User:Drew.ward/English Modality



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= Modality =

In linguistics Modality refers to any set of characteristics which determine the attitude of the speaker or interlocutor in relation to the state of affairs described in an utterance. Grammatical Mood (also simply mood) is a grammatical category which classifies various modalities within languages based on their function. Mood as a category is used to explain how structures are formed and why they behave in certain ways. Like tense (time), aspect (nature of information), perfection (completion), function (structure & purpose: i.e. declarative, interrogative, and voice (active or passive), mood is a universal characteristic of language and is an integral attribute of English grammar.

= Modality in English = Epistemic versus deontic; extrensic versus intrinsic, situational versus... and all that Palmer stuff

Recognized Moods
It is often argued that English has a limited number of moods. In theory every language possesses every possible mood. Many of these modal expressions are however so integral to the communicative process that they are overlooked by speakers. Below is a list of currently identified moods expressed in English. Each is listed by perceived order of frequency and noted regarding academic acceptance.

1. Subjunctive
 * Talking about the mood blah blah blah
 * Example 1
 * Example 2

2. Conditional
 * Talking about the mood blah blah blah
 * Example 1
 * Example 2

3. Jussive
 * Talking about the mood blah blah blah
 * Example 1
 * Example 2

Classes of English Modals
Below is a brief description of the 10 classes of English modals discussing the common attributes of each. For a more detailed discussion of each class and a listing of the individual modals within each class see the detailed Class listings in section 3.


 * Class I: Germanic Modals
 * These are the original modals of English as developed in the late Middle English and early Modern English period. They are derived from the same verbs that make up the modals of Modern German, Dutch, and other Germanic languages.  Unlike in other Germanic language though, in English these verbs have only one form and cannot be declined or conjugated.  In order to express mood with standard verbal versatility in English it is necessary to use the Verbal Modals of Class II.


 * Class II: Verbal Modals
 * Verbal Modals consist of blah blah blah blah


 * Class III: Phrasal Modals
 * had better, had best, etc


 * Class IV:
 * can take outside target. ie I want to go (no target) I want him (not a modal) I want him to go (outside target)


 * Class V:
 * ought

dare and need -- those that are a mix of Classes II and V
 * Class VI:


 * Class VII:


 * Class VIII:


 * Class IX:


 * Class X:

= Modals in Detail =

Præterite Pairs
The following modals have both independent modalities as well as being able to act as a modal pair with the same mood being expressed in present and past tenses.

Class II: Verbal Modals
Verbal Modals consist of blah blah blah blah

Class IIc: Fully Inflected Verbals

 * Verbal modals that normally occur in the simple aspect but may be grammatically expressed in all inflections.


 * Simple Aspect
 * I (do) have to go to the doctor.
 * I had (did have) to go to the doctor yesterday.
 * I will have to go to the doctor tomorrow.
 * Perfected Simple Aspect
 * I have had to go to the doctor everyday this month.
 * I had had to go to the doctor everyday for a month until it was healed.
 * I will have had to go to the twelve times by the day of my surgery.
 * Progressive Aspect
 * I am having to go to the doctor so often!
 * I was having to go to the doctor so often that I missed a full month of work.
 * I will be having to go to the doctor twice a day everyday for the next month.
 * Perfected Progressive Aspect
 * I have been having to go to the doctor for tests for over a year.
 * I had been having to go to the doctor everyday for well over a year before they finally found the problem.
 * I will have been having to go to the doctor at least once a week for a full decade by the time my treatment is finally finished!

Class III: Phrasal Modals (Group I)
(had better, had best, etc)

Phrasal Modals are termed such because share characteristics with non-modal phrasal verbs. Phrasal Modals consist of a verb coupled with an inseparable qualifier -- usually an adverb or preposition (and sometimes prepositional phrase) and in some colloquial speech an adjective.

Class IIc: Fully Inflected Verbals

 * Verbal modals that normally occur in the simple aspect but may be grammatically expressed in all inflections.


 * Simple Aspect
 * I (do) have to go to the doctor.
 * I had (did have) to go to the doctor yesterday.
 * I will have to go to the doctor tomorrow.
 * Perfected Simple Aspect
 * I have had to go to the doctor everyday this month.
 * I had had to go to the doctor everyday for a month until it was healed.
 * I will have had to go to the twelve times by the day of my surgery.
 * Progressive Aspect
 * I am having to go to the doctor so often!
 * I was having to go to the doctor so often that I missed a full month of work.
 * I will be having to go to the doctor twice a day everyday for the next month.
 * Perfected Progressive Aspect
 * I have been having to go to the doctor for tests for over a year.
 * I had been having to go to the doctor everyday for well over a year before they finally found the problem.
 * I will have been having to go to the doctor at least once a week for a full decade by the time my treatment is finally finished!

Class IV: Phrasal Modals (Group II)
(be happy, be glad, be sad, be excited)

Phrasal Modals are termed such because share characteristics with non-modal phrasal verbs. Phrasal Modals consist of a verb coupled with an inseparable qualifier -- usually an adverb or preposition (and sometimes prepositional phrase) and in some colloquial speech an adjective. Group II Phrasal Modals express a speaker-directed mood related to the subordinate action.

Class IIc: Fully Inflected Verbals

 * Verbal modals that normally occur in the simple aspect but may be grammatically expressed in all inflections.


 * Simple Aspect
 * I (do) have to go to the doctor.
 * I had (did have) to go to the doctor yesterday.
 * I will have to go to the doctor tomorrow.
 * Perfected Simple Aspect
 * I have had to go to the doctor everyday this month.
 * I had had to go to the doctor everyday for a month until it was healed.
 * I will have had to go to the twelve times by the day of my surgery.
 * Progressive Aspect
 * I am having to go to the doctor so often!
 * I was having to go to the doctor so often that I missed a full month of work.
 * I will be having to go to the doctor twice a day everyday for the next month.
 * Perfected Progressive Aspect
 * I have been having to go to the doctor for tests for over a year.
 * I had been having to go to the doctor everyday for well over a year before they finally found the problem.
 * I will have been having to go to the doctor at least once a week for a full decade by the time my treatment is finally finished!