Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

Be about to and other forms

The following forms enable reference to future events treated as occurring

immediately or in the near future. The forms are mainly used in more formal

contexts:

He

’s about to resign.

They 

are on the point of issuing a statement. 

People 

are on the verge of despair. 

Is that the flight that

’s due to arrive at 22.25?

We

’re certain to run out of time. I think we should postpone the meeting.

It

’s sure to rain. Let’s postpone the match. 

England

are likely to lose their next match against Spain.

They

’re supposed to meet us at the station.

He 

is obliged to be there.

Û

404 Other modal expressions with be, where these are dealt with separately

636 | Future time

Cambridge Grammar of English

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Modality

Introduction

377

Modal forms

378

Types of meaning

379

Core modal verbs

380

General formal properties of modal 

verbs 380a

Modal verbs and tenses 380b

Interrogatives 380c

Negative forms of modal 

verbs 380d

Contracted forms of modal 

verbs 380e

Can

381

Could

382

May

383

Can, could and may

384

Might

385

Could, may and might

386

Will

387

Shall

388

Will, shall and ’ll

389

Would

390

Past time 390a

Other uses 390b

Will and would

391

Should

392

Should and would

393

Must

394

Tense and time references with 

must

394a

Negative of must 394b

Semi-modal verbs

395

Dare

396

Need

397

Semi-modal need and lexical verb 

need

397a

Ought to

398

Ought to and should

399

Used to

400

Panel: Used to, be used to and

expressions of typicality

401

Used to and would

402

Other modal verb phrases

403

Be to

403a

Be going to

403b

Had better

403c

Have to, have got to

403d

Have (got) to

and must 403e

Would rather

403f

Would sooner

and would just as 

soon

403g

Other modal expressions with be

404

Be about to

404a

Be able to

404b

Be bound to

404c

Be due to

404d

Be likely to/that

404e

Be meant to

404f

Be obliged to

404g

Be supposed to

404h

Other verbs with modal uses

405

Expressing possibility, etc. 405a

Expressing obligation, etc. 405b

Modal nouns, adjectives and 

adverbs

406

For certain, for definite, for sure

407

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638 | 

Modality

INTRODUCTION

377

This chapter (377–407) describes the main modal forms and meanings. The

emphasis is on the core modal verbs but the chapter is also concerned with other

items which carry a modal meaning. 

The term ‘modality’ refers to a speaker’s or a writer’s attitude towards, or point 

of view about, a state of the world. In particular, modals are used to say whether

something is real or true, or whether it is the subject of speculation rather than

definite knowledge. For example, Charles is at home now is a statement of what is

believed to be true, and indicates a high degree of certainty on the part of the

speaker; Charles may be at home now, on the other hand, is more speculative and

an assessment of possibility rather than a statement of fact. Charles should be at

home now

can be either a statement of what is probably true or a statement of what

is desirable or necessary. All of these statements, even the simple, neutral statement

of fact, can be said to carry modality, in other words the speaker’s point of view.

Modal items, especially the modal verbs, also play a very important part in 

the expression of politeness and formality in English.