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Modality: Commands, Orders, Requests, Prohibitions, Invitations, Suggestions

The document discusses the modality and usage of various English modal verbs and expressions to convey commands, requests, prohibitions, intentions, obligations, permissions, probabilities, possibilities, abilities and achievements. It provides examples of how modal verbs like may, must, shall, will, can, could, ought to are used to express different meanings in a formal or informal manner. Various perfect infinitive constructions with modal verbs are also explained to discuss probabilities, possibilities or beliefs about past events or situations.

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Popescu Doru
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56 views

Modality: Commands, Orders, Requests, Prohibitions, Invitations, Suggestions

The document discusses the modality and usage of various English modal verbs and expressions to convey commands, requests, prohibitions, intentions, obligations, permissions, probabilities, possibilities, abilities and achievements. It provides examples of how modal verbs like may, must, shall, will, can, could, ought to are used to express different meanings in a formal or informal manner. Various perfect infinitive constructions with modal verbs are also explained to discuss probabilities, possibilities or beliefs about past events or situations.

Uploaded by

Popescu Doru
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODALITY

COMMANDS, ORDERS, REQUESTS, PROHIBITIONS, INVITATIONS, SUGGESTIONS

YOU MAY > annoyance, impatience WONT YOU > imperative + invitations SHALL> commands (official/biblical) CANNOT> not permitted to WOULD YOU> hesitation in request COULD/CAN> informal requests MAY/MIGHT> questions (more formal) MUST NOT> prohibition WISH + THAT + S + WOULD> personal request/informal
PROMISES, THREATS, REFUSALS

SHALL/WILL> strong WILL /WOULD> colloquial I WILL> strong promise/threat SHOULD> in THAT clauses + PROMISE
INTENTIONS, PLANS, ARRANGEMENTS

TO BE TO> arrangement (voluntary or involuntary) TO BE GOING TO> intention taken in present for future/// for external intentions use SHALL/WILL
OBLIGATION, NECESSITY

MUST> immediate or future obligation INTERNAL NEED NOT> absence of obligation or necessity HAVE TO> present obligation external HAVE NOT TO> absence of obligation TO BE TO> obligation OUGHT TO> desirability, moral obligation, duties SHOULD> advice, recommendation, obligation
PERMISSION

MAY>asking & giving permission MAY NOT> denying permission MUST NOT> prohibition CAN, COULD> colloquial MIGHT> more polite/hesitative
PROBABILITY

MUST> strong OUGHT/SHOULD> because of the condition, known facts GOING TO> feeling or considering likely WILL/WOULD> going to DARE SAY

POSSIBILITY

MAY> normal + no uncertainty due to natural arranged facts MIGHT> a future possibility + more uncertain than MAY CANNOT>impossibility + a belief in smth. being impossible MAY NOT> possibility + uncertainty CAN> questions on possibility
(NON)ABILITY & (NON)ACHIEVEMENT

CAN/COULD> normal COULD> past of CAN + future reference CAN> physical, mental ability BE ABLE TO> at a certain moment in the past MUST + PERFECT INFINITIVE >SUPPOSITIONS >CERTAINTY The Grand Canyon must have fascinated him WOULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE >PROBABILITY IN THE PAST Would he have tried the second time! SHOULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE >THE BELIEF THAT AN EVENT OR SITUATION WAS RIGHT OR DESIRABLE John should have studied harder! COULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE > POSSIBILITY IN THE PAST He could have become a good swimmer! MIGHT + PERFECT INFINITIVE > A SITUATION OR EVENT ADMITTED AS POSSIBLE They might have had a chance.

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