|
Chapter III VERB EXPANSION |
  |
|
Lesson 12 V EPD｛Modal｝: MOD("can", "will", etc.)
12-1 [V EPD{Modal}:MOD]
In 9-4 to 9-7, we studied the V EPDs expressing {Agreement}, that is, PRS and PST. The underlined part "wrote a novel" in (2) consists of the V EPD, PST, and the verb "write a novel" as in (1).
(1) The computer + PST + write a novel
Diagram:
(3) (wrote a novel)
V
Just as the V EPD {Agreement} expands a verb, so does the word "can". In (4), the word "can" placed in front of the verb "write a novel" adds the meaning of {Be able to} or {Ability}.
(4) The computer can write a novel.
As the sentence (4) includes PRS, it is produced as in (5).
(5) The computer + PRS + can + write a novel
Thus, the new verb phrase "can write a novel" consists of three elements: PRS + can + write a novel.We call an EPD like "can" a V EPD {Modal} or MOD, because it adds a meaning which mostly expresses the speaker's attitude, {Modality}. The diagram of the new verb phrase is:
(7) (can write a novel)
V
Important here is the difference of the V EPD {Agreement}, PRS or PST, from the V EPD {Modal}, MOD. The one is obligatory, while the other is optional. Once a noun(N) is combined with a verb(V) to make a new sentence(S), the V EPD {Agreement} must occur, while the V EPD {Modal} may or may not occur.12-2 [Meanings of "can"] A V EPD {Modal}(MOD) may have more than one meaning. The V EPD "can", for instance, may have the meaning of {Ability}, {Possibility} or {Permission}.
[can]
(i) Ability
(8) Beavers can build dams.
(9) Superman can fly like a bullet.
(ii) Possibility
(10) Passive smoking can cause cancer.
(11) Such a swindler can't tell the truth.
(iii) Permission
(12) You can keep it if you like.
(13) No visitor can remain in the hospital after 9 p.m.
The meaning of a V EPD {Modal}(MOD) may be ambiguous as in (14). According to the context, the V EPD "can" may be interpreted to mean {Ability} and {Permission}.
(14) You can swim across the lake.
12-3 [Meanings of "will"] The meanings of {Future} and {Volition} are the basic uses of the V EPD "will".
[will]
(i) Future
(15) It'll clear up soon.
(16) Your dream will come true some day.
(ii) Volition
(17) I'll call back as soon as possible.
(18) I will not change my mind.
(19) This door won't open.
In some contexts, {Future} and {Volition} can be taken to be {Possiblity}, {Command}, {Habit/Nature}, and so on.
(iii) Possibility
(20) That will be our new teacher, I guess.
(21) This will do for the time being.
(iv) Command
(22) You will do as I tell you.
(v) Habit/Nature
(23) Babies will cry.
(24) Oil will float on water.
12-4 [Meanings of "may"] The V EPD "may" expresses {Possibility}, {Permission}, and other meanings.
[may]
(i) Possibility
(25) He may come, or he may not.
(26) You may regret it.
(ii) Permission
(27) You may go now.
(28) May I ask a question?
The following use of "may" is still used in a formal context as in church.
(iii) Hope
(29) May you live long!
12-5 [Meanings of "must"] The V EPD "must" has the meanings of {Obligation}, {Certainty}, and other meanings.
[must]
(i) Obligation
(30) You must go right now.
(ii) Certainty
(31) Jane looks very pale. She MUST be sick.
The meanings of "must" are {Prohibition} or {Claim} in some contexts.
(iii) Prohibition
(32) You must not speak like that to your mother.
(iv) Claim
(33) Man must die.
12-6 [Meanings of "should"] The V EPD "should" can mean {Obligation}, {Deduction/Probability}, and so on.
[should]
(i) Obligation
(34) You should keep your promise.
(35) Young people should read more and watch less.
(ii) Deduction/Probability
(36) We should have a call from him soon.
(37) According to this map, this should be the way.
12-7 [Epistemic vs Non-Epistemic] So far we have studied several meanings expressed by MODs. Now we can divide them into two groups: epistemic and non-epistemic. "Epistemic" ones show "the speaker's attitude toward the proposition", while "non-epistemic" ones show all others. Consider the following examples.
(38)a. Susie, so clever, can't say such a thing.
epistemic(Possibility)
b. Susie, so timid, can't say such a thing.
non-epistemic(Ability)
(39)a. She will arrive there in ten minutes.
epistemic(Future)
b. She will go there as soon as possible.
non-epistemic(Volition)
(40)a. You may know this terrible news now.
epistemic(Possibility)
b. You may tell them this terrbile news now.
non-epistemic(Permission)
(41)a. John must be careful.
epistemic(Certainty)
b. John must be careful.
non-epistemic(Obligation)
In the above, (38a), (39a), (40a), and (41a) are all epistemic, while (38b), (39b), (40b) and (41b) are all non-epistemic.12-8 [Agreement of Non-Epistemic MODs] Non-epistemic MODs have one PRS form and one PST form.
(42)a. The baby can walk now. (Ability)
b. The baby could walk a week ago.
(43)a. You can stay up late only this weekend. (Permission)
b. John could (=was allowed to) stay up late even when he
was a small boy.
(44)a. I will do my best. (Volition)
b. I told him it was dangerous to thwart the mayor, but
he WOULD do it.
(45)a. Mary WILL sit still and look at the sea for hours.
(Habit)
b. He would (often) go fishing in the river when he was a
boy.
<Agreement of Non-Epistemic MODs>
(46)a. PRS + can + V
Diagrams:
(48) (can/could V)
V
12-9 [Agreement of Epistemic MODs] Epistemic MODs express "the speaker's attitude now", and so should have no PST forms. But they often express "the speaker's attitude on a past issue". In this book we call this usage a PST form for convenience, though it is not so in a strict sense.
(50)a. You should be more careful starting here and now.
b. You should have been more careful starting then and
there.
(51)a. He must be very rich to buy such a big jet.
b. He must have been very rich to buy such a big jet.
(52)a. He may leave the key when he goes out.
b. He may have left the key when he went out.
(53)a. That cannot be true.
b. That cannot have been true.
Thus, the agreement of epistemic MODs is,
<Agreement of Epistemic MODs>
(54)a. PRS + should + V
Diagrams of the underlined parts in (50b), (51b), (52b) and (53b):
(58) (should have been more careful)
V
12-10 [SEMI-MODs] Some V EPDs, which seem to be {Modal} but are defective in some aspects, are called a SEMI-V-EPD MODs or SEMI-MOD.
(62) I am going to quit my job.
(63) John was able to hand in his report just in time.
(64) I have to call Susan.
(65) You had better see a doctor.
(66) Hats used to be a must in church.
These are similar to MODs in that they carry {Modal} meanings. However, they differ from regular MODs in the following points.
(i) Some SEMI-MODs have the combination with "to" or "-ing".
(67)a. to + be able to
b. *to + can
(ii) Some SEMI-MODs can easily combine with other MODs.
(68)a. may + be able to
b. *may + can
(iii) Some SEMI-MODs may have a PST form, but not a PRS form, and
vice versa.
(69)a. PRS + had better
b. *PST + had better
(70)a. *PRS + used to
b. PST + used to
12-11 [Idiomatic Expressions] Some idiomatic expressions include what used to be MODs. But here in this book, we treat them just as an idiomatic chunk such as "Let's ..."
(71) Let's take a break, shall we?
(72) Shall I open the window?
(73) Will you put this back?
12-12 [Polite "could/would/might"] The underlined parts in the following seem to be PST forms, but actually they express {Politeness}. (74) Could you pick me up? (75) Would you tell me the way to the hospital? (76) Might I smoke in this room? |
EPD[AGR] V
(PST) (write a novel)
can/*cans V
b. PST + can + V |
Copyright(C) 2004 Masaya Oba. All rights reserved. |
 |