Scarica Modal Verbs: Understanding Epistemic and Deontic Modality e più Dispense in PDF di Lingua Inglese solo su Docsity! M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Scienze della Comunicazione Economia e Diritto per le Imprese e le Pubbliche Amministrazioni Lingua Inglese B Modality Lesson 9 – 28 March 2019 M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Modal Verbs A closed class: Will Can May Shall Must Dare (to) Would Could Might Should Need (to) Ought (to) M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Modal Verbs Epistemic (propositional) modality Expresses a level of probability that a proposition or event is true and/or will occur: Will – Shall – Must – Should - Ought to – Can – Could – May – Might M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Modal Verbs Epistemic (propositional) modality A present or future (never a past) meaning when used with the simple infinitive: I might go – I should go A conjectural or contra-factual sense when used with the perfect infinitive: He may have done it. It can’t have happened. M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Modal Verbs Deontic modality Relates to ability, permission, volition and obligation: Can – May – Will – Must – Shall - Should Generally, a present and/or future sense M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Will Epistemic Modality ● ● I will see you tomorrow. (Future reference –High Probability) Will you be there tomorrow? (Future reference –High Probability) Deontic Modality ⚫ ● ● I will do it when I have time (Volition) Will you help me, please? (Volition) M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Would Epistemic Modality ● ● I would do that if I had time. (Future reference –High Probability) Would you go if you had the chance? (Future reference –Level of Probability) Deontic Modality ⚫ ● I would like to go on holiday (Volition) As he was unsure, he would not decide. (Volition) M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Can Epistemic Modality ● ● ● I can see you tomorrow. (Future –High Probability) You can eat very well in this restaurant. (Generic Possibility) It can't be him. (Contra-factual) Deontic Modality ⚫ ● ● Can I ask a question? (Permission) I can speak English. (Ability) You cannot smoke in this room (Prohibition) M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Might Epistemic Modality ⚫ ⚫ I might see you tomorrow. (Future –Lower Probability) You might eat very well in this restaurant. (Generic Possibility –Lower Probability) Deontic Modality ⚫ Might I ask a question? (Permission) M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Shall Epistemic Modality ⚫ I shall see you tomorrow. (Future –High Probability) Deontic Modality ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ You shall be here at 6.00 o'clock. (Obligation) Shall I help you? (Offer) Shall we have lunch? (Invitation) M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Should Epistemic Modality ⚫ ● ● I should see you tomorrow. (Future –High Probability) You should eat very well in this restaurant, if the new chef is there. I should speak English, but I do not. (Probability) Deontic Modality ● ⚫ ⚫ You should register by the end of the week. (Moral obligation) Should I ask a question? (Volition) If you can, you should speak English. (Conditional) M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Need (to) Deontic Modality ⚫ ⚫ ● ● ● You need to register by the end of the week.(Necessity/obligation) Need I be there tomorrow? (Necessity/obligation) Do I need to be there tomorrow? (Necessity/obligation) I needn't speak English. (No necessity/obligation) I don't need to speak English. (No necessity/obligation) M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Ought to Epistemic Modality ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ I ought to see you tomorrow. (Future –High Probability) You ought to eat very well in this restaurant, if the new chef is there. I ought speak English, but I do not. (Probability) Deontic Modality ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ You ought to register by the end of the week. (Moralobligation) Ought I (to) ask a question? (Volition) If you can, you ought to speak English. (Conditional) M Hammersley – 28 Mar 2019 Dare (to) Deontic Modality ● ● ● ● ● ● ⚫ Dare I ask a question? (Volition) Do I dare to ask a question? (Volition) I dare to speak English. (Volition) *I dare speak English. I daren't speak English. (Volition) I don't dare to speak English. (Volition) I dare say you speak English. (Fixed, idiomatic expression)
