Verbs: Modality and the modal system¶
Possible situations relate to reality
Introduction¶
The concept of modality relates to the ways in which the possible situations described in a clause can relate to reality.
Reality: Assertion of fact¶
An assertion of fact about the actual world:
He saw us (fact in the past in the actual world)
Male person or animal
Visually detected
A group of two or more including me
Non modal assertion about the future:
He leaves today (scheduled departure)
Modal Alterations¶
He must have seen us (modal, inference, given what we know there is no other conclusion to draw)
He may have seen us (modal, mere possibility)
He must leave today (there is no alternative to his living because some obligation, or directive that imposes it)
He may leave today (possibility or permission)
Lexical categories to express modality¶
Several different lexical categories can express modality.
Evidently he saw us