you.
You should come by.
You're not supposed to just chit-chat.
We're supposed to act in a civilized way. ..
I'd better tell him I'm expecting a call.
Jerry, get menus.
Find out what's going on.
Jerry, talk to that guy again.
Tell him we want to catch a movie and that we're late.
No, just bring me a plate and I'll eat here.
Give me the money.
Don't worry.
Shall we tell him we're leaving?
SUGGESTION:
Let's go someplace else.
Look. Let's stop fooling around.
Well, let's just order it to go and we'll eat it in the cab.
Let's just eat popcorn or something.
Let's just get out of here.
Look, why don't you two just go to the movies by yourself?
(CRITICISM)
We should have left earlier. I told you.

CAN/COULD

ABILITY There's nothing they can do.
I can't look at a menu now.
I just can't believe the way people are.
If anything happens here, can I count on you?
Oh, no, I can't do it.
Oh, I can't do that. It's a guy thing.
The women's movement just can't seem to make any progress in the world of bribery, can they?
If there's anything you can do to get us a table, we'd really appreciate it.
I don't see any way we can eat and make this movie.
I can't go anywhere.
Well, I can't go to a bad movie by myself!
Jerry, get menus so when we sit down we'll be able to order right away.
I couldn't have dinner with him.
DISBELIEF

PERMISSION Well, how can he do that?

OPTION

WILL/WOULD

FUTURE That'll be five, ten minutes.
Jerry, get menus so when we sit down we 'll be able to order right away.
They won't do anything.
In fact, you'll be giving them a story to tell for the rest of their lives.
I won't be long.
You're never going to stop crime.
We haven't got that much time if we 're going to make the movie.
I'm going to call Tatiana.
Are you going to be very long?
This is going to drive me crazy.
Are you going to be much longer?
I'm going to faint!
What are they going to do?
The two men who are standing behind me are going to give me 50 bucks.
I'm going to go walk around and see what dishes look good.
What am I going to say?
Now she's going to see him tomorrow and tell him she saw me ..
He's going to tell his wife,
His wife's going to call my mother ...
The chain reaction of calls this is going to set off!
I'm not going to eat that much!
Who's going to do it?
So when are we going to eat?
What, am I going to make sarcastic remarks to strangers?
Is Tatiana coming?
Hold this. I'm doing it.
I'm never coming back here again.
I'm counting your shrimps!
Where do you think you're going?
I'm not going to Skyburger.
I'm going to Skyburger.
So you 're not going?
If anything happens here, can I count on you?
If we decide to go at it.
There's 50 bucks in it for you if you do it.
The two men who are standing behind me are going to give me 50 bucks if I stand here and eat one of your egg rolls.
PAST HABIT: I used to go out with a guy who did it all the time. WILLINGNESS (OFFER) I'll tell you what.
You'll give me 50 bucks?
I'll give you $25 if you'll let me do it.
Just bring me a plate and I'll eat here.
I'll give you a table!
We'll divide it up three ways.
Well, let's just order it to go and we'll eat it in the cab.
We'll eat it in the movie.
Oh, I guess I'll just go to my uncle's.

REFUSAL She must have waited and left because those people wouldn't get off the phone.

CAN/COULD/WILL/WOULD

OFFER

REQUEST
If there's anything you can do to get us a table, we'd really appreciate it.

PREFERENCE
I'd rather lick the food off the floor.

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Ann Salzmann
Intensive English Institute
University of Illinois

PROBABILITY	ADVISIBILITY
MAY/MIGHT/COULD
POSSIBILITY (MAYBE ) Well, maybe they were here from before. Yeah, he probably bought it.	PERMISSION
MUST
LOGICAL CONCLUSION / EMPATHY She must have waited and left because those people wouldn't get off the phone.	NECESSITY No, they just have to get more cops on the force. I have to make a very important call. I have to get in touch with Tatiana! Oh, well, I have to eat. I have to wait here for Tatiana's call. I've got to be at the table. Everything's got to be just so, all the time, with you, doesn't it? If we're making this movie, we've got to get a table immediately.
SHOULD/OUGHT TO
LOGICAL EXPECTATION	ADVICE/OBLIGATION We should at least be clean. I'll tell you what they should do. They should combine the two jobs. You should run for mayor. It should be based on who's hungriest. Should I do it, George? I shouldn't even tell you. You should come by. You're not supposed to just chit-chat. We're supposed to act in a civilized way. .. I'd better tell him I'm expecting a call. Jerry, get menus. Find out what's going on. Jerry, talk to that guy again. Tell him we want to catch a movie and that we're late. No, just bring me a plate and I'll eat here. Give me the money. Don't worry. Shall we tell him we're leaving? SUGGESTION: Let's go someplace else. Look. Let's stop fooling around. Well, let's just order it to go and we'll eat it in the cab. Let's just eat popcorn or something. Let's just get out of here. Look, why don't you two just go to the movies by yourself? (CRITICISM) We should have left earlier. I told you.
CAN/COULD
ABILITY There's nothing they can do. I can't look at a menu now. I just can't believe the way people are. If anything happens here, can I count on you? Oh, no, I can't do it. Oh, I can't do that. It's a guy thing. The women's movement just can't seem to make any progress in the world of bribery, can they? If there's anything you can do to get us a table, we'd really appreciate it. I don't see any way we can eat and make this movie. I can't go anywhere. Well, I can't go to a bad movie by myself! Jerry, get menus so when we sit down we'll be able to order right away. I couldn't have dinner with him. DISBELIEF	PERMISSION Well, how can he do that? OPTION
WILL/WOULD
FUTURE That'll be five, ten minutes. Jerry, get menus so when we sit down we 'll be able to order right away. They won't do anything. In fact, you'll be giving them a story to tell for the rest of their lives. I won't be long. You're never going to stop crime. We haven't got that much time if we 're going to make the movie. I'm going to call Tatiana. Are you going to be very long? This is going to drive me crazy. Are you going to be much longer? I'm going to faint! What are they going to do? The two men who are standing behind me are going to give me 50 bucks. I'm going to go walk around and see what dishes look good. What am I going to say? Now she's going to see him tomorrow and tell him she saw me .. He's going to tell his wife, His wife's going to call my mother ... The chain reaction of calls this is going to set off! I'm not going to eat that much! Who's going to do it? So when are we going to eat? What, am I going to make sarcastic remarks to strangers? Is Tatiana coming? Hold this. I'm doing it. I'm never coming back here again. I'm counting your shrimps! Where do you think you're going? I'm not going to Skyburger. I'm going to Skyburger. So you 're not going? If anything happens here, can I count on you? If we decide to go at it. There's 50 bucks in it for you if you do it. The two men who are standing behind me are going to give me 50 bucks if I stand here and eat one of your egg rolls. PAST HABIT: I used to go out with a guy who did it all the time.	WILLINGNESS (OFFER) I'll tell you what. You'll give me 50 bucks? I'll give you $25 if you'll let me do it. Just bring me a plate and I'll eat here. I'll give you a table! We'll divide it up three ways. Well, let's just order it to go and we'll eat it in the cab. We'll eat it in the movie. Oh, I guess I'll just go to my uncle's. REFUSAL She must have waited and left because those people wouldn't get off the phone.
CAN/COULD/WILL/WOULD
OFFER REQUEST If there's anything you can do to get us a table, we'd really appreciate it. PREFERENCE I'd rather lick the food off the floor.