19 Modality d) Atthe end, a policeman could get the man and he gave the bag back to the woman. e) If don’t rains we will can swim in the beach. f) If my money isn’t refunded I'll be able to go to a lawyer to resolve the question. ‘Two types of meaning Every modal verb expresses at least two meanings: - All modals can be used to talk about probability/possibility: this is sometimes called their ‘extrinsic’ meaning. ~ Each modal has another set of particular meanings which may be loosely classed as relating to human wishes, abilities, and obligations: these are sometimes called their ‘intrinsic’ meanings. Can you now complete this chart, indicating which modals commonly express which concepts. Think of an example, in each case. can could may might should | must can't couldn't | may not | mightn't | shouldn't) mustn't likelinood/ probability v ability permission prohibition obligation/ duty ees In the text in Task 1 above, find uses of modals that express: - probability — ability = prohibition — obligation/duty Meaning Classify the following examples of modals (1) according to whether they are being used in their extrinsic (‘probability’) sense, or in their intrinsic sense; and (2), if intrinsic, according to whether they express obligation, permission, prohibition, or ability. The first one is done for you. a) There must be something on Gooch’s mind, and he wants to get it off his chest. (Farokh Engineer) extrinsic . b) P’m going to make a prediction — it could go either way. (Ron Atkinson) c) Imust apologise to the deaf for the loss of subtitles. (Angela Rippon) d) That should arrest the non-movement of the scoreboard. (Neville Oliver) e) The Dutch boxer, Turr, can speak four languages, which is amazing for someone so short. (NBC Commentator) 8719 Modality 3 Even in English there are a number of ways of expressing modality apart from using modal verbs. For example: adverbs: probably; perhaps; maybe adjectives: it’s likely that; it’s possible that participles: you're allowed to; it’s forbidden to lexical verbs: I advise you to; I suggest that you (Note that some of these alternatives are characteristic of more formal or written English.) Learners whose mother tongue relies less on modal auxiliaries than, for example, lexical verbs, or conditional or subjunctive constructions, may have difficulties both with the syntax and the meaning of modal verbs in English. 4 The corrections and their explanations are as follows: a) don't have to instead of shouldn’t: Should and have to share the sense of ‘obligation’ in their affirmative forms. Their negatives are quite different in meaning, however, ‘no obligation’ being realised by don’t have to, not shouldn't. had fo snatead of must: There is no past form of must —had to is used instead. had to instead of should to: Should expresses obligation in the present only, not in the past and should does not take the infinitive with to. Was able to (or managed to) instead of could: In the past could refers to general ability (I could ski when I was younger), but for ability on a single occasion, was able to (or managed to) is used. ¢) can or will be able to instead of will can: There is no future form of can. f) I'll have to instead of I'll be able to: Obligation, not ability, is indicated here. b) ¢) d 5 The completed chart looks like this: can could may might should | must couldn‘t | may not | mightn’t | shouldn't) mustn't probability] “0 | V2 | wa | va | we | Ye ability v8) x x x x permission] W(9) | (10) | W111) | (12) x x prohibition | 0/(13) | A(14) | (15) x Ye) | (17) likelihood/ oe x x x x W189) | W19) The numbers in brackets refer to the example sentences in the following list. 213