When used in conversational interaction, modal verbs may take on special functions in speech acts such as granting permission, giving directives, making promises and expressing wishes, thereby bringing about change in the pragmatic relationship between speaker and addressee. Thus ‘volition’ and ‘prediction’ may be used to express a personal commitment, as in:

‘Possibility’ ascribed to the addressee may become an invitation:

‘Permission’ is expressed by:

Questioned ‘ability’ may form part of a request:

Requests and other speech acts are mitigated by the preterite form kon could, as in:

Moet must may constitute a command (6a) and moenie must.not.AUX.MOD a request or prohibition (6b) if directed at the addressee, as in:

If the speaker wishes to cancel or relax the necessity of the action, hoef ... te need may be used, as in:

A prediction can become a promise, as in:

If a future action is foisted on the addressee as if it were a certainty, the result may be as forceful as a command. This interpretation is ensured by adding emphasis to sal.

Sal, also mitigated by the preterite sou, would serve as a polite request:

Mag may and moet must are employed in wishes, the latter more colloquially: