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要, 想, and 可以

Make practical requests, wants, and permission sentences with three starter modal verbs.

Pattern

要/想/可以 + verb phrase

Use 要 for need/want, 想 for would like, and 可以 for permission or possibility.

我想喝茶。

When to use 要, 想, and 可以

要 is direct and can mean want or need. 想 is softer and more like “would like.” 可以 asks or grants permission and possibility.

你要买什么？

What do you want to buy?

这里可以坐吗？

May I sit here?

我要一杯水。

I want a glass of water.

我们可以进去。

We can go in.

Common traps

  • Do not translate every “can” as 会; permission often uses 可以.
  • Bare 要 can sound direct in requests.
  • Put the main verb after the modal.

Exercício direcionado

Pratique exatamente este padrão antes de avançar.

我 喝茶

Missing grammar piece
Significados
to want; would like