The forms and functions of modal verbs

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE, YOUTH AND SPORTS OF UKRAINE

TERNOPIL V.HNATYUK NATIONAL PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

 

 

 

 

English Philology Department

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE FORMS AND FUNCTIONS OF MODAL VERBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                         COURSE PAPER 

by the 3^rd   year student

group PhE-32

Foreign Languages Department

Harasivka Lyudmyla

 

                                                                         SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISOR

Yarema O.B.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TERNOPIL – 2011

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………3

CHAPTER I. THE FORMS AND FUNCTIONS OF MODAL VERBS………....5

1.1. General notions about the modal verbs ………..………………………5

1.2. The forms and functions of the modal verbs …………………………..7

      1.2.1. The modal verbs can and may……………………………………7

      1.2.2. The modal verb must…………………………………………....13

      1.2.3. The modal verbs should and ought to…………………….......…15

      1.2.4. The modal verbs shall and will………………………………….17

      1.2.5. The modal verbs need and dare…………………………………20

      1.2.6. The modal verbs to have to, to be to, to have got to…………….22

CHAPTER II. THE ANALYSIS OF MODAL VERBS IN THE BOOK “THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON CRUSOE” BY DANIEL DEFOE……………………………………………………………………………25

CONCLUSIONS………………………………………………………………….34

REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

Our course paper deals with the forms and functions of modal verbs. It is very important to realize that modal verbs play a decisive role in the English language. They do not denote actions or states, but only show the attitude of the speaker towards the action expressed by the infinitive in combination with which they form compound modal predicates. These modal verbs may show that the action (or state, or process, or quality) is viewed by the speaker as possible, obligatory, doubtful, certain, permissible, advisable, requested, prohibited or ordered.

The object of our research paper is the process of analysis of usage of modal verbs in the English literature.

The subject of our investigation is to define peculiarities of different forms and functions of modal verbs in the book “The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe.

The aim of our work is to determine the basic principles of the forms and functions of modal verbs and to specify the main aspects of its realization in the book “The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe.

To achieve the aim the following tasks have been put forward:

1. to determine the definition of the modal verbs and to point out general notions about them;
2. to describe the most common forms and functions of modal verbs;
3. to analyze the usage, forms and functions of modal verbs in the book “The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe.

         The material that serves as empirical facilitator for our investigation is the book “The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe.

Our course paper consists of Introduction, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Conclusions and References.

The Introduction grounds the actuality of the problem, defines the object and subject of investigation, gives the structure of the work.

Chapter I is a brief essay of theory and information about the modal verbs, their forms and functions of modal verbs in the sentence.

In Chapter II the focus is on the usage of the modal verbs in the book “The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe. The examples of the sentences where different forms and functions of modal verbs are used are given in the Chapter II.

Conclusions contain the description of the major results of our research.

In Reference list views the scientific researches and other sources of literature that have been used during the investigation and on which our course paper is based.

 

Chapter I

THE FORMS AND FUNCTIONS OF MODAL VERBS

1. General  notions about modal verbs

Modal verbs are used to show the speaker’s attitude towards the action. We must use them with other verbs. Modal verbs are not “complete” verbs. They are called defective because they lack (except dare and need) component tenses, the passive voice and have some other peculiarities:

1. We can’t use them as “to”- infinitives: to go, to speak.
2. We don’t use the “to” – infinitives after modals, except the modal verb ought(to):

             e.g. You mustn’t phone now. It’s late.

                   I ought to help him [5,62].

3. There is no –(e)s in the 3^rd person singular:

      e.g. The boss can see you now. [2,132]

Modal verb is never used alone as the predicate of a sentence, but is always combined with an infinitive forming a modal compound verbal predicate. The infinitive expresses the main idea of the predication, the modal verb has only modal function, that is, indicates that the action denoted by the infinitive is considered as desirable, possible, doubtful, etc [11, 229].

Modal verbs have no inflexions in the third person singular because their Present tense was originally a past and the Past tense had no inflexions in the third person singular. That’s why these verbs are called preteritive presents.

The absence of the s-inflexion in the verbs will and ought has another explanation: these forms originated from the old subjunctive where the verb had no inflexion in the third person singular.

Because of the absence of the inflexion in the third person singular of the Indicative mood, in these verbs Subjunctive I does not differ from the Indicative.

Modal verbs have also no Imperative mood [12, 230].

Modality and tense are so intervened that in English it is hardly possible to combine them as single variable. Some verbs function both as tense-auxiliaries and as modals. It is therefore of primary importance to see them in contrast with each other as used in different grammatical frames.

On different linguistic occasions a modal verb may perform three different functions:

1. it may be used in its original sense;
2. it may do the duty of a purely auxiliary in analytical verbal forms correlated with the corresponding simple ones within the limits of a given grammatical category(The Future Tense and the Subjunctive Mood);
3. it may weaken its lexical meaning when used in modal phrases expressing supposition, certainty or uncertainty as to the action expressed by the notional verb.

The analysis of modal verbs is made rather difficult by other factors. The point is that their past tense-forms do not often refer to past time at all. Such are the verbs can and may, shall and will, for instance, which are not easily defined in formal terms of grammar learning. Morphologically they have the Present and the Past tense-forms, but in modal phrases they are not regularly used to mark time relations. Moreover, to indicate past time does not seem to be their main function [7, 111].

The modal verbs are: can (could), may(might), must, should, ought, shall, will, would, need, dare. The modal expressions to be+ Infinitive and to have + Infinitive also belong here [3,118].

All  modal verbs ( except dare and need) form the negative and interrogative form without the auxiliary do. All of them have two negative forms – a full and a contracted one:

should not – shouldn’t, may not – mayn’t, must not – mustn’t, need not – needn’t, dare not – daren’t.

Some of them have the peculiar contracted form, such as:

cannot – can’t, shall not – shan’t, will not – won’t [3,119].

So, modal verbs, unlike other verbs, do not denote actions to states, but only show the attitude of the speaker towards the action expressed by the infinitive in combination with which they form compound modal predicates. Thus modal verbs may show that the action (or state, or process, or quality) is viewed by the speaker as possible, obligatory, doubtful, certain, permissible, advisable, requested, prohibited, ordered, etc. Modal verbs occur only with the infinitive. This or that meaning is to a great degree determined by the comminicative type of the sentence and the form of the infinitive.

 

2. The peculiarities of forms and function of modal verbs
1. The modal verbs can and may

The modal verb can has two forms: can - for the Present tense and could - for the Past tense and for the subjunctive mood.

e.g. I can’t dance now but I could when I was young.

       I wish I could go with you [4, p.114].

According to Kobryna N.A. we distinguish that:

I. Can followed by the non-perfect common aspect infinitive expresses:

1. Physical and mental ability or capacity.

The notion of ability is also expressed by “to be able to”.

      e.g. Mary can speak English quite well but she can’t write it at all (can = to be          able, to know how to...).

              I can drive a car = I know how to...

             He could (was able to) speak English very well when he was twelve [4, p.114].

     The meaning of ability is expressed only by “to be able to” when the reference is to the future, as can, having no infinitive, has no future tense form.

e.g. Soon he will be able to speak English quite fluently.

Can is interchangeable with to be able to when it denotes mere capacity,

e.g.  I couldn’t/was not able to do that new job; it was too difficult.

This man could/was able to cure all diseases [8, p.89].

But only to be able to is used to express attainment or achievement of something through some capacity. Thus to be able to often combines the idea of “ability” and “achievement”. In this case was able to means “managed to” or “succeeded in”, and could is impossible.

e.g. I was able to go to the mountains yesterday as I had a day off (I could and went).

 I was able to finish my work in an hour (I managed, I could and did it) [4, p.114].

In the meaning of ability and capability can occurs in all kinds 
of sentences.

e.g. She can play a few simple tunes on the piano. 
Can you write with your left hand? 
I cannot (can't) promise you anything [1, p.54].

2. Possibility.

a) possibility due to circumstances:

 e.g.   Anybody can make a mistake.

        I couldn’t take your coat without paying you for it [4, p.115].

b) possibility due to the existing rules of laws:

e.g. In old days a man could be sentenced to death for a small crime.

      The Lower House alone can initiate financial measures [6, p.67].

c) possibility of the idea (the so-called “theoretical” possibility):

e.g. The railways can be improved. (It is possible for the railways to be improved, as they are not yet perfect.)

In general statements of possibility can has roughly the same meaning as “sometimes”.

e.g. The sea can be rough. = The sea is sometimes rough. [4, p.115].

Can is generally used in questions about possibility and in statements about impossibility.

e.g. Can this be true? (Is it possible that this is true?)

       This can’t be true. (It is impossible that this is true.) [1, p.70].

3. Permission.

e.g. Can we go home, Miss?

      The teacher said we could go home [4, p.115].

Can is now more common than may (or might) to express the idea permission [4, p.115].

Can in this meaning is found in affirmative sentences, interrogative sentences in which a request is expressed, and in negative sentence where it expresses prohibition.

e.g. You can use my car.

   Can I use your car?

    You can’t use my car today [6, p.71].

In this meaning can is combined with the Simple Infinitive. The form could with reference to the present is found only in interrogative sentences in which it expresses a more polite request

e.g. Could I use your car? [1, p.55]

4. Prohibition

It is found only with the negative form of the modal verb, as prohibition may be understood as the negation of permission – not to be allowed to... 

e.g. You can’t touch the exhibits in a museum (it is not allowed).

      - Can we stay here? - No, I’m afraid you can’t. (It’s not allowed.) [4, p.116]

5. Request.

e.g. Can you hold on a minute, please?

       Can I have some water? [4, p.116]

Could suggests a greater degree of politeness:

e.g. Could you come again tomorrow? [14, p. 37].

II. Can followed by any form of the infinitive may express:

1. Strong doubt, improbability, incredulity.

This meaning occurs only with the negative form of the modal verb + perfect infinitive, continuous infinitive, or be.

e.g.  He can’t have seen it (it’s impossible that he saw it). He can’t be there [4, p. 116].

Could is used instead of can to express greater doubt. Thus the difference between can and could is in the degree of expressiveness, could showing a greater degree of doubt or incredulity. The time-reference is indicated not by the form of the verb but by that of the infinitive [4, p.116].

2. Surprise, when can/could is used in questions.

e.g. Can it be so late as all that? [6, p.72].

То refer the action to the past Perfect Infinitive is used.

e.g. Could he have been telling her the truth?

       Can (could) he have let you down? [4, p.116].

The verb can expressing surprise is not used in the negative form.

3. Reproach, implying that a person should have done something, or behaved in a certain way, but didn’t do it. This meaning is found only with the form could.

  e.g. You could at least have met me at the station, couldn’t you?

    In this sense could is interchangeable with might [1, p.73].

 4. Purpose.

This meaning occurs only with the form could in clauses of purpose. 

e.g. I wrote down the telephone number so that I could remember it. [4, p.117]

The form could is used in two ways:

a) in past-time contexts as a form of the Indicative Mood

e.g. He could speak English when he was a child [6, p.72].

b) in present-time contexts to express unreality, or as a milder and more polite form of can, or as a form implying more uncertainty than can

e.g. He could speak English if necessary.

      Could it be true? [1, p.56]

Another modal verb that has similar functions as can is may. It has two forms: may for the present tense and might for the Past and as the Subjunctive mood form.

The form might, as N. A. Kobryna determined, is used:

a) in indirect speech according to the rules of the sequence of tenses (though the verb could is preferable in this case).

 e.g. He told me that I might go.

The librarian told the man that he might take the book home [4, p.117].

    b) in some syntactical patterns requiring the subjunctive mood forms:

    e.g. However hard he might (or may) try, he will never manage to do the same.

  I’ve brought you the book so that you may write your paper [4, p.117].

The form might is used in two ways according to I.P.Krylova:

a) in past-time contexts, mainly in reported speech in accordance with the rules of the sequence of tenses:

e.g. He told me that it might be true [1, p.73].

b) in present-time contexts as a milder and more polite form of may, or as a form implying more uncertaintly than may:

e.g. Might I come and see you? [7, p.112]

According to N.A.Kobryna:

I. May followed by the non-perfect common infinitive expresses:

1. Permission. In this usage it expresses the meaning: to have permission to, to be allowed to, to be permitted to.

e.g. You may go now (you are allowed to go).

  May we leave this with you? (Are we allowed to...? Is it all right if we leave it here?) [4, p.117].

In polite requests for permission might is used.

 e.g. Might I use your telephone, please?

        I wonder if I might borrow your book [5, p.64].

Can is now more common than may or might to express informally the idea of permission, but may is often used when talking of ourselves [4, p.118].

e.g. May/might I help you? [14, p.38].

2. Possibility of the fact (the so-called “factual possibility”).

This meaning occurs only in affirmative sentences.

e.g. You may find all the books you want in the National Library. (It is possible that you will find...)

      The railways may be improved. (It is possible that the railways will be      improved.) [4, p.118].

The above sentence could suggest that there are definite plans for improvement.

May expressing possibility is avoided in questions and in negative sentences, instead can is used [4, p.118].

3. Prohibition (only with the negative form of the modal verb).

e.g. You may not go swimming. (You are not allowed to ...)

       You may not enter the room until I say so [1, p.74].

The contracted form mayn’t is also very rare.

There are other ways of expressing the idea of prohibition which are more common. They are mustn’t, can’t, and don’t. Mustn’t and can’t are often found in negative answers to express prohibition instead of may not [8, p.89].

II. May (might) followed by any form of the infinitive denotes:

1. Supposition, uncertainty.

May in this sense is synonymous with perhaps or maybe, and occurs in affirmative and negative statements.

e.g. This news is so strange that you may not believe it. (Perhaps you won’t believe it.)

  He may come or he may not [4, p.118].

The non-Perfect Infinitive indicates reference to the present or future, that is, it expresses supposition or uncertainty about a present or future action [4, p.118].

e.g. They may arrive tonight or tomorrow [6, p.70].

The Perfect Infinitive indicates reference to the past.

May (might) in the sense of supposition or uncertainty is not used in questions, instead some other means are used: Is it (he) likely ... ? or Do you think ... ?

e.g. Is Mary likely to arrive tonight?

       Do you think he has already come? [4, p.119].

2. Reproach.

This meaning is found only in positive statements and only with the form might as it is a reproach made about something that has not been done and thus implies some unfulfilled action.

e.g. You might at least offer to help [1, p.72].

In combination with the perfect infinitive it renders irritation (annoyance) that the action was not carried out.

e.g. You might have opened the door for me [4, p.119].

3. May/might partly loses its meaning when used in certain sentence patterns and is in such cases a quasi-subjunctive auxiliary:

a) in clauses of purpose:

e.g. Sit here so that I may see your face more clearly.

      He died so that others might live [4, p.120].

b) in clauses of concession:

e.g Try as he may he will never be top of his class.

      However hard he might try, he never managed it [4, p.120].

c) in object, predicative and appositive clauses after verbs or nouns expressing hope, wish, fear:

e.g The doctor has fears that she may not live much longer.

     The prisoner had hopes that he might be set free [4, p.120].

According to M. A. Ganshina and N.M Vasilevskaya, the modal verb might expresses admonition and advice.

e.g. You really might do something for them[11, p.234].

To summarize, there are two modal verbs can and may that have similar functions and grammarians usually compare them. The use of can and may is parallel only in two meanings: possibility due to circumstances and permission. In these meanings, however, they are not always interchangeable for a number 
of various reasons.