The ministry of higher and secondary special education of the republic of uzbekistan

CHAPTER II


II.Modal Verbs
II.1. General Characteristics of Modal Verbs
The group of modal verbs includes a small number of verbs which stand out among all verbs by a number of characteristic features in meaning, usage and grammatical forms. These verbs have no grammatical category of their own (kind, tense); they have only the forms of inflection and tense, which are indicators of the predicate. Because of this, and because they have no non-predicate forms (infinitive, gerund, participle), modal verbs are on the periphery of the English verb system. In terms of their role in a sentence, modal verbs are service verbs. They denote the possibility, ability, probability, necessity of an action expressed by a sense verb. Because they express only a modal relation, and not an action, they are never used as a separate sentence member. Modal verbs are always combined only with the infinitive, forming with it combinations which in a sentence form a complex modal predicate. According to their etymology, most modal verbs are preterite-preterite. Modal verbs are Defective Verbs because they do not have all the forms that other verbs have. Their lack of the inflection -s in the 3rd person singular of the present indicative mood is explained historically: the modern present forms were once past forms, and the 3rd person singular of the past tense did not have a personal ending . The modal verbs must, should - ought, will-would, can-could, may-might, need can express various shades of supposition. Scholars suggest that modal verbs express objective reality, while introductory words express subjective reality. It can be assumed that the verbs can and may specialize in conveying possible, supposed actions, while the verbs must, should, might, in addition to the meaning of ought, also convey supposed, probable actions, thus closely relating to the meaning of introductory words such as perhaps, possibly, probably, certainly. When modal words and introductory words are used simultaneously, in such cases we are dealing with synonymous constructions.


II.2. THE VERB MUST
The verb must expresses an assumption, usually based on fact, on knowledge and almost bordering on certainty. The combination of the verb must with the non-perfect infinitive means that the assumed action (or state) is simultaneous with the assumption made, and the assumption itself can refer to both the present and the past tense . He must concentrate on what he had to say, and do, and on nothing else. The verb must is used in the sense of supposition, probability, i.e., a high degree of certainty. The speaker believes the assumption to be quite plausible. In this sense, the verb must roughly corresponds to the modal words: evidently, apparently, certainly, most likely, probably. To express a supposition, the verb must is used: 1.In conjunction with the Indefinite Infinitive to express a supposition relating to the present. Must in this case is translated into Russian by must, probably, and the infinitive by a verb in the present tense. The combination must with the infinitive may also be translated into Russian by the combination must with the infinitive: It must be almost ten years . Also must in the sense of probability is used with the simple infinitive of verbs not usually used in the extended form (to be, to think, etc.) 2. in combination with the Perfect Infinitive to express the assumption, which refers to the past. Combining the verb must with the perfect infinitive means that the intended action precedes the statement of a supposition, while the supposition itself can refer to either the present or the past. Must in such cases is translated into Russian by must be, probably, and the infinitive by a past tense verb: He must have worn rubber-soled shoes for his feet made no sound . K.N. Kachalova points out that must is not used to express a supposition relating to the future . Such Russian sentences as "The weather will probably change tomorrow", "The lecture will probably be interesting" are translated into English: "The weather will probably change (is likely to change) tomorrow.", "The lecture will probably be interesting (is likely to be interesting)". It is important to note that the verb must in the sense of supposition is used almost exclusively in affirmative sentences. In negative sentences it is not used at all, and in interrogative sentences it is rarely used, and these questions are of rhetorical nature. Russian sentences such as "He probably doesn’t know about it.", "He probably didn’t see her." are translated into English: "He probably doesn’t know about it.", "He probably didn’t see her." In negative sentences, the assumption is expressed with the modal word evidently.


II.3.The verb may - might
When a tinge of doubt or uncertainty is added to possibility, the verb may is used. It means to assume that an action may or may not happen. The verb may in this sense can be used with either a perfunctory or a non-perfective infinitive. That girl may be your fiancée or she may not-but that play with the shower bath . The modal verb may is used to express a supposition in the plausibility of which the speaker is not sure: 1.In combination with the Indefinite Infinitive to express a supposition relating to the present or the future. In this case, the verb may is translated into Russian by may, perhaps, and the infinitive by a present or future verb. The combination may with the infinitive may also be translated into Russian by the combination may (may) with the infinitive: He may get them cabled or telephoned here at any minute . In combination with the Perfect Infinitive, the verb may means a present-tense assumption about the possibility of an action (or state) in the past. May is translated into Russian as may be, perhaps, and the infinitive as a past tense verb. The combination may with the Perfect Infinitive may also be translated into Russian by the combination could (could) with the infinitive: But she may have known . It should be noted that a compound modal predicate with the verb may in the meaning of supposition corresponds in Russian to a simple or compound (non-modal) predicate with a verb in the present or future tense (with a nonperfective infinitive) or in the past tense (with a perfective infinitive), and this predicate is preceded by an introductory sentence member, expressed by "may be", "perhaps", and in the case of a questioning sentence - "interesting". It is interesting to note that the verb may in the sense of supposition is very common both in fiction and in scientific literature; for the latter, the use of the verb may with the perfective infinitive is more typical. K.N. Kachalova writes about the use of the modal verb might that it is used to express supposition in indirect speech, depending on the verb in the past tense: 1.In combination with the Indefinite Infinitive, when in the corresponding direct speech one should use may with the Indefinite Infinitive: She might have had - once . In combination with the Perfect Infinitive, when in the corresponding direct speech we should have used may with the Perfect Infinitive: Afterwards I thought I might have heard the swish of a sap . Professor L.S. Barkhudarov writes about the use of might that in combination with the perfect infinitive might expresses a guess about the possibility of something, as well as an assumption with a high degree of uncertainty and doubt ("who knows", "who knows how to know"). I don't know how long the silence lasted. It might have been for half and hour . The combination might with the perfective infinitive can also express a supposed action, the realization of which is certainly impossible. "Had she been fourteen instead of twenty-four, she might have been changed by then (but she was twenty-four, conservative by nature and upbringing) . It should be noted that the form might in the sense of assumption is mostly used in affirmative sentences. If might is followed by a negation, it refers not to a suggestion but to an action (or state) expressed by the infinitive. The compound modal predicate with might in the sense of a supposition that contradicts reality corresponds to a simple or compound (non-modal) predicate, expressed by a verb in the present or past tense (depending on the infinitive form), and the sentence with this predicate is introduced by the words "as if (would)", "one would think", "one would think that ...".
II.4.Verbs should and ought
Historically, the verbs should and ought were two forms of the same verb, expressing duty. But as language has evolved, they have come to have different meanings, and in modern language these verbs are now used separately and are treated as two separate verbs. Like the other modal verbs, the verb should loses its meaning of desirability and, in addition to the meaning of duty, also denotes an assumption based on facts. He thinks the people here should know where his girl is . The use of the verb should in this meaning is practically not described. I.P. Krylova only points out that the verb should is not often used in this meaning and, as a rule, the meaning of supposition is conveyed by the verb must . The verb ought is used similarly, expressing a conditional, based on certain circumstances, probability. Ought loses its original meaning and also expresses an assumption based on facts. The combination of should and ought with a non-perfect infinitive indicates the simultaneity of an assumption and an intended action (or state), the combination with a perfective infinitive indicates the precedence of an intended action by an intended assumption. It should be noted that the verbs should and ought are interchangeable. What you ought to have done . The verbs should and ought can also be used in the negative, as well as in the affirmative, with the negation referring not to the suggestion, but to the action (or condition) expressed by the infinitive: ought not to be very hard to find a man who is prepared to come and talk to me for an hour . I.P. Krylova notes that in the meaning of supposition the verb must is not used very often, because in this meaning it is usually replaced by the verb must. However, there are several stable expressions with the verb ought:/you ought to know it (=he is/ you are supposed to know it).ought to be ashamed of yourself .


II.5. The verb will - would
The verb will - would is also used to express probability or supposition. The verb will can express a supposition based not on facts, but on the subjective opinion of the speaker. The verb will is often used in the presence of verbs such as "to suppose" or "to expect" in a sentence. The combination of the verb will with a non-perfect infinitive means that the intended action (or state) is in the present tense and cannot be in the future. Very good: I will go east, and I will make for Rivendell . The combination of the verb will and the perfective infinitive means that the present assumes an action that has preceded it; the perfective infinitive conveys the same temporal meaning that is usually conveyed by Present Perfect, that is, it expresses an action that has already taken place but is associated with the present. The combination of would with a non-perfective and with a perfective infinitive implies an assumption made in the present concerning an action (or state) that took place in the past, i.e., an action (or state) that is indicated by the Past Indefinite. He would be a lad who would have a lot of lady friends. The compound modal predicate with the verb will - would corresponds in Russian to a simple or compound non-modal predicate expressed by a verb in the present tense (when will is combined with a non-perfective infinitive) or in the past tense (when will is combined with a perfective infinitive or would with any form of infinitive), preceded by the introductory word "probably". Sometimes the verb will (more often in the past tense would) with a non-perfective infinitive expresses the speaker's confidence that an action or some condition is imminent: And she was completely demoralized - she would be the silly creature! - "...she was certainly demoralized..." Formation with an auxiliary verb in the form would is less common; sometimes in indirect speech, sometimes to soften the certainty of the assumption, as in: Hearne smiled...Then Myles wouldnt have heard him last night. Would his name be Ben Rowe, do you remember? . In writing, especially in letters, the most common is the perfective form, which corresponds to the preposition of the infinitive: Yes, Ed, I think the due diligence will have gone smoothly... But in oral speech this form is not at all uncommon, for example: You know - you will have heard - how I left that man... . The perfunctive infinitive forms usually serve to denote an action either unrealized in the sphere of the past (relative), or which cannot be realized (really or according to the speaker) in the future as well.


II.6.The verb can - could
The verb can - could in the sense of supposition is used mostly in negative sentences (rarely in interrogative sentences) or in such affirmative sentences in which the absence of action or its limitations (by the words few, little, only, hardly, scarcely, etc.) is lexically indicated. The verb can be used both with a non-perfective and a perfective infinitive. In conjunction with a perfective infinitive, the verb can with a negation means that it is improbable that an action or some condition will take place in the present. The verb can in this sense has an emphatic connotation and is stressed: You can`t really love me, or you would not hesitate . The combination of the negative form of the verb can with the perfective infinitive means the assumption made in the present that the given action (or state) took place in the past: The modal verb can also retains the connotation of improbability and surprise in interrogative sentences: This is amazing. Angel: Can I see a file...? Oh. Okay . The compound modal predicate with the verb can (with negation) in the meaning of supposition corresponds in Russian to a compound sentence beginning with the words "it cannot be that...", or to a simple sentence whose predicate includes the verb "can" (with negation) in the present or past tense, depending on the infinitive (non-perfective or perfective): She doesnt want you to go find her, so the two of you cant run away together . In the absence of negation the combination of the verb can with the infinitive in Russian corresponds to the combination of the verb "can" in the corresponding tense with the infinitive. The form could with negation implies an assumption that relates to the present tense and is made much more cautiously than with the form can; the combination could with negation expresses doubt that the action (or state) in question could take place (with the non-perfective infinitive), or has taken place (with the perfective infinitive). I certainly didn't want to go, but I couldn't refuse . The compound predicate with the form could with the negation in the sense of a supposition corresponds in Russian to a simple or a compound (non-modal) predicate, preceded by the words "hardly", or a compound modal predicate with the verb "could" in the subjunctive form ("could not") or the past form ("could not"), depending on the form of the infinitive .


II.7. The verb need
When the verb need has a modal meaning, it functions in negative sentences and, in combination with the negation, means that a given action (or state) is taking place in the present, will take place in the future (with the non-perfective infinitive), or has taken place in the past (with the perfective infinitive). It need not be said that I refused to listen . The verb need in the sense of suggestion is used rather rarely, although it occurs both in fiction and in scientific literature (mainly in the humanities). The compound modal predicate with the verb need with the negation in the meaning of supposition corresponds in Russian to a simple predicate, expressed by a verb in the present, future or past tense (depending on the form of the infinitive), preceded by the words "not necessarily" or a combination of the words "not necessarily should" and the infinitive.