126 English lessons that use modals

English Lesson: We've got to find a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

1. “We've got to find a viable alternative to fossil fuels.”

English Lesson: It must be great not having to answer to a boss.

2. “It must be great not having to answer to a boss.”

English Lesson: I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.

3. “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

English Lesson: You're supposed to reapply it every couple of hours.

4. “You're supposed to reapply it every couple of hours.”

English Lesson: Actually, if you could give us a few more minutes...?

5. “Actually, if you could give us a few more minutes...?”

English Lesson: Sir, I'm going to have to rescan this.

6. “Sir, I'm going to have to rescan this.”

English Lesson: You'd think that someone who's been in the military would be more disciplined.

7. “You'd think that someone who's been in the military would be more disciplined.”

English Lesson: Would you care to join me on the dance floor?

8. “Would you care to join me on the dance floor?”

English Lesson: I need to work off these love handles.

9. “I need to work off these love handles.”

English Lesson: You'll have to tell me more about it later.

10. “You'll have to tell me more about it later.”

English Lesson: As a salesperson, you have to be able to relate to a wide range of people.

11. “As a salesperson, you have to be able to relate to a wide range of people.”

English Lesson: After that, you just have to simmer it for an hour or so.

12. “After that, you just have to simmer it for an hour or so.”

English Lesson: I could care less about climbing the social ladder or whatever.

13. “I could care less about climbing the social ladder or whatever.”

English Lesson: I couldn't see because of the glare.

14. “I couldn't see because of the glare.”

English Lesson: I'd rather not open up that whole can of worms.

15. “I'd rather not open up that whole can of worms.”

English Lesson: If you could live in any period in history, which one would it be?

16. “If you could live in any period in history, which one would it be?”

English Lesson: I would set it for... 5:30?

17. “I would set it for... 5:30?”

English Lesson: Please note that all applications must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation.

18. “Please note that all applications must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation.”

English Lesson: We might as well make the most of it.

19. “We might as well make the most of it.”

English Lesson: All baggage must be stowed in the overhead container.

20. “All baggage must be stowed in the overhead container.”

English Lesson: Seat backs and tray tables must be placed in their upright and locked positions.

21. “Seat backs and tray tables must be placed in their upright and locked positions.”

English Lesson: I know it's tough going out there, but we need to keep pushing.

22. “I know it's tough going out there, but we need to keep pushing.”

English Lesson: I can assist you with that.

23. “I can assist you with that.”

English Lesson: Can you hold it in for a few more minutes?

24. “Can you hold it in for a few more minutes?”

English Lesson: You may have to hold my hand; I'm not that tech-savvy.

25. “You may have to hold my hand; I'm not that tech-savvy.”

English Lesson: You have to spend money to make money.

26. “You have to spend money to make money.”

English Lesson: You have to keep plugging away, you know?

27. “You have to keep plugging away, you know?”

English Lesson: Maybe a few of us can all chip in and get her something really nice for her baby shower.

28. “Maybe a few of us can all chip in and get her something really nice for her baby shower.”

English Lesson: You must be ecstatic!

29. “You must be ecstatic!”

English Lesson: Can you fit me in this afternoon?

30. “Can you fit me in this afternoon?”

English Lesson: I'd like to cash this. Do I need to fill out a deposit slip or anything?

31. “I'd like to cash this. Do I need to fill out a deposit slip or anything?”

English Lesson: I feel obligated to give at least three weeks' notice at my current job.

32. “I feel obligated to give at least three weeks' notice at my current job.”

English Lesson: There you go. You should be up and running now.

33. “There you go. You should be up and running now.”

English Lesson: You've got to be kidding me!

34. “You've got to be kidding me!”

English Lesson: I would have guessed that you were in your mid-twenties.

35. “I would have guessed that you were in your mid-twenties.”

English Lesson: You should have seen the look on his face. It was priceless!

36. “You should have seen the look on his face. It was priceless!”

English Lesson: Can I get a sip of that?

37. “Can I get a sip of that?”

English Lesson: I shall destroy all who dare to oppose me!

38. “I shall destroy all who dare to oppose me!”

English Lesson: You have to fill out a bunch of paperwork.

39. “You have to fill out a bunch of paperwork.”

English Lesson: It must be clogged.

40. “It must be clogged.”

English Lesson: Oh my God, you must be so excited!

41. “Oh my God, you must be so excited!”

English Lesson: Have no fear! I shall rescue you.

42. “Have no fear! I shall rescue you.”

English Lesson: May I offer you a complimentary dessert?

43. “May I offer you a complimentary dessert?”

English Lesson: You must feel quite a sense of accomplishment.

44. “You must feel quite a sense of accomplishment.”

English Lesson: How could you buy them without consulting with me?

45. “How could you buy them without consulting with me?”

English Lesson: It may not be too eco-friendly, but they're a lot easier to carry that way.

46. “It may not be too eco-friendly, but they're a lot easier to carry that way.”

English Lesson: Actually, can I get plastic instead?

47. “Actually, can I get plastic instead?”

English Lesson: Images on this site may not be used without my express written permission.

48. “Images on this site may not be used without my express written permission.”

English Lesson: You could cause permanent damage to your ears, you know.

49. “You could cause permanent damage to your ears, you know.”

English Lesson: As you can see, the advantages of the new site are, one, it's personalized.

50. “As you can see, the advantages of the new site are, one, it's personalized.”

English Lesson: I can adjust the temperature, if you want.

51. “I can adjust the temperature, if you want.”

English Lesson: I couldn't put it down.

52. “I couldn't put it down.”

English Lesson: Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

53. “Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated.”

English Lesson: I went to a doctor and got some antibiotics, but she said that it would take a few days for them to kick in.

54. “I went to a doctor and got some antibiotics, but she said that it would take a few days for them to kick in.”

English Lesson: A fugitive has been apprehended after attempting to escape from a Durham county jail.

55. “A fugitive has been apprehended after attempting to escape from a Durham county jail.”

56. “Oh, you shouldn't have!”

English Lesson: Can I get you something to drink? Coffee? Tea?

57. “Can I get you something to drink? Coffee? Tea?”

English Lesson: I could barely keep a straight face.

58. “I could barely keep a straight face.”

English Lesson: We might as well stock up.

59. “We might as well stock up.”

English Lesson: All reimbursement requests must be submitted by Dec. 8th.

60. “All reimbursement requests must be submitted by Dec. 8th.”

English Lesson: In retrospect, I probably should have known it was a scam.

61. “In retrospect, I probably should have known it was a scam.”

62. “Do you know whether that would be covered by my insurance?”

63. “Can I drop these off here?”

64. “You should definitely bring that up.”

65. “Excuse me. Would you mind watching over my stuff for me for just a minute?”

66. “You should put some stuff on it to keep it from getting infected, don't you think?”

67. “I must say, I've been quite impressed with the quality of the pictures that I've taken with it.”

68. “I don't want to hear any excuses. You need to take responsibility for yourself.”

69. “(Clear your throat) Can I have everyone's attention for a moment?”

70. “I seriously need to start sending out invitations soon.”

71. “Shouldn't a woman have the right to choose what she does with her own life?”

72. “This might sound sexist, but I do believe a woman should stay home and take care of the children.”

73. “Anant, can you load up the dishwasher?”

74. “All that sun must have really worn them out.”

75. “Could you go into a little more detail about how that works?”

76. “Can't you make an exception just this once?”

77. “Is that supposed to be his apartment?”

78. “Fine! I'll take it back!”

79. “Although, on the other hand, you might be better off waiting until the last minute.”

80. “You ought to go ahead and book it soon.”

81. “You can substitute plain yogurt for the sour cream if you want to make it lower-fat.”

82. “I might take you up on that.”

83. “I think I may have a decent chance of winning it.”

84. “You could have killed someone!”

85. “He could at least say 'hi' or something.”

86. “Can I get you something to drink?”

87. “Can you PLEASE cover my shift on Saturday?”

88. “I need to go get my prescription filled, so I'll be back in a while.”

89. “I can tell you put a lot of work into it.”

90. “You may want to consider hiring a personal trainer for a few sessions.”

91. “May I remind you that payment is due at the beginning of the month?”

92. “It wasn't as funny as I thought it would be.”

93. “I wouldn't mind seeing her again.”

94. “Guys, I have to talk to you.”

95. “Hold on — you might be able to recover it.”

96. “Great! Now I have to re-do it.”

97. “We could have just ordered one dish and split it.”

98. “It's an 8-hour drive, so we should leave here by nine o'clock.”

99. “Can you copy me on it as well?”

100. “Can I try these on?”

101. “I can't believe someone would do such a thing.”

102. “I'd better lock it up just in case.”

103. “There must be a lot of pollen.”

104. “If we all pitch in and help out, it shouldn't take too long.”

105. “Baby, would you mind giving me a hand with this?”

106. “We should do this again sometime soon.”

107. “I guess I might as well stick around and have one more.”

108. “You just need to get out there and talk to people more.”

109. “I'm trying to decide whether I should take my laptop.”

110. “I could really use a cup of coffee.”

111. “It may take up to three or four weeks for delivery.”

112. “You should have seen his face. He was so confused.”

113. “If you make less than $100,000, you should fill out form 1040-EZ.”

114. “Brian pointed out that we could just take his car to the airport and they can pick it up later.”

115. “At this point, I don't think there's much we can do about it.”

116. “You should always submit a cover letter, even if they don't ask for one.”

117. “I think you need to get your priorities straight.”

118. “Can you just stop it please?”

119. “Just because you can doesn't mean you should.”

120. “Sony has hinted that they may be introducing a new tablet computer at next week's conference.”

121. “Come on! Did you have to bring that up?”

122. “During the break between sections 1 and 2, if you need to use the restroom, you may do so.”

123. “You might have to refresh your browser.”

124. “We should sit down and go through the details later this week.”

125. “Listen - I know it's none of my business, but you should probably apologize to her.”

126. “I should get going.”