Seinfeld: the Friars Club

(modals -- meaning / form)

* MODALS * PRACTICE * WRITE

PROBABILITY	ADVISIBILITY
MAY/MIGHT/COULD
POSSIBILITY (MAYBE ) That might be the stupidest thing you've ever said. Could she be an 'it'? She could be an 'it'. We might have an 'it'! I can't call the cops, because Joey might find out. Well, he kind of moved his head, you know. It might have been on the zip up, I don't know. Maybe she'll sweeten.	PERMISSION
MUST
LOGICAL CONCLUSION / EMPATHY That must be some book! How embarrassing this must be for you He probably went out the back.	NECESSITY I have to return it after the show. You have to sweeten too! Listen, we'll have to do this again some other time, okay? I've got a lot of work to do The jacket. It's not here. It's got to be here somewhere. You've got to help me. I've got to deal with Pat Cooper! Get your coat, we've got to take you in. You've got to meet me at the police station all gentlemen are required to wear jackets in the dining room
SHOULD/OUGHT TO
LOGICAL EXPECTATION	ADVICE/OBLIGATION I'd better get going CRITICISM/REGRET
CAN/COULD
ABILITY I'm telling you, I can coach for the NFL. It's not that hard He says he can't hear I just hope I can get it to the Friars Club before the show. .. knock off a little early, so you both can get ready. Can you believe it?! You can't argue with that I can't call the cops, because Joey might find out. I can't. I'm stuck. ..... tried to see if he could hear me. The cleaner said you could pick it up tonight at six. IMPOSSIBILITY	PERMISSION You and Bob can knock off a little early, so you both can get ready. Can I call my lawyer? OPTION You know what, we could have dinner at the Friars Club. We could be like the Gatsbys. If you and Hallie want, we could try and hold it, maybe... So, let's go get some coffee, huh? Let's call Susan;
WILL/WOULD
FUTURE Imagine how much more you'll accomplish. I'm sure it'll turn up. I'm sure it won't. Yeah, we'll see. Because if she gets it back, then you'll have no reason to be sour. I'll see you at the wedding She won't sweeten, and I'm bitter If I live to be eighty, I will have lived the equivalent of 105 years. Well, what am I going to do? She's going to get the jacket back. Do you think they're going to let a jacket-stealer join? They're going to charge me eight hundred dollars for the jacket She said she was going to get it back. ... Bob Grossberg who's joining us from Business Affairs I'm having lunch with Mr P. she's a murderer and I'm calling the cops! PAST HABIT:	WILLINGNESS (OFFER) Alright, I'll see you later. Don't worry. I'll get the jacket back. I'm a little tired. I think I'll go home Yeah, we'll do it another time. George, we'll go Tell them I'll come down and talk to them. You'll de-sour, right? I'll try and de-sour I'll try! I'll try and de-sour and sweeten We'll go have coffee. We'll leave it here for you! Pat Cooper said he would put me up for membership REFUSAL
CAN/COULD/WILL/WOULD
OFFER REQUEST Could you repeat that? Do you think you could give me a hand with some of the catalogue? Listen, do me a favor, will you? I'd like to begin with a hearty "hail and well-met good fellow" to Bob Grossberg I'd like to try that earpiece on, to see if it's real How would you kind people like to lend me a hand with our next trick? Knock on my door Wake me up in twenty minutes, all right? Please, follow me Please, take off your jacket. Do it. Come on, Jerry. Give him the jacket Tell them I'll come down and talk to them. Jerry, bring the jacket back tomorrow Wait a minute, wait a minute. Look at that guy That's my jacket; give it back. Get your coat, we've got to take you in. Okay, go ahead. Never mind. Elaine, you do it. Well, she's smart. You take my word for it. Why don't you handle all the copy-editing? I want you to handle all the fact-checking and the copy-editing for the new catalogue.