Apart from the core modal verbs, some other common verbs express modal meaning.
Verbs expressing possibility
These verbs express possibility and likelihood:
appear | feel | know | reckon | suppose |
believe | gather | look | seem | tend |
expect | guess | promise | sound | think |
Iexpectto be back home by 6.
Ithinkthe meeting is about to start.
Isupposewe’d better go.
Ipromiseyou that I will continue to listen and, where I can, I will do my best.
Appear,feel,look,seemandsoundwithit
We often useitwithappear, feel, look, seemandsoundwhen the following clause is the subject of the verb.Itanticipates the subject:
It appearsthat they won’t be able to sell the house.
It seemslike I was dreaming.
It feelsmore comfortable in here than in the kitchen.
Verbs expressing obligation
These verbs express obligation, permission and necessity:
allow | force | make | permit | require |
demand | involve | mean | prohibit | want |
forbid | let | oblige |
There aren’t any flights thatallowsmoking.
Milliemadeus walk back.
Do youwanthim to come and work here?
See also:
Allow,permitorlet?
Can
Let: permission
Make
Mean
Must
Ought to
Permitorpermission?
Should
Want