Modals and Requests
Use 要, 想, 可以, 能, 会, and 一下 without flattening every “can.”
Goal
Learners can make wants, permissions, abilities, and soft requests distinct.
Make three new sentences with this module’s grammar pattern and support words.
Focus
Useful examples
我想问一下。
Wǒ xiǎng wèn yíxià.
I would like to ask briefly.
这里可以坐吗？
Zhèlǐ kěyǐ zuò ma?
May I sit here?
要, 想, and 可以
Make practical requests, wants, and permission sentences with three starter modal verbs.
Practice sentences
我要一杯水。
I want a cup of water.
Use 要 to say you want or need something.
我想喝茶。
I want to drink tea.
Use 想 before a verb to say what you want to do.
这里可以坐吗？
May I sit here?
可以 asks whether something is allowed.
今天我不能去。
Today I cannot go.
能 can depend on circumstances.
Try a few cards from this module
Keep this path moving
Create an account to save this path, then choose a plan to review future cards. Every plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Module word list
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level | Dictionary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 要 | yào | to want; to need; to ask for |
HSK 2.0 2
HSK 3.0 1
|
Dictionary |
| 想 | xiǎng | to think (about) |
HSK 2.0 1
HSK 3.0 1
|
Dictionary |
| 可以 | kě yǐ | can |
HSK 2.0 2
HSK 3.0 1
|
Dictionary |
| 能 | néng | can |
HSK 2.0 1
HSK 3.0 1
|
Dictionary |
| 会 | huì | can |
HSK 2.0 1
HSK 3.0 3
|
Dictionary |
| 一下 | yí xià | a bit; briefly |
HSK 2.0 2
HSK 3.0 2
|
Dictionary |
| 请 | qǐng | to ask |
HSK 2.0 1
HSK 3.0 1
|
Dictionary |
| 帮忙 | bāng máng | to help |
HSK 2.0 3
HSK 3.0 2
|
Dictionary |
| 买 | mǎi | to buy |
HSK 2.0 1
HSK 3.0 1
|
Dictionary |
| 坐 | zuò | to sit |
HSK 2.0 1
HSK 3.0 1
|
Dictionary |