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Milky Posted 21 years ago
Linguistics Studies

Basic semantic meanings of modal auxiliaries

0 In his chapter on modal auxiliaries in The English Verb, Michael Lewis lists what he thinks are the basic semantic meanings for each. I cite those meanings below and ask if you agree with them. 02br
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00Please remember, we are talking about the basic semantic meaning. In context, these auxiliaries take on wider meanings, but it is the basic meaning I want to discuss. 02br
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00Paraphrased. 02br
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00Can = I assert that it is possible that ... 02br
00Could = I assert that it is "remotely" possible that ... 02br
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00May = If I have anything to do with it, it is possible that ... 02br
00Might = If I have anything to do with it, it is "remotely" possible that ... 02br
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00Must = I assert that it is necessary that ... 02br
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00Will = Given my percepton of the immediate situation, it is inevitable that ... 02br
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00Would = Given the (hypothetical) situation which I perceive at the moment of speaking, the action described is also inevitably true. 02br
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00Shall = According to my perception of the present situation, it is, if it's anything to do with me, inevitable that ... 02br
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00From The English Verb by M Lewis. LTP 1986. 02br
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00Should is dealt with seperately as it is a far more complex auxiliary and has many meanings. 02br
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00Thanks. 0-
  

Top answer

0 I don't find these paraphrases the best I've ever seen. Here are a few of my observations / opinions: 02br 02br 001. The basic meaning of "can" and "could" is ability.

— CalifJim

  • 0 I don't find these paraphrases the best I've ever seen.
  • Here are a few of my observations / opinions: 02br 02br 001.
  • The basic meaning of "can" and "could" is ability.
  • 02br 002.
  • I don't see why "if I have anything to do with it" is included.
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68 Answers
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0 I don't find these paraphrases the best I've ever seen. Here are a few of my observations / opinions: 02br
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001. The basic meaning of "can" and "could" is ability. 02br
002. I don't see why "if I have anything to do with it" is included. 02br
003. I don't see why "I assert" is included. 02br
004. I find "inevitability" a good par
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0 Hello, Milky and CalifJim. I haven't read Michael Lewis yet. But this question seems interesting. 02br
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00 Will = Given my perception of the immediate situation, it is inevitable that ... 12blockquote
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00Does this mean we should exclude will of 00? 02br
00And what's the difference between 00 and 00?
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0 One test might be: what happens if we take Lewis's 'basic' meaning, and present it as a sentence? Would a native speaker be likely to infer any hint of the 'modal' equivalent? 02br
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001. Given my perception of the immediate situation, it is inevitable that you go. 02br
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00My immediate reaction is to translate this back into English as 'I think yo
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0 1. The dynamic meaning of "can" and "could" is certainly "ability", which comes under the banner of possibility in its dictinary meaning, but what about the epistemic and deontic meanings of those two modals? 02br
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002. Because the basic use of "may" is to give permission. Authority, on behalf of the speaker, whether real or imagined, allows him/her to say "if I have an
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0 Does this mean we should exclude will of 00? 02br
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00Why should it? 02br
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00Given my perception of the immediate situation, it is inevitable that I will go to the party. 02br
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00And what's the difference between 00 and 00? 02br
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00It is necessary that you go to the doctor, but you may
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0 1. Given my perception of the immediate situation, it is inevitable that you go. 02br
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00My immediate reaction is to translate this back into English as 'I think you have no choice but to go', or 'in my opinion, you have to go'; or even 'I think you should go'. But not 'you will go'. 02br
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00How do others read it? 02br
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0 Since you usually so much dislike finding the core meaning of "will" to be simple future, Milky, why do you prefer to find it in something that is given in our beloved textbooks as of one of the more obscure uses of "going to"!? 02br
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0 Hello, milky. Thank you for your answering the questions. I still feel uncertain about the definition of 00. 02br
00It's too strong, isn't it (as MrP also pointed out)...? For example, according to your interpretation: 02br
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00(1) I will go to see a doctor today. 02br
00(= It is an inevitable, unavoidable thing that you will eventually see
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0 Dear Sir, I sent the same post twice, I'm sorry. Please edit one of these, whichever you (dis)like ! 02br
00Thank you, Roro 0-
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0 How about "I'll do it for you". Even further from the supposed core. 0-
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