UNIT 9: MODAL AUXILIARIES
Introduction
Degrees of likelihood and requirement are very often expressed in interpersonal meaning. To do the job, a class of words known as modal auxiliaries are put to use. They are rather different from the regular lexical verbs. However, all modals and semi modals are finite as they are used in the same way as the more common lexical verbs. Some confusion arises from the tense that is used by the modals and the modality that also goes with it. In instances where modals are used to express future actions such as
"She will go to the market," her mother said.
Then the reported structure will be expressed using the pass tense form of will as in
Her mother said she would go to the market.
However, modals for the expression of likelihood and requirement operate on another level as the modals would and could may not indicate tense but a degree of the expressed intention.
Use of modals to express likelihood
The table below, adapted from Thompson ( 1996:57) shows the possible interpretations in the use of the modals for expressing likelihood which are sandwiched between the positive and the negative continuums.
She teaches Latin / PositiveM
O
D
A
L / She must teach Latin
She might teach Latin
She ought to teach Latin
She will teach Latin
She can teach Latin / No choice
Yes and no
No but yes in the future
No but yes if you want
No but yes is she wants to
She doesn’t teach Latin / Negation
Modals are but some linguistic devices used for this purpose. More to it are other expressions that can serve modality such as modal adjuncts - likely, definitely, obviously, sure, no doubt, and probably may be used to convey a degree of likelihood.
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Task 1
Go through Task 10a, p. 194 of the Text to identify the expressions of likelihood.
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Levels of Likelihood
In understanding the use of likelihood, we could look at the modals as being grouped into three basic levels.
They are high, mid and low as shown in examples given on p. 195 of the Text. The confusion may arise in the differences found when negation is used together with modality. For example, a high negative is found in the use of can't, but the use of can is rarely used in the expression of likelihood.
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Task 2
Go through Task 10b in the Text to categorise the use of modal auxiliaries in the expression of the different levels of likelihood.
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Making Deductions and Predictions
Aside from expressing likelihood, we could use modals more specifically in the context of making deductions and predictions. While predictions are typically about the future it can also be about the present and the past. Deductions, on the other hand, are typically about the present or past though they can be about the future ( Lock, 1996:196).
Examine the use of the modals in Table 10.1 (p. 197) to see the difference in use of the modals for the two purposes. You will notice that the modals are most of the time not interchangeable.
For example you can't say this in prediction:
*Unless anything unforeseen happens, they must arrive at about five to convey .
The same modals, however, are used in some instances. Meaning is clarified in context as in
v They may be there already. I can see a red car at the porch.(deduction)
v They may be there already. It only take a couple of hours. (prediction)
The use of the modals can typically be summarised as
must, can't / will, should, won't / may, might, could
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Task 3
Complete the dialogue below with appropriate modal auxiliaries.
Kamal met Hilmi, his old classmate at the airport.
Kamal: Hi Hilmi, I didn't expect to see you here. Where are you off to?
Hilmi: Oh, I'm going to India with my son. He is going to study medicine there. I _____ be there for a week to settle him in. What about you?
Kamal: I'm on a business trip to New York. After New York, I_____ visit Mastor in Canada. You _____ to remember him , he was the class clown. He has settled down in Canada.
Hilmi: How interesting! He's ______as jovial as ever and you _____l have a good time with him.
Kamal : I hope so. Don't you plan to visit other parts of India since you are there?
Hilmi: I _____. Nothing is fixed yet. It depends on my wife. If she is able to get leave then she is _____ to fly there and we _____ do a bit of travelling. We _____ fly to London instead to visit her brother.
Kamal: Well if you are in London, let me know. I _____ be coming back via London. We _____ contact Ms Lily, out former teacher who always send cards without fail asking about everybody. If we are there together, we ______have a great time exploring the place.
Hilmi: That _____ to give me a reason for visiting London. I was and still is very fond of Ms Lily. But unfortunately, I can't promise anything.
Suggested Answer
Kamal met Hilmi, his old classmate at the airport.
Kamal: Hi Hilmi, I didn't expect to see you here. Where are you off to?
Hilmi: Oh, I'm going to India with my son. He is going to study medicine there. I will be there for a week to settle him in. What about you?
Kamal: I'm on a business trip to New York. After new York, I'll visit Mastor in Canada. You ought to remember him , he was the class clown. He has settled down in Canada.
Hilmi: How interesting! He's probably as jovial as ever and you will have a good time with him.
Kamal : I hope so. Don't you plan to visit other parts of India since you are there?
Hilmi: I might. Nothing is fixed yet. It depends on my wife. If she is able to get leave then she is likely to fly there and we would do a bit of travelling. We may fly to London instead to visit her brother.
Kamal: Well if you are in London, let me know. I'll be coming back via London and we must contact Ms Lily, out former teacher who always send cards without fail asking about everybody. If we are there together, we would have a great time exploring the place.
Hilmi: That ought to give me a reason for visiting London. I was and still is very fond of Ms Lily. But unfortunately, I can't promise anything.
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Expressing likelihood based on conditions
In English, there is a distinction between how we express real and unreal conditions. The adverbial if clause is used to state the condition and complications arise very often with the use of would and will.. Examine the sentences for the expression of the two conditions and note the differences.
Real conditions ( possible situations)
· Their new life in America will be hard if they do not speak English. (simple present)
· If they practice daily, they may stand a good chance in the competition.
(present )
· My mother would be angry if she was absent. (past)
· My parents would be waiting at home if they were going to be late.
(Past continuous)
Unreal conditions (hypothetical situations)
· If he were a millionaire, he would quit his job immediately. ( future)
· If we were visiting Germany, I might look Hans up. ( future)
· Malaysia would certainly had gained independence earlier if Japan had not invaded the country. ( past perfect)
· If he had not been complaining, I would have taken him to the cinema. (past perfect continuous)
Making personal and impersonal judgements
In expressing personal opinions, process clauses of the cognition type is very often used and they can be combined with modals in another clause..
Examples
I'm sure he can't make it on time.
I think I'll give the party a miss.
Impersonal statements are found in structures such as those in postponed carriers. :
Examples
It is without doubt that the crime would be solved soon.
It is likely that the mail will be late today.
Modal auxiliaries for expressing requirement
When we express requirement, we can also think of it as having levels.
High: obligation or necessity
Mid: advice
Low: permission
Many of the modals used for requirement are also used in likelihood.
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Go through Task 10f , p. 207 in the Text to rank the modals used for the levels expressed in requirement.
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Others areas of modality
Aside from likelihood and requirement, there are also other areas of modality such as frequency, inclination, potentiality, and ability. Again the same modals are mostly used. The use of the modals may be ambiguous if there is insufficient context. The summary table on page 213 in the Text shows the possible forms used for all the modal meanings. As emphasised by Lock, the interpretation of use can vary considerably from context to context. The nature of the speech act needs to be understood such as the power and position of the interlocutors.
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Task 5
Given are three situations. Complete the dialogues in abut 50 words for each of the situations in which modals are used. Use as many of the modals listed in Table 10.3 as you can. Analyse the modals in terms of the meaning intended.
Situation 1
John is talking to May who asked him about the qualities that he will look for in choosing a wife.
May: We are conducting a survey about what man look for in choosing a
wife. Could you give us your opinion?
John: Well, ,my idea of a wife is she ………..
Situation 2
Kong and Larry are talking about a coming debate. They are representing their college but they do not have much confidence in winning. Param, their instructor, is giving them a great deal of encouragement.
Kong: At the rate things are going, I don't think we ………
Situation 3
Mr Berry is talking to his son, Albert, about what he might want to do after completing his degree. Albert is thinking about backpacking for a while before working. Mr Berry is encouraging him to enroll for a master programme.
Mr Berry: Now that you have completed your studies, what might be your
plans?
Albert: I don't see myself working straight away. I ……..
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Summary
The use of modals is of high frequency especially in the conveyance interpersonal meaning. There are many modal meanings which may be divided into sub-levels of intensity. Sometimes there are overlaps though the message may be disambiguated through the understanding of context and other characteristics of the speech environment. The degree of formality could be an influencing factor in the choice of modals and the accompanying structures.
Stress is yet another determinant. It would serve the language user well to fine tune the ability to recognise differences especially when the same modals are used for the expression of differing modal meanings.
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