Modal System

Modality and the English Modal Verb System

by Heather Marie Kosur

Unpublished draft

To analyze the modality of the English modal verb system requires an understanding of the modality of the English... more To analyze the modality of the English modal verb system requires an understanding of the modality of the English language. All verb phrases in which a modal verb occupies the initial position express the irrealis modality of the subjunctive mood. The initial modal verb also expresses one of four modalities: epistemic, deontic, dynamic, and evidential. Verb phrases that contain a multiple modal express both epistemic modality (the initial modal verb) and deontic modality (the second and subsequent modal verb[s]). Although some linguists and logicians argue for an alternative description of modality, the analysis offered by Palmer best accounts for the modality expressed by modal verbs and the Modern English verb system in general.