English Grammar -modal Meanings

Extracts adapted from : EXPLAINING ENGLISH GRAMMAR, George Yule, OUP, 1998 Summary Box - The meanings of may Core concept: possible may Circumstances Source is human authority or social regulations (personal)

permission

Source is speaker's knowledge Situationally specified Equals may not (epistemic)

weak possibility

Examples

Interpretation

Situation acknowledged, (+ but) not marked as relevant

concession

May I come in?

The bus may be late. I may be old, but am not crazy!

Summary Box - The meanings of CAN Core concept: potential can Circumstances

Interpretation

Examples

Animate agent-subject as source Physical action, mental activity

ability

Jim can speak Spanish.

Social authority as source Social transaction (social)

permission

The teacher says you can leave.

Absence of agent-source Situationally specified (logical)

possibility

Summary Box - The meanings of will Core concept: likely will Circumstances Interpretation Speaker as source Planned future action Desirable (= promise) Undesirable (= threat) intention

Grammar can be fun!

Examples

I will call the police!

Animate agent subject Physical action/activity Second person questions as requests Aspect rare Negation applies to modal Social transaction (social)

willingness

Will you help me?

Non-animate subjects common Third person, non-specific subjects Aspect common Logical statements (If A, then B.) Common in technical texts Negation applies to main verb (logical)

prediction

The weather will be nice.

Summary Box The meanings of should Core concept: required should Circumstances

Interpretation

Examples

Expressing appropriate behavior, correct ways of doing things, suggestions, advice (personal)

weak obligation

You should think of others.

Expressing reasonable assumptions, probable occurrences (logical)

probability

The work should soon be finished.

Summary Box The meanings of must Core concept: necessary must Circumstances

Interpretation

Present and future actions with animate subjects Aspect is rare Negation is common (personal)

obligation

Past and present states and some actions Also with non-animate subjects Perfect and progressive aspect Negation is rare (logical)

conclusion

Examples

You must wear a seatbelt.

It must be cold up there.

Summary Box -Modals and negatives Modals

Interpretations with negative

can (= potential)

NOT able (action) NOT permit (action) NOT possible (action)

may (= possibility)

NOT permit (action) possible (NOT action) concede (NOT action)

Examples

I can’t dance. We couldn't swim. You can't go. They couldn't eat here. It can't happen. It couldn't be done. You may not leave. They may not come. It may not be finished, but...

must(= necessity) oblige (NOT action) NOT oblige (action) conclude (NOT action)

You mustn't shout. You don't have to stay. She must not have much money or She can't have much money.

will(= likelihood)

They won't do it. She won't help. He wouldn't listen. He won’t win. You wouldn’t like it.

should (= requirement)

NOT intend (action) NOT willing (action) predict (NOT action) oblige (NOT action) probable (NOT action)

You shouldn’t smoke. It shouldn't last long.